Treatment of Osteoporosis:

The Response of Modern Medicine
Modern medical treatment of osteoporosis usually involves slowing down or stopping bone loss using any number of drugs, each with varied side effects and benefits, as well as attempts to control the pain associated with the disease. Drugs currently prescribed to slow or stop bone loss include biphosphonates, raloxifene and calcitonin. Until the early 1990s, hormone replacement therapy (HRP) was also used for post-menopausal women. However, due to a number of health risks associated with this treatment approach, many physicians have revised their recommendation of HRT. The problem with these treatment approaches is that they involve not only a significant expense in many cases, but that many of the drugs often have side effects.

If left untreated, osteoporosis can lead to a vertebral compression fracture, which is a collapse or breakdown of one or more of the bones in the spine (the vertebrae) and is often quite painful. Typical modern medical treatment involves prescribing anti-inflammatory medications for the pain. This approach can, in the long run, do more damage than good. Although anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to produce short-term pain benefit, they result in long-term loss of function and even more chronic pain by actually inhibiting the healing process of soft tissues and accelerating cartilage degeneration. Plus, long-term use of these drugs can lead to other sources of chronic pain, allergies and leaky gut syndrome.

Another treatment option is orthotic support in the form of a brace to properly position the back while the fracture heals. More recently, vertebroplasty and spine balloon therapy have been added as treatment options. Both essentially "cement" the fracture. The problem with these treatment approaches, even if exercise and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents are added to the mix, is that they do nothing to address the potential problem of ligament and tendon laxity. Finally, when all else fails, patients who experience chronic pain are often referred to a surgeon. Unfortunately, surgery often makes the problem worse. Surgeons will use x-ray technology as a diagnostic tool, which does not always properly diagnose the pain source. Decisions to remove cartilage tissue will most commonly result in arthritis. And, ultimately, none of these modern medical treatment approaches addresses the underlying causes of osteoporosis, while the natural medicine approach does.

The Natural Medicine Approach to Osteoporosis
The incidence of osteoporosis is directly correlated to testosterone production in men and estrogen and progesterone production in women. Women are especially at risk after menopause because of the drastic cessation of hormone production, whereas men experience a more gradual decline in hormone production as they age.

Thus, as a preventative measure, we recommend that all women take natural hormone replacements at the start of menopause and follow a natural health maintenance program. Exercise, calcium, magnesium, a healthy diet and natural hormones are excellent ways for women to keep their bones strong and maintain a zest for life. For example, IP6 (Inositol Hexaphosphate) is beneficial for overall bone health and immune support and Osteo Care supplements for prevention of bone loss and increased bone density.

Another factor in the onset of osteoporosis is a poor diet that does not provide adequate amounts of calcium, magnesium or vitamin D and the consumption of soda pop. The phosphorus in soda pop actually leaches calcium out of the bone, leading to osteopenia and, eventually, full-blown osteoporosis.

Eventually, osteoporosis may cause vertebral compression, a painful and disabling condition. Every year an estimated 1.2 million osteoporotic fractures occur, with more than half in the thoracic or lumbar region of the back. Untreated compression fractures from osteoporosis may lead to a humpback deformity.

If osteoporosis has led to a vertebral compression fracture, natural medicine specialists will use Prolotherapy to strengthen the ligament-bony interface and permanently stabilize the compressed vertebral segment. Prolotherapy is the safest and most effective natural medicine treatment for repairing tendon, ligament and cartilage damage. In simple terms, Prolotherapy stimulates the body to repair painful areas. It does so by inducing a mild inflammatory reaction in the weakened ligaments and cartilage. Since the body heals by inflammation, Prolotherapy stimulates healing. 

Prolotherapy, however, is not a complete treatment for osteoporosis compression fractures. Whether the cause of the osteoporosis is nutritional, hormonal and/or a chronic disease, the underlying etiology of the osteoporosis must be addressed to ensure long-term healing of compression fractures as well as to prevent the osteoporosis from getting worse.

Prolotherapy to strengthen the vertebral supporting ligaments, in conjunction with natural medicine treatments and supplements, is effective in healing the pain and disability caused by osteoporosis-induced compression fractures.

Think Prolotherapy may be for you? Call us!

To experience the Caring Medical difference for yourself, schedule a consultation via email or call us at 708-848-7789.

Caring Medical is a full time Prolotherapy doctor’s office. We have successfully treated all of the conditions we write about. This is why patients travel from across the country and internationally to be treated by our Prolotherapy physician Dr. Ross Hauser. The difference is in the care, technique, and experience you get with Dr. Hauser and team at Caring Medical.