Osteoporosis Center
Abbott Northwestern Hospital’s Osteoporosis Center offers programs to evaluate, treat, educate and support people with osteoporosis, or those who are at risk for the disease.
What Is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a chronic, degenerative bone disease in which the body loses excessive amounts of bone. This silent disease
progresses without symptoms until a painful bone fracture occurs.
Twenty-five million Americans suffer from osteoporosis — 80 percent are women. Menopausal women are particularly at risk because their bodies no longer produce estrogen — the hormone that helps bones retain calcium. Without sufficient estrogen, the bones of someone with osteoporosis become weak, brittle and very susceptible to fractures.
Bone fractures related to osteoporosis occur in one of every two women over the age of 65. Hip fractures are the most common and can lead to loss of independence — even death.
Osteoporosis Center
The Osteoporosis Center at Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute offers programs to evaluate, treat, educate and support people with osteoporosis, or those who are at risk for the disease. The Center's multidisciplinary team uses the most modern technology, treatments, information and resources to help you develop the skills you need to manage your life with osteoporosis.
Our patients will:
- be treated by a team of caring specialists
- become knowledgeable about osteoporosis, treatment options and self-management
- receive an individualized exercise program
- identify and learn how to respond to risk factors for fractures and falls
- build muscle and bone strength through medical treatments and exercise
- receive pain management strategies for fractures and bone pain
- learn about adaptive equipment and braces
- receive referrals to appropriate specialists for endocrine, renal, orthopedic or rheumatologic abnormalities
We believe the best approach to osteoporosis care and treatment involves a team approach. Our team of osteoporosis specialists includes: physician, nurse clinician, physical and
occupational therapists, exercise physiologists, dietitian, counselors and pain management specialists.
Assessment And Evaluation
If you are concerned about osteoporosis or are at risk for the disease, you can schedule a risk assessment. If you have an identified risk of developing or have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, you will be scheduled for a complete evaluation in the Osteoporosis Center.
An initial evaluation takes approximately two hours. During that time, you will see a physician who specializes in osteoporosis and a physical therapist.
The team will then design an individualized care plan that emphasizes:
- osteoporosis prevention
- bone mass improvement through nutrition and exercise
- medical management of the disease
- prevention of falls and fractures
- easy access to nutrition information, counseling and osteoporosis education
Following the evaluation, you will meet with a nurse clinician who will coordinate your care. The nurse will review your evaluation results and treatment plan, provide health counseling and answer your questions. All patients will receive a special workbook, a community resources guide and help with any special needs.
Prevention
Although osteoporosis is incurable, it is preventable. You can prevent this disease by:
- consuming adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D, either through your diet or with supplements
- participating in weight bearing exercises
- in some cases, taking estrogen replacement therapy at the onset of menopause
Early Diagnosis and Intervention
The key to preventing and managing osteoporosis is early diagnosis and intervention. During your initial diagnosis, our physician will identify the underlying cause of your
osteoporosis to begin correcting the factors that contribute to bone loss in your body.
If a Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) test is recommended, Radiology Department staff at Abbott Northwestern Hospital will perform it. This test is the most current technology available for measuring bone mass. It assesses the health of your bones and the primary fracture sites in your body — the hip and spine. Your DEXA test results are analyzed by a computer and compared to the characteristics of other people your same age, gender and ethnicity.
DEXA can identify if you are at risk for a fracture long before one occurs. Specific bone density measurements guide your physician so he or she can develop an
individualized treatment plan and measure your progress along the way.
Major advances have also been made in medications that reverse bone loss and prevent the progression of osteoporosis. The physician will discuss these medications and make appropriate recommendations for you.
Education and Support
You are at the center of your care. The more you and your family know, the more proactive you can be in managing or preventing this disease. Taking charge of osteoporosis is the key to reversing its effects.
A support group for people who are managing osteoporosis is available. This group can help you gain strength and hope from others who are experiencing some of the same life challenges.
For More Information
For more information about the Osteoporosis Center call 612-863-5582. To schedule a risk assessment appointment with a physician, call 612-863-8947.
|
Print
Send to a Friend