No matter your age, there’s an osteoporosis treatment that’s right for you. Without treatment, osteoporosis can lead to life threatening bone breaks.

Osteoporosis is a condition that leads to a loss of bone density. This causes weak and brittle bones. As a result, people with this condition have a high risk of fractures and chronic pain.

Preventive treatments can help reduce your chances of developing osteoporosis. If you already have osteoporosis, treatment can help increase your bone density and can slow the progression of the condition.

Let’s answer some of the most asked questions about osteoporosis care.

It’s never too late for osteoporosis treatment. No matter your age, you can receive benefits from osteoporosis treatment.

However, some osteoporosis treatments are meant to be used at certain times, or for a set amount of time. For example, doctors typically prescribe estrogen therapy only during early menopause. Bisphosphonates are typically prescribed for a 5- to 8-year period and then stopped.

If your diagnosis has passed any of these developmental marks, your doctor will work with you to design a treatment that’s right for your age and the stage of the disease.

Palliative care provides more support for people with chronic conditions. Palliative care for osteoporosis can help you:

A team of healthcare professionals including nurses, doctors, medical social workers, physical and occupational therapists, and mental health professionals work with you and your family to improve your quality of life.

Palliative care is not the same as hospice. This means you don’t need to stop your treatments for osteoporosis to receive palliative care services.

Still have questions about osteoporosis treatment? Let’s answer some of the most asked questions:

What happens if you don’t treat osteoporosis?

Without treatment, osteoporosis can weaken your bones. This increases your risk of fractures, including compression fractures.

Over time, repeated compression fractures in the spine can cause your vertebrae to collapse. If this happens, it can lead to a loss of height and a curve in your spine. Often, this also causes chronic pain.

Additionally, you will have an increased risk of fractures from falls. You could fracture your hip, pelvic bone, wrist, or any of the bones in your hand during a fall.

Breaking these bones can lead to a difficult recovery process. Research has linked hip fractures in older adults to a decrease in life expectancy.

Are osteoporosis drugs worth the risks?

Osteoporosis medications have been proven to significantly decrease the risk of fracture.

Although there are some side effects to osteoporosis drugs, the risk for serious side effects is rare. In nearly all cases, the benefit far outweighs the risk of any side effects.

However, it’s important to talk with your doctor about your medical history and any medications you’re currently taking. This can help them select the osteoporosis medications least likely to cause side effects for you.

Is your life shortened with osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis isn’t typically associated with a shortened life span.

However, fractures, especially hip fractures, are associated with a shortened life span. Osteoporosis increases the risk of these fractures and can increase your risk of a decreased life span. But osteoporosis treatment can lower these risks.

What is the newest medication for osteoporosis?

In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Evenity (romosozumab-aqqg) for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal people.

Evenity is intended for people who have a high risk of fracture or a history of fracture, or who haven’t responded well to other osteoporosis treatments.

How do you care for someone with severe osteoporosis?

One of the most important parts of caring for someone with osteoporosis is fall prevention. You can do this by taking steps to make sure their home is safe, such as removing wires, rugs, and other items that are easy to trip on.

It’s also a great idea to stay healthy and active with your loved one who has osteoporosis. Many osteoporosis treatments and management tips are lifestyle-related. It can be a big help to do them with a partner.

You can also reach out to the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation for more information on local support groups for people with osteoporosis and their caregivers.

Osteoporosis treatments can increase bone density and decrease your risk of fractures. It’s never too late to treat osteoporosis. However, some treatments are only intended for certain demographics, such as people going through menopause.

You and your doctor can work together to find the most appropriate treatments for you. Osteoporosis medications do have some side effects, but they can substantially reduce the risk of fracture.

For most people, this benefit outweighs any risks these medications carry.