What should I do if I have osteoporosis?

  Bone consists of minerals (mainly calcium and phosphorus), proteins deposited with minerals (collagen, etc.), and cells that regulate their metabolism (osteocytes, osteoblasts, etc.). Osteoporosis is a condition in which bone metabolism is out of balance, bone resorption exceeds bone formation, and bone mass decreases, and the quality of bone changes, making it brittle. It is especially prevalent in women after menopause, and less than 10% of them actually receive treatment for such a prevalent disease without attention.  Patients with osteoporosis are prone to fractures of the vertebrae and femur from minor trauma, or even if there is no obvious trauma. Fractures that occur in the spine, where the quadrilateral vertebrae break down, are called compression fractures. Once fractured, the spine does not return to its original shape, and the vertebrae become wedge-shaped after the bone heals. Therefore, after the pain disappears, sequelae such as posterior protrusion of the spine and shortening of the height are left behind. The incidence of osteoporotic compression fractures is higher in Oriental women because with one fracture, it is increasingly easy to have fractures in the future, so early treatment is very important.  Treatment is in principle conservative and systematic medication must be adhered to; in order to prevent the occurrence of significant retrognathism (hunchback), a brace can be worn. Without appropriate and effective treatment in the hospital, some patients may also experience bone non-union and long-term persistent pain.  There is a minimally invasive surgical vertebroplasty in which a small amount of bone cement is injected into the fractured vertebrae through a percutaneous puncture, and the fracture is fixed within minutes of solidification, the pain disappears immediately, and you can soon walk with weight. Severe compression fractures can damage the nerves that pass through the spine, which requires surgery. Receiving proper treatment and paying attention to dietary therapy and physical activity can effectively inhibit bone loss and reduce the risk of fracture.