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Comprehensive treatment:
We treat your osteoporosis at any stage — and for any cause. We can help you whether it’s linked to menopause, eating disorders, cancer treatment, medication or something else. Meet our team.
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Weak bones can hurt — and break easily. But you don’t have to stay home (or cover yourself in bubble wrap) to enjoy life.
There are better ways to manage osteoporosis. This condition makes your bones thinner and more fragile than they should be. And this raises your risk for bone breaks (fractures). The good news is that you don’t have to put life on hold to avoid this. Osteoporosis is treatable.
Cleveland Clinic’s expert osteoporosis providers are here to help. We’ll work with you to find out why you have osteoporosis. And we’ll craft a personalized treatment plan to strengthen your bones. Our goal? To help you have less pain, avoid injuries — and keep doing the things you love.
We treat your osteoporosis at any stage — and for any cause. We can help you whether it’s linked to menopause, eating disorders, cancer treatment, medication or something else. Meet our team.
Our focus on teamwork means providers from different specialties work together to help you manage your osteoporosis and its underlying causes. This lets us personalize your care for the best possible results.
Our osteoporosis specialists are board-certified in rheumatology. Many are also certified by the International Society for Clinical Densitometry.
Our healthcare providers are active in clinical trials. We work to better understand what causes osteoporosis. And we research new ways to improve screening, diagnosis and treatment.
Not all appointments need to be in person, so in some cases, virtual visits may be available. You can talk with your providers from the comfort of your home.
Cleveland Clinic is a trusted healthcare leader. We’re recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for our expertise and care.
Having osteoporosis means your bone mass and strength is less than it used to be. And this can put you at risk for sudden and unexpected fractures.
It often develops without symptoms or pain. So, you may not know you have it until you get a fracture. Osteoporosis can cause any bone to break but most often happens in your hips, wrists and spine.
If you’re having symptoms, you may notice you’ve lost height. And you may have back pain. Or you might have a health condition that increases your risk for osteoporosis. Some are menopause, eating disorders, gastrointestinal conditions, hormone problems and autoimmune conditions. Some medications can also cause brittle bones.
At your first visit, you’ll want to be ready to talk about any symptoms you have. Your provider will want to know what your symptoms are and how long you’ve had them. They’ll also ask:
If you're female, your provider will also go over your menstrual history with you.
During this visit, you’ll also get a physical exam. Your provider will check your height and weight, posture, balance, gait (the way you walk) and overall strength and health.
Your provider will also order a bone density test to measure your bone strength. This test uses X-rays to see how much calcium and other minerals are in your bones. This test is also sometimes called a DEXA or DXA scan.
This test is the best way to catch osteoporosis before you break a bone. And it’s usually more reliable for osteoporosis diagnoses than regular X-rays. Those only show osteoporosis when it’s progressed.
You may also have a thoracic spine X-ray so we can check compression fractures in your vertebrae. This test is important if you’ve noticed you’ve lost height.
When you choose Cleveland Clinic, you can take comfort in knowing you have a strong care team on your side, with providers like:
We select your provider based on your unique needs. This lets us provide you with the most personalized treatment for the best possible results.
Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations throughout Northeast Ohio and Florida.
Your care team uses the results of your physical exam and tests to pinpoint your fracture risk. And they craft a care plan to best address this risk — and what’s causing your osteoporosis.
Your treatment plan focuses on helping you manage your condition so you can improve your quality of life. And avoid fractures. Treatments may include lifestyle changes, exercise, physical therapy and medications.
We’ll help you make lifestyle changes to improve your bone health. This can include eating more nutritious food, quitting smoking, seeing a physical therapist and more. We focus on what’s right for your health. Early in your treatment, we’ll:
We might also recommend you take medications to increase bone density, prevent bone loss or build new bone. You may take:
Osteoporosis requires lifelong management. You’ll have regular in-person follow-ups and virtual visits with your providers. And you’ll have testing usually once or twice a year. We do this to make sure your treatment is working. And if it isn’t, we can quickly update your treatment plan.
You’ll also want to be sure to exercise regularly. And make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D. To avoid fractures, it’s important to keep your home free of clutter that can trip you. And avoid things that increase your fall risk — like standing on a table or chair to reach things.
Osteoporosis doesn’t have to slow you down. Our healthcare providers are here to support you and help you feel more confident about moving through life after your diagnosis. We work to help you slow your bone loss, avoid bone fractures and stay independent — so you can keep living life to the fullest.
Getting an appointment with Cleveland Clinic’s osteoporosis experts is easy. We’ll help you get the care you need.
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