It's a disease that makes bones fragile and brittle. The bones become so weak that even mild movements like a minor bump, bending over, coughing, or sneezing can cause a break.
Bone building happens throughout your life. Your body constantly breaks down and reduces your bones’ living tissue. Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone doesn’t keep up with the loss of old bone. The holes and spaces in the bones become larger than in healthy bones. As the bones lose density, they weaken and are more likely to break.
There are usually no symptoms in the early stages of bone loss. Once bones are weakened by osteoporosis, symptoms may include stooped posture, loss of height over time, and bones that break easily.
It’s important to take steps now to prevent bone loss or strengthen already weak bones. The team at the AHN Osteoporosis and Fragility Fracture Clinic develop a prevention or treatment plan, depending on where you are in your bone health journey.
We can measure your bone health with a quick, painless test using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) machine. It takes just a few minutes and involves lying on your back on an X-ray table while the machine scans an area of your body.
There are also safe and effective medications that can slow bone loss, strengthen your bones, and build bone. This all helps reduce your risk of breaking a bone. There is no best medication for everyone. That’s why specialists at the AHN Osteoporosis and Fragility Fracture Clinic work with you to determine medications to fit your needs.
Other care for you may include:
During your first visit at the AHN Osteoporosis and Fragility Fracture Clinic, a nurse practitioner will ask you about your health history and perform a physical exam. You may be given prescriptions for tests, including a DEXA scan, blood or urine tests, and other imaging tests to confirm an osteoporosis diagnosis.
If you’ve already been diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia with high risk for fracture, we will discuss treatment options with you.
AHN nurse practitioners are the primary care providers at the AHN Osteoporosis and Fragility Fracture Clinic. They manage your testing prior to appointments and any needed transfusions.
These AHN physicians oversee the AHN Osteoporosis and Fragility Fracture Clinic. They review patients’ charts and occasionally see patients.
Call (412) 267-6200 to learn more about the AHN Osteoporosis and Fragility Fracture Clinic or schedule an appointment.
To refer your patient, call (412) 267-6200.
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