Osteopenia Symptoms & Treatment Options

There is no cure for osteopenia, but you can take steps to preserve your bone health and prevent the condition from worsening. We can help you implement the following strategies to keep your bones as strong as possible:

• Calcium treatment to support healthy bone material
• Weight-bearing exercises like walking, jumping, or running to help strengthen bones
• Other forms of exercise, like swimming and biking to help build muscle and maintain balance
• Eating a healthy diet with foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, like broccoli, salmon, and spinach
• Exposure to the sun and vitamin D supplements

During your osteopenia treatment, we closely monitor your bone density to look for signs of osteoporosis. While osteoporosis does not develop in every patient with osteopenia, we do everything we can to keep bone loss to a minimum. 

What Is the Bone Mineral Testing Process?

In addition to asking questions about your family’s and personal health history, we also order a bone density test. Our professional specialists measure bone density with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). This fast and painless medical imaging test uses low-level X-rays to see if you have healthy bones or any conditions like osteopenia or osteoporosis. The process involves the following steps:

• You lie on a table, and the specialist properly positions your body for the scan. 
• The machine’s arm passes over your body using X-ray beams to distinguish bone from tissue.
• The machine converts your bone density measurement into graphs and pictures, making them easily readable.
• The specialist reviews and interprets your results and sends them to your healthcare provider.

DEXA provides a score that tells us if you have bone loss. Patients with osteopenia typically score between -1 to -2.5, whereas healthy patients score between +1 and -1. These scores give us a baseline measurement to compare future results, so we can determine if your bone density decreases over time. 

If you have risk factors for bone loss, experience bone pain, or fractured a bone easily, you should talk to your doctor about bone density and how to prevent bone loss as you age. Our top-notch team at NJ Spine & Orthopedic can help you identify issues like osteopenia and develop a customized plan based on your unique needs and goals. We take every measure to prevent your osteopenia from progressing into osteoporosis and maintain and improve your overall bone health.

We understand receiving an osteopenia diagnosis can be overwhelming, and you worry about how it can affect your health and future. With the help of our skilled team, you can receive the right treatment for you, including beneficial supplements and exercises to add to your daily routine. Our compassionate team understands the anxiety you may have about osteopenia, so we are here to answer all your questions and give you a stress-free experience. To schedule a free consultation, call (866) 553-0612 or fill out our contact form.