Bone Health and Fragility Fractures: Expert Q&A

Orthopaedic surgeon and fragility fracture expert Dr. Douglas R. Dirschl and advanced practice nurse and bone health specialist, Lauren Creighton join us to answer your questions about osteoporosis as well as treatment and prevention.

Table of Contents

0:00:00 Introduction
0:02:06 Can you define fragility fractures?
0:02:41 Can you tell us what causes bones to be fragile or break easily?
0:03:26 Are there steps you can take to help protect yourself?
0:05:42 Having muscle mass, does that help take some of the stress off?
0:06:26 How do you know that you have a fragility fracture? How long does it take one of these fractures actually to heal?
0:09:09 What is osteoporosis is and how that's diagnosed?
0:10:24 what are some of the best ways for them to prevent further bone loss or fractures for someone has already been diagnosed with low bone density or early osteoporosis?
0:11:22 At what age should we start having bone density tests? And are there specific reasons why you should be having these bone density tests?
0:13:31 Can some foods leach calcium from the bones.
0:14:43 Would you advise people to have their vitamin D tested by their physician?
0:15:49 Can bone loss be reversed once it has set in?
0:17:23 Would I be able to take a low vitamin D supplement without seeing my provider, or do I really need to go and see someone? Also, does a vitamin D lamp suffice?
0:18:34 Can you have too much vitamin D?
0:19:12 That's the best osteoporosis treatment with the least amount of side effects?
0:20:46 should menopausal women be concerned about their bone health?
0:21:48 Is there an age that maybe, for example, a man should go in to see his care provider to have this checked out?
0:22:45 Are there specific risk factors for fragile bones that people need to be aware of, other than just age?
0:24:14 Is osteoporosis hereditary?
0:24:51 What is the Bone Health Clinic and what happens there, what services are available there?
0:26:30 Is it safe to go in to the hospital to obtain care during COVID?