Southlake Orthopaedics
Did you know? Studies show that one in three women and up to one in five men age 50 and up will break a bone due to osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens the bones, but since osteoporosis is not painful, many people don’t know they have it until they fracture a bone. That’s why Lauren Bannon, a physician’s assistant at Southlake Orthopaedics and osteoporosis specialist, is dedicated to raising awareness about osteoporosis.
“Basically you reach your peak bone mass at age 30, and after that, your bone density starts to decrease,” she said. “I tell people the earlier you can start and get a bone density test, the better. Any patient 50 or older, if they’ve had any type of fracture that has potential to be osteoporosis, let's get a workup.”
Ideally, Lauren wants patients to come in early so they can prevent fractures before they happen. Fall prevention is the No. 1 key to preventing bone fractures, she said. This includes working on balance with a physical therapist, removing throw rugs and other things that a patient can easily trip over in their home, adding handlebars to their shower, and possibly encouraging the patient to use a walking device such as a cane or walker.
Depending on a patient’s bone density and detailed history, Lauren may recommend antiresorptive versus anabolic treatment to improve bone quality.
Although osteoporosis is not a painful process, if you don't take steps to prevent fragility fractures, osteoporosis can be very costly and painful down the road. This could also lead to a loss of independence of the individual as well. It can even lead to death: Lauren said that a hip fracture carries a risk of mortality of up to 20-24% in the first year after the fracture. This isn’t usually from the hip fracture itself but from a domino effect caused by lack of mobility and other issues.
If you are at risk of osteoporosis, have a conversation with your doctor about getting a bone density scan. You can also call 205-985-4111 to make an appointment with Lauren.
