Bone Health
Bone Health Services
What is osteoparosis?
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a disease in which the loss of bone mass results in weak and brittle bones. This bone fragility places individuals at increased risk for fractures or broken bones. The fractures may occur from minor trauma, or without trauma often spontaneously while ambulating or maneuvering around the home. Some fractures may even occur with minor maneuvers such as sneezing. Common fracture sites include the spine and wrists. The result of the fracture may be chronic pain and altered mobility. Additionally, there is a higher mortality rate after certain types of fractures, in particular, those of the hip, another common site for osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a silent disease and is now classified as a national epidemic. Until a fracture occurs, often the disease is not diagnosed. We do not want you or a loved one to go undiagnosed and without treatment. Do not be a statistic. The Bone Health team here at Roane General Hospital (RGH) can help screen, diagnose, and treat osteoporosis to improve your bone longevity and quality of life. We utilize DEXA scanning as part of the screening and treatment process and encourage all individuals to obtain DEXA scanning as step one toward prevention or treatment.
Those with uncontrollable factors at risk for developing osteoporosis include:
- Individuals over 50
- Female Gender although Men are Diagnosed and Treated
- Menopausal Women
- History of Osteoporosis
- Those with Low Body Mass Index and a Small Frame
Those with controllable factors at risk for developing osteoporosis include:
- Inadequate Calcium and Vitamin D Intake
- Low consumption of Fruits and Vegetables
- Excessive Consumption of Protein, Sodium, and Caffeine
- Inactive Lifestyle
- Smokers
- Excessive Use of Alcohol
- Weight Loss
- Chronic Steroid Use
Be vigilant for any early signs of disease including fragile fingernails, receding gum lines, poor grip, or decrease in fitness ability. Late signs include easily broken bones, loss of height, muscle and bone pain, stooped posture, or compression fractures of the back.
Types of Patients Treated
Once again, the team at RGH encourages screening if you have any of the risk factors above and our clinic takes self-referrals in addition to referrals from primary care physicians, oncologists, orthopaedists, and pulmonologists. If you have early or late signs of osteoporosis or have risk factors, we stand ready and willing to guide your through the process of screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Excellence in Care Designation
The Bone Health Program is registered with the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) Own the Bone Program. This program is a national post-fracture, systems-based, multidisciplinary fragility fracture prevention initiative created to address the growing threat of osteoporosis. The goal of the registry is to alter physician and patient behavior in order reduce the risk of osteoporosis and to promote the treatment of the disease. The registry provides evidence-based comparison on measure performance and provides evidence-based education to providers.
Our Bone Health Team
As part of our orthopaedics program at Roane General Hospital (RGH), we offer a bone health program under the direction of an orthopaedic nurse practitioner and in conjunction with our experienced orthopaedists.
What You Can Expect
During the first visit, the provider and nurse will review your medical history and risk factors as well as any medications you take which place you at risk for osteoporosis. The team will review any supplements and vitamins that you take. Supplements like calcium and vitamin D assist with prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. You will receive a physical exam and orders for laboratory testing and a DEXA scan if you have not recently been tested. For patients reporting pain, additional x-rays may occur. If you screen and do not have osteoporosis, the provider will review with you a prevention and monitoring plan. If disease is present, treatment will be discussed and may include oral medications or intravenous infusions in an infusion therapy department.
How To Contact Us
The Bone Health clinic occurs by appointment every Tuesday from 8 am to 5 pm. Please call 304-927-6827 with questions or to obtain a referral. Providers may refer to referrals@rghwv.org utilizing the electronic referral form. Referrals are accepted via fax to 304-927-6839.
