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What Is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is porous bones that can lead to tiny fractures, which allow the bone to compress or flatten out, leading to pain and deformity of the spinal structure.

Levi Osteoporosis Clinic

The Levi Osteoporosis Clinic offers a complete program of osteoporosis prevention, testing and treatment. Your treatment team may include a physician, radiology, dietary services, pharmacy and rehabilitative services.

Prevention

Our preventative program identifies people who may not presently have osteoporosis but have risk factors that may lead to osteoporosis.

Some risk factors include:

• Post menopausal
• Lack of exercise
• Inadequate intake of calcium and vitamin D
• Family history of osteoporosis
• Smoking or consuming too much alcohol and caffeine, which interfere with absorption of calcium
• Prolonged use of drugs or medication such as steroids, or aluminum-based antacids such as Maalox and heparin
• Diseases and hormonal disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, liver disease, certain cancers, and an overactive thyroid

Testing

Testing for Osteoporosis is painless and takes only a few minutes. At Levi Hospital the test is done by a Radiological Technologist trained in Bone Densitometry. Two scans are performed testing both the trabecular and coracle bone. This is done by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and interpreted by a physician certified in Bone Densitometry. In addition to the initial scan, a patient may have laboratory studies (blood and urine test) and appropriate x-rays to confirm findings of the bone density test.

Treatment

Medical Management

Physicians involved in evaluation and treatment of patients and osteoporosis may include rheumatologists, endocrinologists, orthopedic surgeons and gynecologists. Patients may enter the Levi Osteoporosis Clinic through referral from their personal physician. Once referred to the clinic, a patient's records are evaluated by the Program Medical Director to determine the degree to which the patient is affected by osteoporosis.

Frequency of medical follow-up will be determined by your physician based upon your status. Some patients may require a frequent follow-up if they are having rapidly progressive changes such as worsening compression fractures, bone pain or rapidly progressive osteoporosis in the face of corticosteroid therapy.

If you wish to access the following services, you must bring a written order from your physician.

Rehabilitative Services Program

Rehabilitation therapists evaluate a patient's posture, range of motion, balance, pain and ability to perform daily living activities. A home exercise program, designed to maximize bone density, flexibility and balance may be developed for the patient. Educational classes cover topics such as back care, joint protection principles, energy conservation techniques and the use of adaptive equipment to aid personal independence.

Nutritional Counseling

The Director of Dietary Services can assess the patient's diet history and helps the patient understand the importance of a well-balanced diet high in calcium and low in sodium and caffeine and the effects protein and alcohol have on the body. Each patient is taught the importance of proper nutrition as an integral part of osteoporosis treatment. A personal diet may be developed for the patient in accordance with the physician's diagnosis.

Medication Education

The hospital pharmacist and/or program nurse can review the patient's medication history and provide appropriate education for the patient by answering questions about medications and their side effects.

Radiology Services

Levi Hospital provides Radiology services for your convenience.  

A short wait time is one of the advantages to getting your Radiology Testing done at Levi. 

Please call Kristal Smith – Director of Radiology at 622-3505 for an appointment.