The Arthritis Today
Bone-Building Guide
Are You at Risk for Osteoporosis?
Take the Osteoporosis Quick Risk Assessment, an online quiz that’s part of the “Fit to a T” program, offered by the U.S. Bone and Joint Decade.
How to Reduce Your Risk
The Latest Research: Who’s High Risk and Why
How to Build Bones With Calcium Supplements
Male Call: Estrogen Affects Men’s Bones, Too
When to Be Tested for Bone Loss
by Linda J. Brown
Posted 6/12/07
To determine your fracture risk and whether you need treatment, you’ll most likely undergo a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, which measures the density of bones in the hips and spine.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends an initial bone-density test at age 65, or age 60 if you are taking corticosteroids. However, if you have RA, you should have a baseline test when first diagnosed with RA and every year after, even if you are not on corticosteroids, says Steven L. Teitelbaum, MD, Messing Professor of Pathology and Immunology at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. If you have osteoarthritis (OA), having a baseline test at age 65 is fine.
Medications for Osteoporosis
If you’ve already lost significant bone mass, you’ll likely be prescribed medication to help strengthen your bones and prevent additional loss. To find more on current treatments, see Arthritis Today 2007 Drug Guide.
