Living with Osteoporosis: 4 Tips for Managing Your Disease If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, you may be overwhelmed by the changes now needed in order to manage your disease. From new medications to restricted activities to an increased fear of falling, you may wonder if your life will ever feel normal again. While osteoporosis is a serious disease with potentially serious repercussions, there are many things you can do to strengthen your bones and create a home where you feel comfortable and safe. With the help of a loved one or an in home caregiver, this process can be made even easier. Following are a few of the steps to take toward living more comfortably with osteoporosis.
Take Your Medication And Supplements Once you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, you will likely be put on medication intended to strengthen your bones and prevent fractures from falls and bumps. You may need to take this medication daily, weekly, or even monthly.
In addition, you will need to make sure that you are getting enough calcium and Vitamin D. The calcium will help to strengthen your bones, while the Vitamin D will help your body to absorb calcium more efficiently. In addition to eating a diet rich in these nutrients, you may also need to take calcium and Vitamin D supplements. Your doctor can give you information about how much and how often to take these. Because your medications and supplements are important for strengthening your weak bones, it is important not to miss any doses. However, because you may be taking several medications and supplements, and because you may not need to take them every day, it may be difficult to remember to take them on time. If this is the case, relying on an in home caregiver may be a wise choice. This person can remind you to take your medication, help you understand how much to take, and help you ask your doctor any questions you have about your medication regimen. Exercise Regularly Exercise is important no matter what state your health is in. However, if you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, exercise is especially important. The type of exercise that is proven to strengthen weak bones is weight-bearing exercise, which involves activities such as walking, bicycling, and light aerobics that force the bones to strengthen themselves. Yoga and Pilates can also help.
If you are not used to exercising, or if you face mobility difficulties, this change may be hard to implement. In order to help yourself get into the habit, you may want to ask family, friends, or home health services to help you create and stick to an exercise routine. For instance, finding a partner or asking your private caregiver to walk with you a few times a week might make the walk more enjoyable. In addition, consulting a doctor or expert about what types of exercise are right for you could help you to avoid activities that are not suited for your mobility or health challenges. Fall-Proof Your Home Fractures are the most serious complications of osteoporosis, especially hip fractures. One of the most common causes of fractures in osteoporosis sufferers is falling. If you fracture your hip, you could face a long and difficult recovery, and may be unable to return to your previous level of strength and mobility. As a result, it is vital that you take steps to reduce your chances of falling in and around your home.
You can do so in a number of ways. For instance, you should remove all wires and cords that could trip you up, placing them out of the way. In addition, you should try to maintain a clutter-free home, especially making sure that there are no items lying on the floor over which you could fall. In addition, you should make sure that your home is well lighted. For instance, replace all burned out light bulbs, and add lamps in areas that tend to be in shadow. Better lighting means you are more likely to see and avoid items that you would otherwise bump into or fall over. Finally, you can make modifications to your bathroom to reduce your chances of slipping on wet floors or bathtubs. Handrails, for instance, can add stability and give you a place to hold onto when using the bathroom or taking a shower. Rubber mats in and around the bathtub will give you a firm place to stand and will not slide like traditional bath mats will. If you feel that you need help maintaining a clean home or making other changes that will make your home safer, you may benefit from the services of a personal care assistant. By choosing senior healthcare, you can find someone who can make these changes for you and provide suggestions for ways in which you can make your home safer and more fall proof. Delegate Heavy Household Chores Advanced osteoporosis can result in fractures from activities as simple as leaning over or picking up an item that is too heavy. As a result, you should take extra steps to reduce the amount of physical work you do around your home. This means, for instance, that you may need to avoid carrying large items around your home and up and down your stairs. While giving up these household chores may feel overwhelming, limiting the amount of heavy physical work you do can save you the pain and expense of fractures and preserve your mobility and independence for longer. Most of these household chores can be delegated to hired hands around the house, or to friends and family who are willing to come over and assist you. Caregiving services will also usually be able to provide someone willing to do these household tasks so you can focus on staying healthy and maintaining your other normal activities. Dealing with osteoporosis will require some lifestyle changes. While these changes may feel large and difficult, making them will allow you to remain as strong and healthy as possible for as long as possible. If it feels too hard to manage your medication, exercise regularly, create a safe home and give up heavy household chores, you can always hire a caregiver to provide you with the assistance you need in making these changes and in living with your osteoporosis. Carelily.com helps qualified nurses and caregivers find jobs in their area. Create a profile to get matched with jobs and apply online. Your schedule and payment is all managed through our website for a hassle-free experience. There is no cost to join, so visit Carelily.com today to start applying to jobs.