The Difference Between Osteoporosis & Osteoarthritis

Although they sound almost the same, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are two very different conditions. 

Osteoporosis is a progressive bone disease. If you have osteoporosis, your bones become weak and brittle, causing you to be at greater risk for bone fractures.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, which is inflammation and deterioration of your joints. Osteoarthritis is the result of every day wear and tear, and is most common in older adults.

Managing Osteoarthritis 

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis worldwide. The painful joint degeneration can affect large joints such as the knee, hip, neck and lower back.

In healthy joints, your cartilage provides cushioning that acts as a shock absorber and allows bones to move smoothly over each other. Arthritis causes that cartilage to break down, leading to bone spurs and grinding and wear and tear on joints that make it difficult for you to move without pain. 

You are more likely to suffer from osteoarthritis as you age. It is more common in women and in those with a family history of the disease. Although you can’t prevent aging, you can take steps to reduce your risk of osteoarthritis, including:

• Exercising — Lack of exercise has been shown to shrink cartilage and cause stress on your joints. Staying active is your best form of prevention. 
• Avoiding falls — Take steps to reduce your risk of falls and avoid a traumatic injury. Even if repaired, trauma can change the way you walk and shift your weight, weakening muscles in the process. 
• Losing weight — Overweight individuals who lose just 5% of body weight experience at least 25% reduction in symptoms of osteoarthritis

If you do have osteoarthritis, your doctor can help you manage your pain with medical and surgical options, including total joint replacement. 

Preventing Osteoporosis

If you have osteoporosis, your risk for bone fractures increases with your age. Osteoporosis happens when changes in your body cause your bones to become thinner, which makes them weaker and more at risk for injury.

There are several factors that contribute to osteoporosis that you can’t control. In men, a testosterone deficiency can increase the risk of osteoporosis. For women, the estrogen deficiency that happens during menopause causes a greater risk for osteoporosis. 

Other health conditions, such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism, can disrupt the normal balance of calcium regulation or bone metabolism and increase your risk for developing osteoporosis. 

You are also more at risk if you have:

• Previous fractures
• Long-term glucocorticoid therapy
• Body weight of less than 127 pounds
• Family history of hip fracture
  
  

Taking Steps to Prevent Bone Loss

There are some factors that you can control when it comes to osteoporosis, including:

• Avoiding excessive alcohol intake
• Quitting cigarette smoking
• Taking calcium and vitamin D supplements, after consultation with your physician
• Participating in regular weight-bearing exercise
• Avoiding extended use of contraceptive injections

If you develop osteoporosis, your doctor can help provide medical management of the disease.