Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones, the structural support system of our bodies, become brittle, weak and dangerously fragile. This occurs because new bone isn’t being build rapidly enough to make up for bone that is being lost.
For sufferers of the condition, this can mean that even basic and everyday activities can lead to debilitating injuries. Even those who aren’t necessarily dealing with an osteoporosis related injury can feel pain and discomfort related to the condition. Interestingly enough, one of the most common symptoms in later staged osteoporosis is back pain. This can be caused from vertebra that have been fractured or have collapsed.
Treatment for osteoporosis most commonly includes the use of medications. Most of these medications are referred to as bisphosphonates. Drugs in this category include brand names like Fosamax, Boniva, Zometa, Reclast and Actonel amongst others. They are used to slow down the steady depletion of bone matter that is common with the condition and they can help to reduce the elevated risk of fractures that people with the condition are susceptible to. While perhaps the most common form of treatment for osteoporosis, there is a downside to the regular use of bisphosphonates and that is a hefty side effect list. On the mild side, pain in the abdomen, nausea and swallowing difficulty may be experienced. However, longer term rarer side effects can be serious and even dangerous. In addition to the risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw, cracking thighbones are another unusual, unlikely but very concerning problem related to the use of some types of osteoporosis medication.
Aside from drugs designed to combat the slow replacement of digested bone, natural treatment for osteoporosis may also come in the form of hormone replacement therapy (in the case of women whose condition may be linked to fluctuating hormones), bone growth stimulators like Forteo and other bone growth drugs like Prolia. However, each does come with it’s own unique list of side effects and potential risks.
Natural treatment for osteoporosis is, as a result, becoming more and more popular. Some people have found a lessened need to use medications regularly by either employing healthier lifestyle habits, exploring alternative types of therapy, or a combination of both. For example, an osteoarthritis diet (OA diet) that emphasizes the ingestion of whole produce and limited calories can help sufferers of that condition reduce their weight and therefore drop their chances of OA in the knees by half. And, acupuncture has been long hailed for its ability to reduce pain in various parts of the body, but it’s been particularly well liked in individuals in need of lower and upper back pain relief. Additionally there are many supplements that use natural ingredients to help prevent bone loss and possibly stimulate new bone growth. While perhaps less risky in terms of side effects, there is unlikely to be much pain relief gained from this type of treatment for osteoporosis, and it may be less feasible in later stages of the condition.
Interestingly enough, one natural treatment for osteoporosis may be better than all other forms of non medicinal therapy, thanks to the healing power of cold. Recent studies have shown that cryotherapy may be an incredibly effective treatment for osteoporosis related discomfort. Cryotherapy, also known as cold therapy, is thought to affect the body in numerous ways. Instantly, pain from various parts of the body may be relieved thanks to both the procedure’s effects on the nervous and endocrine systems. A deep chill to the outside of the skin prompts the body to not only produce endorphins that can bring about pain relief, but also may help to numb pain recepting nerves in the body. Longer term benefits may come from the immune response that a liquid nitrogen based freeze can initiate, including the body’s mad rush to send out all of its repair forces at once to promote fast internal healing. What all of these processes result in is natural pain relief that has been hailed by everyone from athletes to arthritis sufferers.
Whole body cryotherapy has become much more popular in recent decades thanks to a more publicized use by professionals who use the treatment to recover from both strenuous activities and injuries, but it was actually developed for chronic pain management. As time has elapsed, the use of cryotherapy for more and more conditions has led to it’s use in many more conditions than just simply muscle and joint pain. Whole body cryotherapy, also known as cold therapy has been used successfully to treat skin conditions like eczema and occupational hazards like repetitive strain injuries, and now it’s possible that it might be an effective treatment for osteoporosis too.
More research will need to be done to determine how well cryotherapy treats bone loss and whether or not it’s more useful in symptom relief or condition treatment. However, most people who have the therapy find that it leaves them feeling healthier, rejuvenated and in substantially less pain. It’s not a wonder that cryotherapy in Toronto is becoming so popular – it’s one of the focal points of what is becoming a hot new trend in healthy pain management. But, perhaps the best part of considering cryotherapy as a treatment for osteoporosis is that it’s rarely associated with adverse effects or side effects, making it a natural therapy choice for short and long term relief.