Suggest Treatment For Osteopenia In An Elderly Person

Posted on Sat, 16 Apr 2016

Question: I am writing this on behalf of my mother. She is aged ~53 and weight of about ~75-80kg. height of ~5.2-5.4. Recently she started having trouble in her knees. On initial diagnosis, the doctor said it was mild case of osteoporosis/osteopenia. The current level of symptoms include knee/foot join pain. More on the left leg than the right. The doctor mentioned that the lubricant between joints had dried out a bit. The pain is moderate to less in the morning and get gradually more towards the end of the day. She finds it difficult in using XXXXXXX toilets, standing and sleeping at night is somewhat painful. Although the doctor said its a mild case, and recommended some XXXXXXX ( Prescription attached along ), I am still very concerned and really want to understand the problem deeper and make every possible effort to get her better and fight the problem. I dearly wish that you recommend/suggest

- Strict do's and dont's in everyday activities
- Cross inspect the prescribed medication, possible short and long term side effects considering the age as well.
- Natural home treatments for betterment
- Any alternate line of treatments
- Restrictions on long, short distance travel, lifting luggages, household chores, stting down cross legged on the floor ?
- Any other information you require for me to provide in assisting of the diagnosis ?
- Exercises and stretches to absolutely avoid doing
- Suggest Exercises and stretches to be performed to strengthen the joint muscles and perhaps get better.
- What additional tests to be conducted to aid in proper diagnosis ?

Thank you in advance
- xxxxxxxx

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
She is having osteoarthritis of the knee joint

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have studied your case and reports. Your mother is having knee arthritis of both sides. In this condition there is damage to knee cartilage and parient have difficulty in knee bending and sitting on floor. It is age related process and there is no medicine which can cure it .With medicines we can slow the process. I have following suggestions for improvements.
1. She should avoid sqautting and sitting cross leg.
2.She is over weight so reduce her weight . She should walk daily, avoid walking on road or hard surfaces.
3.Tablet Etorixoxib 90 mg one daily.
4.Calcium and vitamin D 3 daily.
5.Volini gel local application.
6.need to start physiotherapy. she needs to do static quadriceps exercises.
many patients may need knee replacement if medicines are not effective in them.
You can continue pouches given by your doctor. I hope this answer will be useful for you. let me know if there is any other followup questions.
thanks

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar