Is Osteo Arthritis and Osteoporosis the same thing?
05/05/08
I have Osteo Athritis, is it the forerunner to Osteoporosis? I have it in my neck, lower back, right hip and knee also in my left thumb.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Thank you for your excellent query! Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis are completely separate conditions that both involve the bone, and one does not lead to the other. However, drugs called corticosteroids are often used to treat osteoarthritis, and these are known to lead to lower bone mass and possibly osteoporosis. For this reason patients being treated for osteoarthritis may be more likely to develop osteoporosis. If you are taking such medications, talk with your doctor about extra measures you might take to help preserve your bone density.
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