Emergency Department at Full Capacity

 443.849.2000

In this section
Dismiss Modal
Close

Health expert recommends evaluation for hip pain and low energy fractures

February 19, 2024
Health expert recommends evaluation for hip pain and low energy fractures

As people age, the risk for certain diseases and injuries increases. Sometimes, risk of injury is directly related to a disease, such as the loss of bone density and increased risk of bone fractures due to osteoporosis.

James C. Johnston, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at GBMC Health Partners Orthopaedics, explains postmenopausal women over the age of 50 are especially at risk of breaking a hip.

“As women age, they don’t produce as much estrogen, which weakens their bones. That, combined with weakening vision and balance, makes for an increased risk of hip fractures,” he says. While postmenopausal women are at a higher risk, everyone over 50 should be aware that their bones may not be as strong as they used to be.

Osteoporosis is a silent disease, says Dr. Johnston, so you wouldn’t know you have it until you break a bone.

“There isn’t a way to stress test your bones like you can with your heart on a treadmill. So, a low-energy fracture, like breaking your wrist by tripping over a rug, may be the only indicator that your bone density could be improved,” Dr. Johnston says. “You can also get a DEXA scan to measure bone density and use the FRAX Score (Fracture Risk Assessment Tool) online can help assess your risk for osteoporosis.”

If you are diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia (pre-osteoporosis), there are some things you can do to increase your bone density.

“Resistance training (weight-bearing exercise), avoiding alcohol and smoking, eating a balanced diet, and making sure you are getting enough vitamin D3 to build up your bones are all ways to treat and even reverse osteoporosis,” Dr. Johnston says. “Preventing falls is also incredibly important. If you don’t fall, you don’t fracture.”

Increasing core strength, working on improving your balance, and having confidence as you walk can all help prevent falls, and in turn, prevent fractures.

There are several types of hip fractures and various ways of treating them, usually requiring surgery. Dr. Johnston says the methods of treatment will vary from patient to patient, and that’s where having a dedicated team of specialists, like the ones at GBMC, comes into play.

Another cause of hip pain as we age, not osteoporosis-related, is arthritis and this often occurs because of the way the hip is formed at birth. Trauma, genetics, family history, and even birth order can play a role in how your hip socket is formed, Dr. Johnston says, and some impingements can lead to hip problems later in life. He says keeping your weight in a healthy range is the best way to avoid hip issues due to arthritis as you get older.

“If you have mild hip arthritis, carrying excess weight will only make that problem bigger, and hip problems are tough to treat because everything you do requires your hips,” he says.

He also suggests low-impact exercises and avoiding deep squats and lunges to reduce the chances of further aggravating the stress on the joint. While weight loss is the single best way to treat arthritis, other treatments range from therapy to anti-inflammatories, cortisone shots and hip replacement surgery.

“When you have hip arthritis and need a joint replacement there is more than one choice of hospital. We want patients and their families to know GBMC has an incredible joint replacement center,” Dr. Johnston says. “We have great surgeons and dedicated anesthesia teams. We’ve received the Joint Commission Certification for hip and knee replacement, and our team goes through the whole process with you. We have social workers for pre-op, great staff in the operating room, and an entire therapy team in the hospital and in your community that works together to bring a holistic approach to your care.”

  More articles

In partnership with Fox45

Related Providers
View more info
James C Johnston, MD
James C Johnston, MD

Orthopedic Surgery +1 more

Related Articles
Read article
The Future of Cancer Care at GBMC is Here

 In a single moment, everything can change. Hearing you have cancer can be an overwhelming, challenging, ...

Read article
Important Notice: GBMC Emergency Department at Full Capacity

Due to a significant increase in flu, RSV, and COVID-19 cases, our Emergency Department (ED) and inpatient units are at maximum capacity. We are working diligently to care for all patients, but we ask for your patience and cooperation during this time.

Read article
Why I Chose Oncology : Dr. Zhuoyan Li

Dr. Zhuoyan “Yan” Li finds medical oncology rewarding for the opportunity it offers to get to know he...

Read article
Right Where She Belongs: Meet Infusion Nurse Funmi Kayode

She didn’t expect this, but the best part of the day for Infusion Nurse Funmi Kayode, RN, is the time s...

Related Services

Stroke Center
Stroke Center

Ranked as one of the hospitals in Maryland with the highest stroke survival and recovery ratesAccording t...

Quality and Patient Safety Metrics
Quality and Patient Safety Metrics

.top-image-wrapper { max-width: 350px; max-height: ...

Benefits and Wellness at GBMC
Benefits and Wellness at GBMC

GBMC is committed to the wellness of each employee as a whole person – this includes physical, emotiona...

Orthopaedics
Orthopaedics

A full range of orthopaedic services are available, including: non-surgical outpatient treatments, consultations and physical therapy, fracture repair, minimally invasive total and partial joint replacements, and complex spine procedures.

Performance Improvement and Innovation
Performance Improvement and Innovation

...

View More