• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center

Show Search
Hide Search
  • Disease Information
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Psoriatic Arthritis
    • Ankylosing Spondylitis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Gout
    • Osteoporosis
  • Patient Corner
    • Drug Information Sheets
    • Managing Your Arthritis
    • RheumTV – Patient Education Video Library
  • Our Research
    • Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
    • Current Research Studies
    • The Camille Julia Morgan Arthritis Research and Education Fund
  • About Us
    • Appointment Information
    • Contact Us
    • Our Faculty
    • Our Staff
    • Rheumatology Specialty Centers
  • Donate
Home / Ask the Expert / osteoporosis and steroid treatment

osteoporosis and steroid treatment

April 23, 2007 By Arthritis Center

Question

I am a 51 year old woman and had a hysterectomy over 20 years ago. My rheumatologist told me I have a very severe case of osteoporosis in my lumbar and should resume treatment immediately. Her suggestion is a daily dose for 2 years that I will inject myself. I cannot remember the name of it and cannot find any further information at this time on the internet. I would like to know if you know of any of these treatments and the safety. Also, I have read over and over that steroids contribute to this disease. I have had several injections of cortisone in my lumbar and other areas of my body. I also have a hemangeoma in my L4 vertabrae that consumes at least half of the inner vertabrae. I am currently scheduled to have epidural injections in my lumbar for pain treatment in the same area of my most severe osteoporosis. I am very confused and ready to cancel this appointment. Why would doctors put my back at further risk knowing the dangers of steroids and osteoporsis? Please tell me your opinion on this subject.

Answer

I think the medication your doctor has recommended is Forteo. Forteo is a synthetic version of a hormone called parathyroid hormone. It is given by daily self injection and in many cases can build bone density. It is used for severe osteoporosis particularly if there has already been a fracture. Steroids can cause osteoporosis but mainly when taken orally or given daily by intravenous or intramuscular injections. Local injections of steroids such as epidurals do not signficantly worsen osteoporosis. Look on this website for more info.

Arthritis Center

Founded in 1998, the Arthritis Center at Johns Hopkins is dedicated to providing quality education to patients and healthcare providers alike.

Primary Sidebar

Ask The Expert Topics

  • Alternative Therapies
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Associated With Other Illnesses
  • Bursitis and Tendinitis
  • Corticosteroids
  • Diet and Exercise
  • Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)
  • Enteropathic Arthritis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • General Arthritis
  • Gout, Pseudogout, Other
  • Infectious Arthritis
  • Myositis
  • Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteonecrosis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Polymyalgia Rheumatica
  • Psoriatic Arthritis
  • Reactive Arthritis
  • Regional Pain: Back and Neck
  • Rehabilitation
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Surgical Therapy
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
  • Systemic Sclerosis
  • Vasculitis
RheumTV Logo

Rheum.TV is an informational platform created to educate patients living with a rheumatic disease. With over 100 disease education videos produced by the team at Johns Hopkins Rheumatology.

Visit Rheum.TV

Footer

Johns Hopkins Rheumatology

  • Johns Hopkins Rheumatology
  • Johns Hopkins Lupus Center
  • Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center
  • Johns Hopkins Myositis Center
  • Johns Hopkins Scleroderma Center
  • Johns Hopkins Sjögren’s Syndrome Center
  • Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Johns Hopkins Medicine

© 2023 Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center
Patient Privacy