At the Center for Better Bones, we often say that it is difficult to solve a problem you do not fully understand. If you have a bone health problem — or if you or your doctor just suspect you might have a serious bone concern — an osteoporosis medical work-up is in order. As I always say, if it is serious enough for your physician to prescribe an osteoporosis drug, it is serious enough to merit medical testing to look for any hidden causes of the bone loss.

The medical osteoporosis work-up is so important that I have taken the time to list 13 key tests that will help uncover most hidden medical issues that can cause or contribute to excessive bone loss (some of these tests are described in the Bone Health Tests table in the women's health testing guide on WomentoWomen.com). While many physicians already routinely request some of these tests in women undergoing bone loss, many of them will not be performed unless you ask for them.

Over and over again we find that such simple medical tests can often reveal important causes of bone loss, such as inadequate vitamin D or a loss of calcium in the urine — problems that can be corrected, leading to improved bone health.

Everyone is an individual, and your reasons for bone loss are unique to you as well. Following my “Take Heart and Take Action” slogan, I suggest you print off this information on medical testing, read it, take it to your doctor, and find out if these tests are appropriate for you.

I hate to say "I told you so," but for years, I've said that Fosamax and similar drugs had the potential to actually make bones weaker. This is because these strong bisphosphonate medications dramatically reduce both bone breakdown and bone formation, and thus can lead to the creation of "static" or "adynamic" bone — bone that is not capable of healing and renewing itself. I've seen cases of this myself. One was my client Carol, who had been using Fosamax for several years. One day, she simply twisted around, lost her balance, and fell to the floor. From this simple fall, Carol shattered her upper leg bone.

Now enough cases of such needless fractures related to long-term bone medication use have been collected that they've gotten the attention of the national news media. If you missed it, here's a link to Diane Sawyer's report on ABC News describing the risk of fractures associated with long-term bisphosphonate use.

There is a better way. A natural approach to bone healththat works with and not against the body's healing abilities can not only rebuild weak bones into bones that are stronger and more flexible, it can also support total health. If you or someone you care about is considering or already taking Fosamax or similar medications, please take the time to review our section on bone health to learn more about supporting your bones with nutrition and healthful living.

Breaking a bone can stop us all in our tracks, no matter what age we are. But particularly for women in their 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, a fracture can come with a lot of fear and, worst of all, the feeling of helplessness. With 9 million osteoporotic fractures occurring every year, you should know that you can do more than just sit back and let it heal. We have much more influence over the healing process than many practitioners convey. Everything from what you eat to how you move can speed or slow down healing. Here are three ideas that will have you on a fast track to health:

1. Aspirin and ibuprofen slow healing. What do you reach for when you’re in pain? So many of the people I talk with at the Center for Better Bones say aspirin and ibuprofen are their first choices when in pain. But these anti-inflammatory medications can delay the healing process. Inflammation is an important part of the cleaning and re-building process of healing a fracture. Ibuprofen and aspirin inhibit this necessary inflammation and therefore delay healing. A better choice for pain relief would be acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol). And I always suggest using more natural supplements like vitamin C, quercetin, and omega-3 fatty acids.

2. Your body requires more nutrients, protein, and calories. Fracture healing requires a lot of energy and can increase your metabolism significantly. Depending on the injury, your body could require up to double your normal caloric intake! Protein is particularly important during this time because about half of bone is comprised of protein. The protein matrix is where mineral crystals (the other half of bone) are laid to build strength. Supplementing your diet with minerals like zinc, copper, calcium, phosphorus, and silicon will give your body the building blocks for strong new bone. Vitamins C, D, K, and B6 also specifically help in the bone-building process. So don’t skimp on alkalizing fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and quality protein.

3. Exercise may be a good thing. Though it may seem like the last thing on your list, exercising is a key component to speeding fracture healing. For one thing, it increases blood flow to the fractured area, flooding the area with more nutrients to help with healing. Joint loading also prompts the bone to increase matrix synthesis. Of course you’ll want to avoid direct stress on the broken bone, but try range of motion, tendon-gliding, and joint-loading exercises — talk to your practitioner about specific exercises, or get a referral for physical therapy.

You’re not helpless when it comes to healing a fracture. Give yourself a hand with the right bone support.