My mother is recovering from surgery for a broken hip caused by a fall. What can be done to help her become independent again?
Finding out the reason for her broken hip is a good first step. Your mother is likely to have osteoporosis. If she has never had a bone density test, it is important that she have one. This is the only way to diagnose osteoporosis. If she has osteoporosis, she needs to talk with her healthcare provider about taking an osteoporosis medication that is right for her. Taking an osteoporosis medicine can help reduce her chance of having another broken bone and prevent bone loss. One medicine has been specifically tested in patients who have recently broken a hip. This medicine is zoledronic acid (Reclast®). It can reduce the risk of more broken bones and even extend the life of women and men who have broken a hip due to osteoporosis. Your mother also needs to get 1,200 mg of calcium and 800-1,000 IU of vitamin D every day. Getting enough calcium and vitamin D are important to help keep her bones strong and healthy. Vitamin D not only helps absorb calcium, it plays a role in muscle strength
