October 20th is marked worldwide as World Osteoporosis Day. This Disease is still a silent cause of frequent fractures. It often goes undiagnosed. Height loss and stooped back are some of the signs.
Below are the key facts on Osteoporosis:
- Osteoporosis is the hidden, underlying cause of painful, debilitating and life-threatening fractures
- The most common of osteoporotic fractures are spine (vertebral) fractures, a major cause of pain, disability and loss of quality of life
- Up to 70% of spine fractures remain undiagnosed, leaving sufferers unprotected against the high risk of more fractures
- Back pain, height-loss and stooped back are all possible signs of spine fractures – ask for testing and treatment!
- A family history of osteoporosis and broken bones is a sign that you too may be at higher risk
- Osteoporosis is a growing global problem that respects no boundaries: worldwide, fractures affect one in three women and one in five men over the age of 50.
Let us take a look at two testimonies of patients suffering from the disease
Anton Bezlyudny 19 Years Male From Russia
“My story began in 2009, when I was 10 years old. At the age of 8, I began to grow very fast – almost 10 cm every year. My first fracture of the right tibia (shinbone) occurred at the age of 10 when, as usual, I jumped down four steps on the school staircase. I felt a strong pain in my leg. I could not stand up, and my ankle began to swell up. My Dad picked me up at school and took me to the hospital. In the emergency room I had an X-ray made and my leg was put into a cast.
Medication
The doctor told my father that the bones in the picture looked transparent and I needed to eat more foods rich in calcium and vitamin D.I had to spend the first two weeks at home, as any movement caused a sharp pain. I used steel crutches to get around. I was glad that it was not necessary to go to school, and I could spend all day playing computer games and eating my favorite chips.
My mother, who is a doctor, kept telling my grandmother not to buy me ‘bad’ foods. My mother was sure that my bones, because of the rapid growth, would not have time to harden and these ‘bad’ products were preventing the proper absorption of calcium. She insisted that I should drink more milk, and eat other calcium-rich foods like yogurt and cottage cheese. Two weeks later, I returned to school.
For more than a month I had to get around on crutches. I have to say, it’s not very comfortable! I had milk and cheese every day to help my bones heal until I could finally remove the cast.As soon as the day of my ‘liberation’ came, I promptly forgot about the dairy products and began to eat chips and drink Coke again. Not two months later, I suffered another fracture, this time I broke my foot when I kicked an icy snowball. So it was another round of crutches, computer games and boredom! And it got worse – I ended up having four fractures that year.
This series of fractures puzzled the whole family. My mother got involved and studied issues related to the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
Importance Of Dairy Products To Adolescents
She lectured us about the benefits of dairy products which are so important for adolescents. We learned that one should have a daily intake of at least 1000 mg of calcium, 400 IU of vitamin D and least 2 g protein per 1 kg of body weight. I learned that foods such as cheese and sesame seeds are very rich in calcium. And that certain fish as well as cod liver oil contain a lot of vitamin D, which is needed for calcium absorption. The bones’ enemies are salty foods – as it has been shown that sodium can hinder calcium absorption into the bones.
Research On Osteoporosis
With our mother’s help, my sister and I researched for a school science project which we called ‘Why People Have Fractures’.
It turned out that one third of all children at our school have had fractures. They eat practically no dairy products, and they don’t spend enough time outdoors.
We presented our project at the school science fair, and drew attention to the problems of calcium and vitamin D deficiency and low levels of physical activity. My mom then volunteered to start the project ‘School of Health’ and she now conducts free classes for anyone who cares about their bone health.
Result Of The Project
As a family we decided to change our lives – and we’ve been successful! Today, our family of four and two cats drinks at least 4 liters of milk per day. For breakfast we usually eat cheese, milk porridge and cottage cheese. In addition to changing our diet, we got involved in sports activities. My mother is a Nordic walking instructor, conducting Nordic walking workshops for the elderly and active young people. We also help out when we can.
Now I’m 16, and I’m 192 cm (6’ 3’’) tall. I have not had a single fracture since that terrible year. I am sharing my story because I think it will be helpful for other young people, their parents and grandparents.
Dairy products are tasty and healthy. My message to all: Begin to take care of your bones in your childhood!”
YuliaPetrakakis From Greece
It was twenty-two years ago that, while attending a few seminars in the United States, I learned about osteoporosis. This led me to have my first bone mineral density measurement test (I was 44 years old). At that time it was found that I had osteopenia.
Later, while living in the USA and during a trip to Mexico, I suffered ankle fractures as well as upper and lower limb fractures.
The cause was osteoporosis, given that it was a low-trauma fall. Since then, my osteoporosis has gotten worse and I have become prone to fractures.
To date, I have suffered at total of seven ankle fractures and one spinal fracture.
Consequences Of Osteoporosis
Due to osteoporosis I had a longer recovery time, with all the relevant consequences: change in my everyday life, long-term withdrawal from my workplace, social isolation, difficulty in execution of housework, exercising, dancing, driving and shopping!
Weight-bearing exercise was not possible due to the multiple fractures and having to wear a plaster cast for a long time – however, my recovery was assisted by the opportunity I had (in the building I was staying in) to make use of the swimming pool. I swam on a daily basis, in the mornings and afternoons, which thankfully contributed to a high extent to my muscular endurance and my short-term recovery.
When I returned to Greece, I had a full medical check-up, while taking my medication according to my doctor’s advice. I tried to pay attention to my diet, with the consumption of dairy products in the right quantities on a daily basis.
When my physical condition improved enough, I included physical exercise as well as dancing in my weekly programme.
Then, I had the chance to meet the Greek patient organization ‘Butterfly Bone Health Society’ during its annual conference. Since then I have maintained contact with the Society and by attending seminars and events I keep myself up to date with the latest news concerning the disease.
In conclusion, as a patient and woman.
Important Messages To Women
- Have check-ups regularly
- Follow the advice of your doctor
- Include the right diet and exercise into your lives
- Contact your local patient society.
By getting involved with your patient society you can, apart from learning valuable information about osteoporosis, also make new friends and receive psychological as well as emotional support.
References:
https://www.worldosteoporosisday.org/
Compiled by:
Nellie Nthiga,
BDM,
C & P Health Centre
