Living with ‘bones of glass’

‘IT is like living in a glass house - and that ‘house’ is your body.’

Kim (not her real name) has been living with crippling osteoporosis for two years, and says her life took a 180 degree turn one evening after going to the fridge for some yogurt.

‘One minute I was at the fridge, and the next thing I was sitting on the floor in excruciating pain.’

Her legs had literally shattered underneath her, leaving her with a double fracture below the knee in both legs.

‘I managed to call for help and was rushed to hospital where I underwent an operation that left me wheelchair-bound for six months.’

After a series of tests, the specialist diagnosed Kim (65) with a degenerative bone disorder most commonly known as osteoporosis.

This treatable and manageable condition makes the bones brittle and fragile, which results in frequent fractures.

‘My life has changed remarkably since then,’ says the single retiree.

‘Before I used to be completely independent, living alone, driving myself around and living a healthy and active lifestyle.

‘Now I live in a mobile access bachelor flat and I’m completely dependent on my family and friends.’

Despite having to deal with these lifestyle changes, Kim lives in constant fear of falling or being bumped.

‘Just the smallest impact or fall will result in a fracture, which is terribly painful and takes months to recover from.’

She takes pain killers, vitamins and specialist bone medication which is costly.

Despite these obstacles in her daily life, Kim is bubbly and keeps herself mentally active by building puzzles, watching television and colouring in to pass the time.

‘I also go for short walks with my medical walking aid and attend physiotherapy every two weeks.

‘I cannot wrap myself up in cotton wool and hide away, but

I do avoid social interaction and events because of this disorder.’

What is osteoporosis?

I cannot wrap myself up in cotton wool and hide away

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone, produces too little bone, or both.

As a result, bones become weak and may break from a fall or, in serious cases, from sneezing or minor bumps.

Osteoporosis means ‘porous bone’.

Viewed under a microscope, healthy bone looks like a honeycomb.

When osteoporosis occurs, the holes and spaces in the honeycomb are much larger than in healthy bone.

Osteoporotic bones have lost density or mass and contain abnormal tissue structure.

As bones become less dense, they weaken and are more likely to break.