Stop Osteoporosis from Fracturing Your Life
A stooped posture and an aching
back are the common symptoms of osteoporosis that people are aware of. Unknown to many is that osteoporosis does not
always exhibit a symptom. This silent disease
often goes unnoticed until the patient suffers osteoporotic fractures, which
can cause pain, swelling, and bruising.
Many also think that osteoporosis
is a health concern only for the elderly and those with sedentary lifestyle. While it is more common in older adults, this
bone disease can strike at any age. It can happen even to adults with active
lifestyle. It happened to a multi-awarded dancesport athlete.
A ballerina’s porous bones
Ballerina and dancesport champion
Anna Marie Periquet was 49 when she was
diagnosed with osteoporosis. A swollen foot and severe pain in the back, knees,
and feet prompted her to seek medical help. After taking a bone mineral density
test, her doctors revealed that she already had multiple fractures and bones like
those of an 80-year-old woman. Anna also suffered from lumbar spondylosis,
periostitis of the foot and lower extremity neuroma.
With her healthy diet and active
lifestyle, she never imagined herself to suffer from a bone disease. She was
not spared from bearing the brunt of having porous bones as she ticked off all
the items on the osteoporosis risk factor list: woman with a small body frame, Caucasian
or Asian, and perimenopausal. She consequently was not able to continue her
dance training and fitness program that her body was used to.
“Throughout my difficulties with
osteoporosis, I learned the valuable lesson of acceptance and the joy that
comes with it," Anna shared. "There
are certain movements that I can’t do as well as before or totally anymore, but
I have found that healing begins and happiness takes over when we accept
defeats but still take a chance to change our life for the better, despite our
limitations."
According to Dr. Monica Therese Cabral, Former President of the Osteoporosis
Society of the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (OSPFI), an estimated 8.9 million
Filipinos have osteoporosis. People gradually start losing bone mass from age
35, but women, especially those who have early menopause or who underwent a hysterectomy,
are more likely to have osteoporosis.
“Taking care of our bone health
should start in childhood. Physical activity, especially exercises that involve
weight-bearing, such as walking and jogging, can help make bones stronger and
healthier,” Dr. Cabral explained. “As we age, we slowly lose bone mass, but the
higher the peak bone mass in your youth, the less likely it is to develop
osteoporosis in the future.”
An irreversible disease that
weakens the bones
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes
bones to become porous and weak. It develops when bone mineral density
decreases due to various factors like poor nutrition, low physical activity,
age, hormonal changes, unhealthy lifestyle choices, and certain medical
conditions. With weak bones, a person’s risk of fracture increases that even
simple movements like sneezing or lifting a grocery bag can cause a bone to
break.
The painful reality is that there
is no cure for osteoporosis. However, there are ways to lower the risk of
fractures and strengthen the bones.
“There are two types of effective
medications for osteoporosis – one slows down bone resorption, the other aids
in bone growth,” explained Dr. Edgar
Eufemio, Medical Director of the Peak Form Sports Recovery Center and
Chairman of the Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CMSC) Sports Medicine
Institute.
“Aside from medications, one
should also have adequate Calcium and Vitamin D intake and proper diet, and
engage in resistance exercises that promote muscle toning using weights and
activities that aid in coordination and balance, like Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi,”
he continued.
In Anna’s case, Dr. Eufemio
recommended a teriparatide injection that works fast in aiding bone growth,
although it requires daily injections. Anna administered the bone-regenerating
drug to herself for 18 months. She also underwent regular physical therapy and
maintained a healthy lifestyle. After ten
months, she was well on her way to recovery.
Living life with osteoporosis
Her recovery journey is a story
of hope for every person enduring the pain of weak and broken bones. Certainly,
there is life after osteoporosis. Despite having the disease, Anna once again enjoys living her life to
the fullest — working in the corporate world, dancing, and performing onstage.
Receiving the right treatment and committing to a healthy lifestyle are crucial
to enjoying life even with osteoporosis.
“Living with osteoporosis is
possible and I want to show to everyone that this disease is beatable and
treatable,” said Anna. “We must do our part to raise awareness for prevention
and treatment of osteoporosis and low bone mass, and inform those who suffer
from it that they can live their lives to the fullest with proper knowledge and
guidance.”
Spreading hope through
awareness campaign
Knowing how difficult it is to
live with the disease, Anna sought to empower those with osteoporosis by
embracing an advocacy. She agreed to be a lay spokesperson of the OSPFI, and as
she celebrates 50 years of dance this year, she is also embarking on a passion
project to raise awareness on osteoporosis and promote bone health through
dance and movement healing.
“Osteoporosis is a chronic
preventable illness that is fast becoming a world health problem,” said Dr. Theresa Marie Valdez-Faller,
President of OSPFI. “Our mission is to promote the study of osteoporosis
through education, advocacy and research.”
To educate Filipinos on how to prevent
osteoporosis, OSPFI continues to implement programs and activities such as annual
conventions with international and local speakers, post graduate courses as
well as research grants for scientists and physicians conducting studies on
this disease. Outreach programs for barangay and rural health workers, and lay
fora for the patients and their relatives are also done in various provinces to
increase awareness.
There is something that can be
done to stop bones from breaking. Osteoporosis is a disease that can be prevented through lifestyle changes.
There are also ways for people with osteoporosis to receive relief and live a
normal life.
To know more about programs for
osteoporosis awareness, visit OSPF’s Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/OsteoporosisPhilippines.
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