Make No Bones About It

Mom was a few months short of 90 when she passed, and she enjoyed relatively good health well into her mid 80’s. She was a very social person, happy to participate in many of the activities at her care facility. She walked every day (even though it was only a few blocks to get her Starbucks☺️) and took her medications as prescribed.

Unfortunately, as is often the case, the “Silent Thief” of osteoporosis ultimately contributed greatly to her demise. A devastating fall as she was rushing to answer her phone, left her right shoulder shattered. So much so, there was no point in attempting surgery. And a downhill spiral slowly gained momentum.

Mom is a Fitness Model

Mom discovered she had osteoporosis in her late 50’s. Ultimately, she was referred to a dedicated clinic at a local Women’s Hospital to be monitored, and she set about doing everything she was told. She took her calcium supplements and Vitamin D every day, along with a specific osteoporosis medication. She regularly followed an exercise routine that incorporated light weights. As a result of her efforts, she was asked to pose for a picture intended for a newspaper article that was syndicated across Canada. Wow! Mom was in the big time!

And as is often the case, she charmed the clinicians and everyone she came in contact with at the clinic. So much so, she was asked to pose for a Program Manual to illustrate proper technique for a set of exercises intended as a reference for clinicians who worked with osteoporosis patients. Our Mom, in her late 70’s was a “fitness model” and she was thrilled!

As you can see, the exercises were intended for seniors who needed a more gentle approach to their situation. The weights were light and many exercises were performed seated. Sadly, in her later years, I don’t remember Mom having a bone scan, which may indicate that at her age, there was no point. The damage was done.

The Osteoporosis Curse

I was in my early 40’s when I was told I had osteopenia, which is a precursor to osteoporosis. Yes, I had inherited the osteoporosis curse. 😟 I was upset but not enough to really tackle the problem. I “dabbled” in osteoporosis medications, but often let prescriptions lapse. Eventually, I was told I had moderate osteoporosis, which meant I was at moderate risk for a fracture within the next 10 years. Hmmm, time to get serious.

Fast forward to today. I take an injectable medication every 6 months and I have been working with a trainer for 9 years. She is very aware of the importance of exercise and incorporates lifting weights at every session. And as a precaution against a potentially serious fall, we work on balance exercises.

Rather than take calcium supplements, I drink 3 eight ounce glasses of milk every day. I take a daily Vitamin D supplement and add cheese, yogurt and nuts as much as possible. For a while I had a yearly bone scan but since my results started to show improvement, I now have a scan every 3 years. I am proud to say that I am a success story. My Tscores have improved dramatically and I am determined to continue to progress.

Meanwhile, the curse has also snagged Little Sis. She has osteopenia. Fortunately, there is still time for her to “nip it in the bud.” As you can clearly see, she is taking the issue very seriously, having graduated from lifting cases of beer to the real thing.

I know Mom would be proud that we are tackling bone loss head on. We are both so fortunate that we were diagnosed early enough to take charge and manage our health. Sadly, as of yet however, neither of us has been asked to be a fitness model. Sigh…..

We will be doing a new post every Monday so stay tuned for our next one entitled “On the Road Again”