One out of 3 women and one out of 12 men suffer from . From an "old ladies disease", osteoporosis is now looked upon as a serious epidemic not only in Europe. You do not have to be old to suffer from osteoporosis.
One out of 3 women and one out of 12 men suffer from . From an "old ladies disease", osteoporosis is now looked upon as a serious epidemic not only in Europe. You do not have to be old to suffer from osteoporosis. Men and women in their twenties, thirties and forties have been afflicted with osteoporosis, although it is more usual to women in their fifties and later.
People with osteoporosis suffer from this chronic disease in various ways. Some may seem more important than others but healthcare workers should take all serious. Healthcare workers should be aware of the various problems sufferers have and should be able to advise them how to cope with their problems.
The medical problems of people with a hip fracture or even a forearm fracture are well known. All fractures are painful! The hospitalization, the loss of independence and the sometimes forced move to a nursing home is a devastating experience. Spinal fractures can cause excruciating back pain for many years before they are even diagnosed. People with spinal osteoporosis have problems, which can be divided in medical problems and personal problems:
Medical problems
Personal problems
Some personal remarks from men and women calling our help-line:
"The worst is the image people have when they see me. That bent back of mine!. When I look in the mirror I do not recognize myself. I keep thinking: that's not me."
"Asking neighbors or relatives for help. Disabled in doing things for myself. It’s so frustrating."
"It takes me more than an hour to get dressed in the morning and what for – I never get out anyway"
"My wife is in a wheelchair and it is so frustrating that I cannot carry her or help her when needed."
"It took the doctors 15 years to find out that I (a man of 50 years old) have osteoporosis, they all thought it was a ‘women-only’ disease."
"I’m so sad that I cannot walk anymore since my hip fracture"
"I haven’t been out for years, I’m afraid to fall and break something again"
"You wonder: Do I really have to go to a nursing home?"
"I feel sentenced to jogging outfits and large sweaters, nothing fits anymore – all my normal clothes are too tight or ill-fitted."
"Before I had spinal osteoporosis I enjoyed shopping and buying new clothes, now I am ashamed to show myself in fashion shops so I haven’t bought new cloths for years."
"People without spinal osteoporosis have no idea what it means to be a sufferer, ok, your 15 cm smaller, so what!"
Sufferer support
Next to the necessary medical support, people with osteoporosis need personal support and understanding from healthcare workers, family and friends. People with osteoporosis deserve it to be taken seriously with their medical and personal problems.
What can be done?
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