Osteoporosis: The Patient Perspective
- Good Country Physio
- Sep 25
- 3 min read
Have you ever wondered how people find out they have osteoporosis or even what it’s like to live with it? Join us today where we hear a lived experience perspective of osteoporosis and find out why getting a bone density screening is important.
Listen here:
Or keep reading for the key points from our conversation:
When did you first learn that you had osteoporosis and what led to your diagnosis?
I was around my mid-40s. We travelled around Australia, and we had been on the road off and on, but we had settled for that period of time in Queensland. I was helping my daughter move some furniture and fell backwards and landed on my right hand and broke my wrist.
I'd been to visit a doctor a few times, and we had been talking about menopause. I had gone into early menopause due to a hysterectomy in my very early 40s. Early menopause and the fracture led to looking into my bone density and hence I discovered that it was really low.
What would you say your experience has been like accessing health services while you've been living rurally?
It's been really good - from my experience it’s been rewarding with my care plan. This provides regular doctor visits and physiotherapy sessions.
What advice would you give to someone in the Limestone Coast area who might be at risk who hasn't been tested yet?
Yeah, well, I think if they find that there is either family history, they've had recent fractures or something that makes them think, well, what is my bone density like? I highly recommend that they go and get that tested because early intervention is better than letting it go.
In terms of your management, what strategies or lifestyle changes have helped you to manage your bone health?
Well, I know I haven't always done the right things. I've always been pretty active and felt that being active is enough. However, the medical professionals have encouraged strengthening exercises - which I have recently started.
If you could share one message with others about osteoporosis, what would it be?
From my experience, I know that I would have been better to have gotten treatment straight away. Unfortunately for me, I was in that era where hormone replacement for early onset menopause wasn't a thing. The first thing my specialist said to me was, oh, what a shame you haven't been on some hormone replacement therapy because that would have made a difference. So I would say seek specialist support right from the moment you have a diagnosis and that way you know you're on the right track with the medications. That has really been a thing for me, I guess, I've known now for 20 years. But the treatment for it has been minimal over that time. For the last 10 years, it's been pretty good, but it could have been a whole lot better if it was earlier.
That's what I would say to people. Just get some care.
Knowing what you know now about osteoporosis, what would you tell your younger self or your children to do through the stages of life to prevent the condition?
Keep fit and watch your diet. I think they’re the important things that you can do. I've also told my immediate relatives: my sisters, my children, that it would be best to go and have yourself checked. It's within the family, so just go and check. And it's not a scary thing to have, it's just a matter of treating it.
The sooner you know and can have an awareness of it, the better.
Listen to the Podcast here: Search "Good Country Physio" on Spotify.
Helpful Resources:
Gabrielle Prider and Chelsea Holmes
4th Year Physiotherapy Students at the University of South Australia
Undertaking their Health Promotion placement at Good Country Physiotherapy, supervised by Angela Willsmore
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