A middle-aged physician suffered a broken wrist after a fall, initially attributing it to the slippery bathroom floor. Despite being a physician, the possibility of a fragility fracture due to bone loss did not immediately occur to her. A subsequent bone density test, a DEXA scan, revealed low bone density, but it was not initially perceived as alarming.
Seven years later, a routine DEXA scan indicated that her low bone density had progressed to osteopenia, a precursor to osteoporosis. Despite treatment with medication, calcium, and vitamin D supplements, her bone loss continued, progressing to osteoporosis. This prompted a consultation with an endocrinologist.
Lab work revealed high calcium levels in her urine, indicating that her kidneys were not retaining calcium effectively, thus limiting its absorption by her bones. She was prescribed new medication to improve kidney function and subsequently began bone-building injections. With her osteoporosis now managed effectively and her bones strengthening, she has resumed active pursuits, including international cycling trips.
Sixteen years after her initial fracture, her bones are stronger, enabling her to travel globally.