Hello my name is Anne and last March aged 66 I had a bone scan that showed my bone density was _4.7. I also had a xray which showed that since the end of 2022 to March 2025 I had 3 fractures one in T10 and 2 in L1 and L2 fast forward to July 2025 I had a small trip in the house and endured a severe grade 2 fracture T6. I have been terrified ever since. I started Evenity September. I am terrified that I am going to end up folded in half. Please anyone living with many multiple spinal fractures give me some hope, Thank YOU
3 Likes
Hi Anne, sorry, I do not have answers to your question. I have not had spinal fractures that I know of. It sounds so hard! A lot to take on. I have met people on OP forums who improved significantly with treatment and have a good quality of life with multiple spinal fractures. I hope you get better both mentally and physically. Now focus on what you can do and still do it as safe as you can, but do not stop moving and living. ROS helpline is excellent. Call them and they will give you support.
2 Likes
Thank you,
Yes I do speak with the nurses, but want to connect with anyone who has a very severe curve after multiple fractures and know that they can still eat and drink and sit up quite well
1 Like
If you do not get answers here, you can try positing in the Facebook group Osteoporosis Support (UK ONLY). There are several members there with multiple spinal fractures and you might find it helpful connecting to them.
2 Likes
Thank you Gala that is so kind of you
1 Like
Hi Anne
Well here I am still standing up straight with 10 fully compressed vertebrae! I’m a lady of 72 years and I was diagnosed in 2017 but ignored it and didn’t take any medication. Then in 2023 I suddenly fractured L1 and L2 whilst lifting planter in the garden. The pain was horrrendous. But I recovered and was pretty good until a year later. More absolutely indescribable pain and a kyphosis developed. Xray revealed many more fractures. At this point I finally realized that I need to take medication for my very thin bones. I’ve been on teriparatide for 7 months now and will then go on to zoledronic infusions for a few years. My dexa results are pretty bad, spine -6.0 and femeral neck so bad it can’t be measured!
So after many months of wishing I were dead I decided to put my big girl pants on and take control of my life. I was very fit before the fractures and also I don’t want to end up bent over and unable to raise my head. Exercise was needed. A lovely lady on the osteoporosis Health Unlocked forum recommended nordic walking poles for walking so I gave them a try. Marvellous! They give me support, encourage me to walk upright, not slouch and help with balance and confidence. I now walk 3 miles every day with them. I do a few gentle exercises from the ROS website but my back is so compromised that I do have to be careful. Heavy housework and the garden are no longer possible but I’m able to do light stuff so still feel useful!
It’s been a huge learning curve. All my plans for retirement went out of the window. I can’t drive anymore. I find joy in the simple things of life. The birds in my garden, a neighbour’s feline who visits us, my daily walks and all the friendly conversations I have along the way. A good book, a good series an tv, something nice to eat.
I keep myself as upright as possible. I can sit for an hour or so at a time and as long as the meal isn’t enormous I can eat well. It isn’t the life I want but it’s what I’ve got so I chose to enjoy it as best I can. I have grieved for the old me and her life but time to move on now into a different life.
Stay active, be careful but have confidence. Keep taking the meds and live your life. You are still you and you’re still here. Good luck and lots of love to you. x
9 Likes
Dear Feline,
I am so sorry for all you have gone through.Thank you for reaching out so kind of you. I am grateful that thus far you are not bent over and God willing neither you nor I will be. Firstly I wanted to reciprocate,I asked for a brace after my last thoracic fracture. It’s called Spinomed back brace and is available on the NHS. It is an ergonomic back brace which strengthens back muscles and abs there is a detailed video on the internet and information just type in medi. Next have a look at something called the back friend it was mentioned in the Osteoporosis magazine,you can use it on any chair or in the car and it keeps your posture correct. There is information on the internet if you type in the details. I have also started to eat 5prunes per day and to take vit K supplement. I have been in a fearful state since being diagnosed and the last fracture was terrifying after such a small move. What was your dexa score in 2017? and what grade where your fractures? I am a writer but at this moment in time I can’t even seem to string two words together.Thank you for reassuring me about eating.I am only small well smaller now and only weigh 127 pounds.I want to make sure that I am eating for my bones hope I haven’t left it too late. My fear about having a stoop is because last March I was diagnosed with a 1 centimetre of Barrettes esophagus due to acid reflux and I am terrified of it becoming worse if I get reflux problems in the future,I only take famotadine because consultant said it is safer than ppi for my bones. There is also no family history of osteoporosis and my identical twin seems to have great bones though she has not had dexa . So sorry for the rambling and I will most definitely get myself some Nordic poles.
1 Like
Hi I have 10 vertebral fractures plus probable RA and Costochondritis atm, so bit of a mess. I have had better times and do improve so that I can be more mobile just doing bits around the house, then something goes on strike again, so it’s one day at a time. I did nearly give up but then found pain relief that takes the worst off and really helps. I’m a bit rubbish atm but know it will improve again so am optimistic. Having trouble with this new site too! I have kyphosis so Osteo tum and everything droops down on everything else, I am 70 and more interested in comfort than fashion! Hope you get enough pain relief, I had to nag and beg dox for enough meds, but don’t give up. Best wishes.
BLESS You
I hope you too stop fracturing and have better days. What meds are you on and do you know your dexa for spine? How bad is your kyphosis? And can you straighten yourself up? Did you fracture over many years? Sorry for all the questions God Bless Anne
Thanks, this site is dreadful hope you get this, can’t find your questions to answer, so from memory, have had further fractures from hospital stay in June. No Dexa as kyphosis bad and told can’t have if can’t lie flat, lost 6” height. Not on OP meds as don’t suit so left to self and pain meds. Hope they improve this site soon! 
OH Fraid
That is awful , but even if you choose not to do meds please ask Doctor about anabolics to build some new bone and then make up your mind. Also are you having physio because you need help to possibly reduce Kyphosis enough to make it mor comfortable for your breathing and ask about vertablasty if you are still in a lot of pain and look up spinomed brace it is not rigid and would reduce the curve a bit. How stooped over are YOU Love Anne x
Hi Fraid,
Sorry to hear you couldn’t have your Dxa scan through having Kythosis, I too have Kythosis lost 3” in height. when going for my scan I ask for a pillow to rest my head also at the dentist they put a cushion behind my head, try asking or take one with you I have done that too.
I’ve got multiple spinal fractures across lumbar and thoracic areas with a catastrophic fracture of T11 in October 23 as a result of which I live with chronic and ongoing pain. I’ve had a year of Evenity and 1 x infusion with 2 more to come. Also scoliosis and kyphosis and degenerative disc disease. I’m also slight with BMI about 18 and have lost height. The nurses at the ROS are indeed excellent but I’d strongly advise you to see a physio before starting any exercises as there are plenty on the ROS website that we shouldn’t do once we’ve fractured. A physio will give you a tailored individual plan. It’s a brutal disease and my world has definitely shrunk since diagnosis and that’s hard to come to terms with. I wish you all the best and that you stay mentally and physically strong.
1 Like
Dear Moose I think it’s a very cruel disease. I to,d the Osteoporosis Society that there strap line of living well with Osteoporosis was short sighted unless you happen to be one of those who are in the early stages with no fractures.I think it’s heigh time that the scientists came up with a product that irrespective of bone density made bones so strong and fixable to prevent fragility fractures especially in the spine and hip.Your t11 fracture sounds horrendous.How did you do on evenity did you make gains and have you fractured since 2023. Take care Annex
1 Like
Hi everyone,
A very warm welcome to you all, and thank you so much for joining the community and sharing here 
As some really important topics are being discussed in this thoughtful conversation, we just wanted to share a few helpful resources for anyone who may be reading along and would like to learn more:
We also really appreciate the feedback in this thread about finding it tricky to locate previous conversations and posts.
To help with this, we’ve now added a new section to the menu (the three lines in the top right-hand corner) called “My posts.” This links directly to all of your activity, so you can easily see every conversation you’ve ever taken part in and click back into them whenever you like.
We really hope that feels helpful
For more tips on using the site, please see our Help using the community.
If there’s anything else we can do to improve the community, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly through the site or by emailing forum@theros.org.uk. We’re always grateful for any feedback or ideas that help us support the community as best we can.
Wishing you the very best,
Lulu
ROS Moderator
3 Likes
I am quite bent, lost 6” in height, didn’t even notice as I was most immobile, still am but do get breaks ( pardon pun) when I can do more. Took a month to even get xray as stubborn doc insisted pain was from kidney and op, despite me repeatedly saying it was my back. Consult said no cement as rest would collapse, avalanche he called it. I fractured over many years, first two, L4,5, I didn’t even know, always had bad back plus double discectomy where they first fractured many years ago. Two more in hospital June, from doc pushing me violently further onto my side for chest drain. Physio always made me worse, won’t touch me re fractures now, live with Osteo who can help with bits but no cures!
Drugs just pain killers, lots other meds re other health probs so am full up. Definitely no brace! Thanks anyway, will just carry on waiting for Rheum appt. And hoping pain will lessen as it does occ.
Dear Fraid. It is awful that you fractured in hospital.I am sorry that you can not have any fixes but you are very brave.To have lost so much height I assume that your fractures where quite bad ones. How do you manage to sit up to eat without acid reflux? I suppose you must have fractured over at least 10 years or more.When you are in less pain are you able to straighten out a little? Hope you get some help when you go for rheumatology appointment Love Anne x
I replied with long explanation but it wasn’t delivered, did I mention I hate tek? Anyhoo, can’t be fixed, live on recliner banana shaped, can’t remember half of it now. But thanks for your concern.
Hi Feline4, I was much encourage to read your post in reply to Ann. It was inspiring to read how positive you are despite the challenges you face. I am 67 and only have two vertebrae fractures (T5 and T7) but have experienced severe pain as a result. I started medication for osteoporosis as soon as I was diagnosed last November. My Mum had OP and I saw the pain she experienced as a result of several spinal fractures. I was in my first year of retirement when I had the fractures and diagnosis, and like you this is not the retirement I had planned and was looking forward to. However I am doing ok, being careful, and getting back to some kind of normality whilst at the same time accepting that my body has changed for ever. I will look at Nordic walking poles - I am exercising but need to do more walking. Thank you for your positivity and the reminder to focus on, and value more, some of the smaller, everyday things in life.
1 Like
Hello Jax. Feline was indeed most helpful. I hope you feel in less pain soon and can avoid further fractures. How old was your Mother when this happened to her ? Did she have lot of spinal fractures and how did she manage then when there were many less interventions. This must have brought back some very sad times for you. I assume that she had to live with the fractures for a long time and find her own way of coping, but like we have all said this is not the retirement or life that we wanted for ourselves. I bought a treadmill and try to walk every day on it but in the better weather I too will be out with my poles they will give me much mor confidence. Before all this I went every where but now I am just terrified it knocks your confidence . I find that when I do sit down that my Backfriend helps I bought the additional fleece cover which makes it super comfy and I know that I am keeping my back aligned properly . Take Care Anne x
1 Like