Ballerina and dancesport champion Anna Marie Periquet was 49 when she was diagnosed with osteoporosis. A swollen foot and severe pain in the back, knees, and feet prompted her to seek medical help. After taking a bone mineral density test, her doctors revealed that she already had multiple fractures and bones like those of an 80-year-old woman. Anna also suffered from lumbar spondylosis, periostitis of the foot and lower extremity neuroma.
With her healthy diet and active lifestyle, she never imagined herself to suffer from a bone disease. She was not spared from bearing the brunt of having porous bones as she ticked off all the items on the osteoporosis risk factor list: woman with a small body frame, Caucasian or Asian, and perimenopausal. She consequently was not able to continue her dance training and fitness program that her body was used to.
“Throughout my difficulties with osteoporosis, I learned the valuable lesson of acceptance and the joy that comes with it,” Periquet said.
“There are certain movements that I can’t do as well as before or totally anymore, but I have found that healing begins and happiness takes over when we accept defeats but still take a chance to change our life for the better, despite our limitations,” she added.
According to Dr. Monica Therese Cabral, former President of the Osteoporosis Society of the Philippines Foundation Inc. (OSPFI), an estimated 8.9 million Filipinos have osteoporosis.
People gradually start losing bone mass from age 35, but women, especially those who have early menopause or who underwent a hysterectomy, are more likely to have osteoporosis.
“Taking care of our bone health should start in childhood. Physical activity, especially exercises that involve weight-bearing, such as walking and jogging, can help make bones stronger and healthier,” Dr. Cabral said.
“As we age, we slowly lose bone mass, but the higher the peak bone mass in your youth, the less likely it is to develop osteoporosis in the future,” she added.
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become porous and weak. It develops when bone mineral density decreases due to various factors like poor nutrition, low physical activity, age, hormonal changes, unhealthy lifestyle choices, and certain medical conditions. With weak bones, a person’s risk of fracture increases that even simple movements like sneezing or lifting a grocery bag can cause a bone to break.
The painful reality is that there is no cure for osteoporosis. However, there are ways to lower the risk of fractures and strengthen the bones.
“There are two types of effective medications for osteoporosis—one slows down bone resorption, the other aids in bone growth,” said Dr. Edgar Eufemio, Medical Director of the Peak Form Sports Recovery Center and Chairman of the Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CMSC) Sports Medicine Institute.
“Aside from medications, one should also have adequate Calcium and Vitamin D intake and proper diet, and engage in resistance exercises that promote muscle toning using weights and activities that aid in coordination and balance, like yoga, pilates, tai chi,” he said.
In Periquet’s case, Dr. Eufemio recommended a teriparatide injection that works fast in aiding bone growth, although it requires daily injections. The ballerina administered the bone-regenerating drug to herself for 18 months. She also underwent regular physical therapy and maintained a healthy lifestyle. After ten months, she was well on her way to recovery.
Periquet’s recovery journey is a story of hope for every person enduring the pain of weak and broken bones. Certainly, there is life after osteoporosis.
“Living with osteoporosis is possible and I want to show to everyone that this disease is beatable and treatable,” she said.
Knowing how difficult it is to live with the disease, she sought to empower those with osteoporosis by embracing advocacy. Periquet agreed to be a lay spokesperson of the OSPFI, and as she celebrates 50 years of dance this year, she is also embarking on a passion project to raise awareness on osteoporosis and promote bone health through dance and movement healing.
“Osteoporosis is a chronic preventable illness that is fast becoming a world health problem,” said Dr. Theresa Marie Valdez-Faller, President of OSPFI. “Our mission is to promote the study of osteoporosis through education, advocacy and research.”
To know more about programs for osteoporosis awareness, visit OSPF’s Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/OsteoporosisPhilippines.