Issue 2 - Summer - Providence Washington - Providence Health ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

These b nes ARE MADE FOR WALKING Osteoporosis is preventable in many cases. Know the signs and treatment options, and take these steps at all ages to keep your bones healthy and strong for life At a rest stop along I-84, Genevieve Crandall stepped out of the car. It was summer 2011, and the Florida resident was enjoying her vacation— which included celebrating her grandson’s graduation in Spokane and taking a trip with her daughter to Portland to watch a tennis tournament. In an instant, the independent lifestyle she had enjoyed for 86 years was swept away. “A gust of wind picked my mother up and threw her 10 feet backward, breaking her left hip, pelvis and wrist,” recalls Stephanie Pappas Butler. At a nearby hospital, surgeons did a partial hip replacement and set her wrist. She returned to Spokane with her daughter and began physical therapy. But her pain increased. Butler took her mother to see Carla Smith, MD, a surgeon with Providence Orthopedic Specialties and the principle investigator on two bone studies at Providence Medical Research Center. Dr. Smith discovered that when Crandall fell, she had also broken her right hip and had multiple fractures to her pelvis. With adjustments in her daily therapy program, however, she began to recover. Indication of Osteoporosis Before Crandall was strong enough to return to Florida, she fell again, this time from a standing position. She was rushed to Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children’s Hospital, where Dr. Smith performed surgery to repair her broken right hip. “Healthy bones are strong,” says Dr. Smith. “So when Genevieve fell from a standing position and broke her hip, there was strong indication of osteoporosis, a disease that makes bones fragile and likely to break.” Crandall is not alone. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), osteoporosis and its precursor—low bone density (referred to as osteopenia)—occur in more than 44 million people in the U.S. The AAOS says that fragility fractures have become nearly epidemic among older Americans with more than 2 million fractures occurring each year—“more than heart attacks, strokes and newly diagnosed breast cancer combined.” Like so many who have experienced hip fractures, Crandall’s broken bones resulted in a dramatic change in lifestyle. Always adventuresome and independent, the avid golfer and onetime cast member of the 1944 Betty Grable film Pin Up Girl found herself in need of assisted living and daily help from her daughter. Osteoporosis is not curable, but if properly diagnosed it is treatable. And that’s the catch. “Osteoporosis is silent, 14 ● Summer 2012 Heart Beat
Story by Liz DeRuyter • Photos by Gary Matoso Stephanie Pappas Butler and her mother, Genevieve Crandall, are learning about osteoporosis together and how to improve bone health at any age. Take Steps to Prevent Falls In addition to exercise, Carla Smith, MD, a surgeon with Providence Orthopedic Specialties, says that it’s also important to understand what can be done to prevent falls: • Make certain your home is well lit. • Remove obstacles that may cause you to trip, such as rugs. • Keep eyeglasses handy, and use them whenever moving about. • Use assisted walking devices. • Make a plan to ensure you take your daily supplements and medications. Summer 2012 Heart Beat ● 15
Page 1 and 2: heartbeat providence Quality health
Page 3 and 4: providence heartbeat Executive Edit
Page 5 and 6: {mailbag} Helping Hands Dear Heart
Page 7 and 8: Expanding Care to the Community Tru
Page 9 and 10: Summer Safety Ah, summer. A time fo
Page 11 and 12: 3WINDOW SAFETY GUARDS A fall from a
Page 13: says. “I also counsel patients on
Page 17 and 18: Free Bone Density Screening Call to
Page 19 and 20: y kate vanskike At Providence Sacre
Page 21 and 22: “I wish I could put into words wh
Page 23 and 24: freely and enjoy more energy. In ge
Page 25 and 26: You know that Providence Health Car
Page 27 and 28: {HISTORY} The Beat Goes On Celebrat
Page 29 and 30: is to be another set of eyes on the
Page 31 and 32: {community calendar} Summer 2012 Cl

Issue 2 - Summer - Providence Washington - Providence Health ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?