A painful, never ending story: older women’s experiences of living with an osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture

Abstract

SummaryVertebral compression fractures (VCF) cause pain and decreased physical ability, with no known well-established treatment. The aim of this study was to illuminate the experience of living with a VCF. The results show that fear and concerns are a major part of daily life. The women’s initial contact with health-care providers should focus on making them feel acknowledged by offering person-centered and tailored support.IntroductionIn the past decade, osteoporotic-related fractures have become an increasingly common and costly public health problem worldwide. Vertebral compression fracture (VCF) is the second most common osteoporotic fracture, and patients with VCF describe an abrupt descent into disability, with a subsequent desire to regain independence in everyday life; however, little is known of their situation. The aim of this study was to illuminate the lived experience of women with an osteoporotic VCF.MethodsTen women were interviewed during 2012–2013, starting with an open-ended question: could you tell me what it is like to live with a vertebral compression fracture? The verbatim transcribed interviews were analyzed using a phenomenological hermeneutical approach.ResultsThe narrative provided descriptions of living in turmoil and chaos, unable to find stability in their life with little improvement regarding pain and physical function. Shifts from periods of constant pain to periods of fear of constant pain created a loss of confidence and an increased sense of confinement. The structural analysis revealed fear and concerns as the most prominent experience building on five themes: struggling to understand a deceiving body, breakthrough pain fueling fear, fearing a trajectory into isolation, concerns of dependency, and fearing an uncertain future.ConclusionsUntil researchers find a successful prevention or medical/surgical treatment for osteoporotic VCFs, health-care providers and society abandon these women to remain in a painful and never ending story.

Osteoporosis Patients with Fall-Related Injuries in Residential Environments: Challenges for Social Work

“…Anxiety for injury events through cases in the home is something that is recurring with the participants. This type of reaction has also highlighted previous research (Svensson et al, 2016). The study shows that almost half of the patients have experienced injury events themselves at home, but the anxiety is frequent.…”

“…Women's vulnerability to the disease has been the focus of several long-term studies (Gold, 1996;Blakeley et al, 2000;Curry et al, 2002;Chan & Ko, 2005;Svejme, 2013). Studies have also focused on the disease in elderly people (Svensson et al, 2016;Svensson et al, 2017). The importance of social support from the social network has been described in the research (Ranby & Aiken, 2016).…”

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“…That study also found that the awareness that one's health can be improved forces a choice between acting or not acting, and subsequently the responsibility for the consequences of this choice [25]. Of the "act of choosing", the Spanish philosopher Savater states that, once offered a choice, the individual is forced to make a decision, and that the opportunity not to be asked to choose no longer exists, thus making the dilemma posed by the choice inescapable [26]. Drawing on Sartre, Savater argues that being given a choice is to be condemned to be free.…”

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