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I keep falling/breaking bones

Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: Jul 25, 2022 | Replies (31)
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@calicat

I am 62 Female non smoker. Diabetic but controlled with Metformin. I have broken my femur 6 years ago from a simple fall. It never healed correctly so have had 2 surgeries in 2021 to correct it including bone grafting to build up lost bone in my femur. I was on a path of healing until 3 weeks ago I fell in my home again and now have a tibia fracture. I have had a Dexa scan which shows osteopenia. Severe osteoarthritis in the right leg-leg with all the problems. I take Calcium and Vitamin D supplements. What can be going on that my bones in my leg break so easy just from a fall?

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Replies to "I am 62 Female non smoker. Diabetic but controlled with Metformin. I have broken my femur..."
lkel | @lkel | Jul 19, 2022

Hove you previously broken any bones?

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Teri | @tsc | Jul 19, 2022

Hi @calicat, @callalloo recently posted this link to a podcast of two endocrinologists discussing "TBS" or Trabecular Bone Score" which measures the microarchitecture of the bone. The Dexa scan measures the thicknessof the bone, the quantity. The TBS captures the quality of the bone. Someone can have normal or not so bad bone density, but poor TBS, which could lead to fractures. Maybe you live somewhere where it would be possible to get your TBS. You can google it for more information.

Here's the link to the podcast, which is interesting:
https://www.medimapsgroup.com/panel-discussion-on-integrating-tbs-into-clinical-practice/

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catluvr999 | @catluvr999 | Jul 19, 2022

I'm wondering about all these falls I'm reading about. I don't think I've ever fallen as an adult....knock on wood....but I'm nervous about it since my balance is worsening. I once read that at least sometimes a fall isn't the cause of the broken femur but rather the broken femur happened first, causing the fall. I don't know how doctors/patients discern which is their case, but it's an interesting idea. Not sure which I'd prefer to be the case.

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Amanda Burnett | @amandaa | Jul 22, 2022

Hi @calicatand welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I want you to be able to connect with people who have easily broken bones like you, so I moved your post to this discussion:
I keep falling/breaking bones
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-keep-fallingbreaking-bones/?pg=2#comment-728143

Have you talked to your physician about how you can strengthen your bone density?

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