Does It Hurt to Have Osteoporosis?
Key takeaways:
You lose bone mass as you get older.
Osteoporosis is a medical condition characterized by weakened bones. It is a “silent” condition with no symptoms. When people with osteoporosis feel bone pain, it’s likely from a fracture.
A calcium-rich diet, weight-bearing exercise, and some medications can help build or maintain bone mass.
Osteoporosis occurs when bones lose mass and become thin and fragile. Weak bones are more likely to break if you fall or have another type of minor trauma.
People develop osteopenia before osteoporosis. Osteopenia is a condition where bones are weaker than they should be but aren’t fragile yet.
Osteoporosis and osteopenia do not cause symptoms. They do not cause physical pain. When someone with osteoporosis feels discomfort, it may be from a fracture.
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Here’s what three people with osteoporosis say about how it feels to have the condition.
In her 60s, she started practicing how to fall
Theresa Reagan, a 62-year-old retired educator from Holland, Michigan, was devastated when she was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2022.
“I felt like I had done everything to make sure this didn’t happen,” she says.
When she was in her 20s, she was diagnosed with endometriosis, a painful condition where the tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus, known as the endometrium, starts to grow outside the uterus.
Theresa paused her periods with contraceptive injections. This gave her body a break from grueling menstrual cycles. But the treatment is linked to bone mass loss. Theresa knew the risks. She says the injections improved her quality of life.
In 2006, Theresa was diagnosed with early-stage aggressive breast cancer. She was 44 and a mom of two young children. Her treatment: a lumpectomy, hysterectomy, oophorectomy (ovary removal), and radiation.
“I went from being a 44-year-old woman with cancer to being in menopause within a few months,” Theresa says. “I needed a doctor who understood how much my body had changed.”
What causes osteoporosis? Discover expert insights on how age, hormones, nutrition, lifestyle, genetics, and medical conditions contribute.
What does it feel like to break a bone? Read experiences from three people who describe the all-consuming ache.
How does alendronate (generic Fosamax) treat osteoporosis? It’s prescribed to slow bone loss, strengthen bones, and lower fracture risk.
She found one. In 2009, the doctor ordered a bone density check. Theresa’s petite build, genetic history, and medical treatments put her at risk for osteoporosis.
A DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) scan showed osteopenia. Theresa took the news seriously and made changes to improve her health. Here are the ways she copes:
Does yoga to build core strength.
Eats a calcium-rich diet.
Gets regular exercise, including a daily 2- or 3-mile walk.
Lifts weights 3 times a week
Works to eliminate falls (using handrails, securing rugs).
After 5 years, Theresa still had osteopenia. But in 2022, a DEXA scan showed more bone loss. She had osteoporosis. She was shocked. Her doctor explained that sometimes genetics trump prevention efforts.
A self-described “dangerously optimistic person,” Theresa says she realized how many people learn they have osteoporosis from a fracture.
She takes a weekly 70 mg dose of alendronate sodium (generic Fosamax) for bone strength. She practices how to fall, watching YouTube videos for tips.
“I knew it was inevitable,” Theresa says.
She did fall recently, while walking with family in San Francisco. Her foot didn’t clear an uneven sidewalk.
“I started to go down face-first,” Theresa says. “I knew to tuck my arm and roll. I didn’t put my wrists down.”
She bruised her arm and elbow. She didn’t break any bones. Aside from being sore, she felt good about safely executing the fall.
He turned adversity and fear into adventure and advocacy
Fortune Koon, of Tampa, Florida, is a thru-hiker — someone who hikes long-distance trails from end to end in one continuous journey.
He started long-distance hiking in May 2022 along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) to “push the reset button on my life,” he says. He’s experienced serious health events — two strokes, a brain embolism, hernia surgery, and cancer. But he got sick on the first day of his hike, landing in the hospital.
Back on the trail the next day, he started feeling severe back pain. After hiking 200 miles, his pain was unbearable. He found a doctor.
Tests showed a compression fracture of his T7 vertebrae. At 47, Fortune thought he was too young to have such a break without a fall. A DEXA scan revealed low bone density. Fortune was diagnosed with osteoporosis.
He and his doctor created a plan to keep him hiking. He avoids twisting. He’s careful to prevent falls. He eats a balanced diet and takes calcium and vitamin D supplements. He knows how to manage his pain.
Fortune hiked another 1,850 miles on the PCT in 100 days before wildfires stopped him.
He started the Appalachian Trail in January 2024. He’s dedicating his trek to raising awareness about osteoporosis and the memory of his late daughter.
Fortune posts daily updates and videos on social media detailing his climbs and how he’s feeling. He credits thru-hiking with turning his health around.
“The lifestyle I live, I’m already doing weight-bearing exercise,” Fortune says. He wears a 25-lb backpack while hiking.
Fortune says he shares his journey to help others. People respond, saying he inspires them to get off the couch. During his recent resupply stop in a small New Hampshire town, two women flagged Fortune down.
One of the women “went on to tell me she had broken her femur. And because of following my story, she was inspired to get back out there again,” he says. “It was such a needed connection, for both of us.”
Fortune lives life as it happens. Now 49, he says he’s the strongest he’s ever been. Osteoporosis completely rearranged his life — in a good way.
“A diagnosis like this can bring fear into your life, and you might avoid certain things,” he says. “But fear shouldn’t control how you live.”
Health coach plans to ‘age fiercely’
Jacqui Garrison, a health coach and retired educator in Oceanside, California, was diagnosed with osteopenia in her 40s, after a baseline bone density scan.
She was a runner. She ate a nutritious diet. She started lifting weights to build bone mass.
At age 50, Jacqui fell on her boat, cracking several ribs. “That should have been a flag,” she says.
A scan after the fall found tumors on her thymus gland. They were benign, but she had surgery to remove them.
Five years later, Jacqui and her husband were preparing to sail into retirement — literally. They lived on their boat, visiting various locations.
Before leaving, Jacqui had another DEXA scan. The results showed significant bone loss in her lower back. Jacqui was 55 with osteoporosis. She started taking alendronate (Fosamax), prescribed by her doctor to improve her bone strength.
Her initial reaction was devastation and anger.
“I wanted to know how this happened,” Jacqui says. “I was scared and had an awful vision of turning into a frail old woman.”
As she and her husband cruised, she dove into research about osteoporosis and treatments. She stopped taking Fosamax after a few weeks. Potential side effects and a previous health condition related to her teeth and jaw caused concern.
She learned that eating lots of vegetables and protein can build bone. She learned how menopause affects bone density. At the time, one of her two daughters was studying nutritional therapy. All three women started sharing what they learned about lifestyle and nutrition that would improve their health.
“It was earth-shattering to me to know that the information was there, and I didn’t have access to it,” Jacqui says. “I could have prevented or significantly slowed the progression of osteoporosis if I had the knowledge or a doctor who was more knowledgeable about how lifestyle and diminishing hormones impact bone density.”
When COVID-19 hit, Jacqui acted on her new-found passion to improve women’s health. She earned her health coach certificate from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
She worked to improve her sleep and stress management. She consumes six servings of vegetables and 30 to 40 grams of protein a day. She cooks most of her meals and eats nutrient-dense foods. Her exercise routine includes Pilates, plyometrics, heavy weightlifting, and yoga.
Jacqui shares her knowledge with other women on social media and through consulting. She is on a mission to help women avoid diseases such as osteoporosis and be their healthiest in midlife and beyond.
At 64, she feels better than she did at 54. “I feel great. I have more energy, and I am more vibrant,” Jacqui says. “I plan to age fiercely. I don’t plan on aging gracefully at all.”
What does the doctor say?
Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH
Senior Medical Editor
Strong, healthy bones allow you to stay active and safe. As you get older, your muscles and bones naturally weaken. This is a normal part of aging.
But in some cases, people lose more bone mass than expected, and this can lead to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a serious condition because it can increase the risk of bone fractures. Some bone fractures can permanently affect your mobility and quality of life. Hip fractures, in particular, can take a toll on your overall health — and they can be deadly.
Knowing your bone density is an important step in keeping yourself healthy as you age. Osteoporosis does not cause any symptoms. Most people have no idea that they have weak bones unless they have a routine bone density scan or break a bone.
That’s why it’s important to talk with your primary care provider about getting screened for osteoporosis. Finding out you have osteopenia before it becomes osteoporosis gives you the chance to take action to protect your bones. And finding out you have osteopenia before you develop a fracture gives you the chance to try medication to slow bone loss and take steps to reduce your risk of falls.
Many factors play a role in your bone health. Some are within your control. Others are not. Your genes play a role in your bone density, and you can’t change your genetics. Certain medical conditions affect your bone mass, too. And some people have no choice but to take medications that are known to lower bone mass.
But even in these situations, there are steps you can take to maximize your bone health. Getting enough calcium and vitamin D, not smoking, and staying active can support your bone health. In some cases, these steps can help slow bone loss, too. Medications can also support your bone health. There are new medications that are linked to fewer side effects and can improve your bone mass. An endocrinologist with experience treating osteoporosis can help you find the right treatment combination for your unique needs.
Why trust our experts?
