Case Studies
National Osteoporosis Society - NOS Helpline
Manned by nurses with a specialist knowledge of osteoporosis, the NOS helpline answers over 12,000 calls each year and deals with more than 1000 written enquiries.
The helpline is a vital source of information open to members of the public and healthcare professionals.
Helpline caller Kathleen Duignan from Skegness was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2004 after experiencing periods of back pain for 18 months.
She said: “I was a very active, healthy and independent 63-year old woman, when my back went – that is the only way I can describe what happened. Walking was very difficult and I was in a great deal of pain.
“The first couple of times I was told I had pulled a muscle and that it should improve in about a month.
“But each time the pain lasted longer and the good times got shorter until at the end of July 2004, it went and did not improve. It was then that I was diagnosed with osteoporosis.
“I was prescribed a drug treatment, bought supplements and was told to take paracetamol when the pain was severe. Slowly, but surely, I began to regain some of my mobility.
“The improvement was amazing, although slow at first, and I soon began to feel much better.
“I owe a great debt of gratitude to the nurses on the NOS helpline who listened to me, answered all my many queries and gave me hope I would improve, given time. They were the only people I could talk to.”
Click here to visit the National Osteoporosis Society (NOS) website.