Episode 10: Improving the Treatment Pathway for Vertebral Compression Fractures

Is it a pulled muscle, or a vertebral compression fracture? Vertebral compression fractures can sometimes be painless, but are still a significant risk to overall health. So how do we diagnose and treat something we may not even know we have? In this episode, Dr. Douglas P. Beall, Chief of Radiology Services at Clinical Radiology of Oklahoma, sits down with NOF CEO, Elizabeth Thompson to discuss. 

Dr. Beall is passionate about improving the treatment pathway for vertebral compression fractures, and helping others be aware of them and how to diagnose and treat them early. In addition to treating patients, Dr. Beall is also a clinical researcher, working to improve medical knowledge of osteoporosis treatment options and pain management. If you have been diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis, or know someone who has, this is a podcast you won’t want to miss!

• Video Link: Access Health “The Impact of Vertebral Compression Fractures” featuring Dr. Douglas P. Beall

• Bone Basics Brochure

• Vertebral Compression Fractures and What Can Be Done About Them

• Technical Report- Management of vertebral fragility fractures: a clinical care pathway developed by a multispecialty panel using the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method

• Evolve Study– Prospective and Multicenter Evaluation of Outcomes for Quality of Life and Activities of Daily Living for Balloon Kyphoplasty in the Treatment of Vertebral Compression Fractures

• VCF Mortality Risk Study

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Episode 9: Strides in Osteoporosis Treatment and Medicine Part 2

Dr. Susan Greenspan (left) interviews
Dr. Felicia Cosman (right)

In Part One of our two-part series on “Strides in Osteoporosis Treatment and Medicine,” Dr. Felicia Cosman shared information on the types of medications and treatments currently available to osteoporosis patients. In Part Two, Dr. Greenspan sits down with Dr. Cosman again—this time to address Evenity™, (Romosozumab), a drug that has made headlines for doing what no other osteoporosis medication can do: build new bone while also slowing bone loss. But like all medications, it has its warnings and side effects. In this episode, Dr. Cosman helps us understand its risks and benefits, and how to work with your healthcare provider to know if Evenity™ is right for you. 

Episode Resources:

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Episode 8: Happiness: An Essential Ingredient to Living a Longer Life

Happiness, health and a long life are intricately interconnected. Several scientific studies have shown an undeniable link between our state of mind and longevity. In the spirit of exploring this idea, journalist John Leland followed the lives of six people over age 85. His best selling book entitled “Happiness Is A Choice You Make: Lessons From a Year Among the Oldest Old” was the result. Leland discovered that, in general, older people are more optimistic and happier than younger folks. Their secret: happiness is the foundation that allowed them to get old in the first place! In a conversation with Barbara Hannah Grufferman, Bone Health Ambassador and Trustee of the National Osteoporosis Foundation, Leland explains how a positive mindset can be a key to good bone health, as well.

Read about more about John’s book:
HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE YOU MAKE
Lessons From a Year Among the Oldest Old

An extraordinary look at what it means to grow old and a heartening guide to well-being, Happiness Is a Choice You Make weaves together the stories and wisdom of six New Yorkers who number among the “oldest old”― those eighty-five and up.

Read our medical disclaimer here: https://www.nof.org/medical-disclaimer/

Episode 7: The Importance of Identifying and Treating Vertebral Compression Fractures

Vertebral compression fractures are just one of the ways that osteoporosis manifests in those who suffer from the disease. In this episode Elizabeth Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of the National Osteoporosis Foundation, talks with Dr. Joshua Hirsch, Chief of the NeuroInterventional Spine Service at Massachusetts General Hospital, about early diagnosis and treatment of this often painful and debilitating condition. Dr. Hirsch is at the forefront of helping elderly osteoporosis patients rapidly recover from what has—for far too long— been a crippling injury.

• Bone Basics Brochure

• Vertebral Compression Fractures and What Can Be Done About Them

• Technical Report- Management of vertebral fragility fractures: a clinical care pathway developed by a multispecialty panel using the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method

Read our medical disclaimer here: https://www.nof.org/medical-disclaimer/

Episode 6: Balance as the Key to a Healthy Life

Barbara Hannah Grufferman, Bone Health Ambassador and Trustee for the National Osteoporosis Foundation, learned the hard way that low bone density can lead to a life-changing experience. She fell and broke her arm at the age of 50, setting her on a course of discovery about osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

In this conversation with personal trainer and movement artist Carol Clements, Barbara discusses the realities of osteoporosis and how the adoption of active, preventive measures against falling can reduce the risk of breaking a bone. The key, according to Carol Clements, is balance.

Check out more helpful tips from Carol Clements in her book, “Better Balance for Life,” a workbook progression applied to improve balance.

Episode Resources:

Read our medical disclaimer here: https://www.nof.org/medical-disclaimer/

Episode 5: It’s Never Too Late for Wellness

As the National Osteoporosis Foundation celebrates 35 years of helping others be bone strong, NOF’s Chief Executive Officer, Elizabeth Thompson, sits down with internationally respected osteoporosis researcher, Dr. Susan Greenspan. Dr. Greenspan serves as Professor of Medicine in the Departments of Geriatrics Endocrinology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and serves as current President of NOF’s Board of Trustees. Her professional focus is on how osteoporosis affects elderly women. Both her personal and professional life have taught her that it’s never too late to treat osteoporosis— and it’s never too late for wellness.  Join us as Dr. Greenspan uses real-life examples of her patients, Henry, Rose, and Margaret, to illustrate various treatment options.

Episode Resources:

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Episode 4: Strides in Osteoporosis Treatment and Medicine

In our latest podcast, National Osteoporosis Foundation Chief Executive Officer Liz Thompson interviews Dr. Felicia Cosman, an osteoporosis specialist and endocrinologist. Dr. Cosman serves as Medical Director of the Clinical Research Center at Helen Hayes Hospital and Professor of Medicine at Columbia University College of Physician and Surgeons in New York. In this episode, Dr. Cosman discusses the enormous strides in the research of and treatments for osteoporosis — particularly medications — since she started her career in the field more than 30 years ago. For Dr. Cosman, this work isn’t just her profession; it’s deeply personal. She not only comes from a family with a history of the disease, but has herself been diagnosed with osteoporosis.

Episode Resources:

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Episode 3: Perspectives on Caregiving

At one time or another, the role of caregiver will enter our lives — sometimes unexpectedly and without preparation. It may come in the form of providing care for an aging parent, for a loved one who has fallen ill or is recovering from surgery, or for a dear friend. Or we might require care ourselves. It is estimated that approximately 70 million Americans serve as volunteer caregivers for a loved one. They juggle the roles of nurse, therapist, financial planner, social worker and personal assistant — oftentimes while working full time themselves. These people provide about 90 percent of the caregiving done in the U.S.

In this podcast, Barbara Hannah Grufferman, National Osteoporosis Foundation bone health ambassador and trustee, interviews Amy Goyer. Amy is AARP's family & caregiving expert, and an author, speaker and consultant. She has authored numerous publications, including AARP's Juggling Life, Work, and Caregiving. Together Barbara and Amy discuss the ways in which people can receive training and other support as they take on the complex and invaluable role of caregiver for a loved one.

Check out Amy Goyer’s New Book, Juggling Life, Work,
and Caregiving
Although caregiving can be a richly rewarding and joyful experience, the role comes with enormous responsibilities―and pressures. AARP's gentle guide provides practical resources and tips that are easy to find when you need them, whether you're caregiving day to day, planning for future needs, or in the middle of a crisis. Equally important, this book helps you care for the caregiver―you―before, during, and after caregiving. 

Episode Resources:

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Episode 2: Bone Health — The Foundation for a Better Life

Barbara Hannah Grufferman, nationally recognized author of “Love Your Age: The Small-Step Solution to a Better, Longer, Happier Life”, shares her strategies for early diagnosis of and customized treatments for osteoporosis. As an NOF board member and author, Barbara is passionate about both healthy aging and osteoporosis education. It is estimated that nearly half of all women over age 50 will break a bone due to the effects of osteoporosis. What makes the disease so elusive is that no symptoms appear until a sufferer fractures a bone. The good news is that osteoporosis is generally preventable and, for those with the diagnosis, treatable. In this latest postcast, Barbara offers invaluable advice that, regardless of whether you suffer from osteoporosis or simply want to reduce your risk, can help each of us protect our ability to live our best life.

Check out Barbara Hannah Grufferman’s New Book, Love Your Age
Filled with healthy habits to help you take charge of your life with wit, energy, and confidence, this inspiring guide will show you how to look, feel, and be your best in a busy, fast-paced world.

Episode Resources:

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Episode 1: Healthy to the Bone

Proactive healthcare is key to the wellbeing for older adults — especially for postmenopausal women. In this first episode of a new series on bone health, Elizabeth Thompson, CEO of the National Osteoporosis Foundation, interviews Dr. Ethel Siris, Director of the Toni Stabile Osteoporosis Center at Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Siris discusses why postmenopausal women are particularly vulnerable to osteoporosis, and offers strategies for dealing with the disease, as well as encouraging insights on why it is never too late to lessen your chance of bone loss and fracture — even into your 90s!

Episode Resources:

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