Women north of age 40 (like me) are wise to think about the health of their bones. I always took mine for granted. Sure, I’d had a baseline bone density scan and tried to eat more calcium as I approached menopause. But I never thought seriously about the state of my bones until one fateful morning last summer.

I was chatting with a friend at a lovely leash-free dog park in San Diego. All of a sudden, two big dogs chasing each other wildly around the park veered in my direction and slammed into my lower leg. Crrrrrack.  The combined “doggage” (weight + velocity) fractured my tibial plateau, where the lower leg bone meets the knee joint.

Long story short, I had surgery to repair the fracture and stabilize my knee joint. I left the hospital with a permanent metal plate and four screws in my leg. During my recovery (three months on crutches + two months of physical therapy), I developed a whole new respect for my bones.

A Telltale Sign?

A nagging question surfaced after my accident: could this break indicate that I have osteoporosis? My surgeon assured me it was entirely possible for two large, high-speed dogs to break a woman’s leg. But he recommended I get another bone density scan just to be on the safe side.

The scan showed evidence of osteopenia, often thought to be a precursor to osteoporosis but not unusual in a woman my age. OK, I thought, not bad. I can turn this thing around.

The first thing is did was find a good bone-supporting vitamin supplement.   I chose Bone-Up from Jarrow Formulas, available at vitamin outlets around the country. Like other supplements that promote bone density, Bone Up uses elemental calcium from microcrystalline hydroxyapatite, a type of calcium derived from the bone of free-range calves that is processed into particles small enough to be easily absorbed in the intestines. Easy absorption was a critical issue for me; I often get nauseated from vitamins.

Just as critical for me was getting an adequate supply of vitamin D. I learned about the major role vitamin D plays in bone health from an excellent website by Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD, author of Better Bones, Better Body. According to Dr. Brown, “Vitamin D, and specifically the hormone our body produces from vitamin D, is the body’s most important regulator of calcium absorption.” Conveniently, my chosen bone-builder supplement gives me 1,000 units of vitamin D3 daily. A recent blood test showed I now have optimal vitamin D levels in my blood.

A year after the freaky dog-park accident, I feel blessed that my leg has healed nicely. Time will tell whether my new regimen of calcium, vitamin D, and diet and lifestyle changes will ward off full-blown osteoporosis. But one thing’s for sure: after experiencing the damage that doggage can do, I will always respect my bones.

- Paula Detwiller,  All Vitamins Plus Contributor

Do you have a bone-break story that gave you new respect your bones? We’d love to hear it. Click the link below to submit your comments.  - AVP