A 78 year old female with post-menopausal osteoporosis, untreated, developed rather severe localized low back pain after vacuuming her home one day. She was discovered to have marked osteoporosis of the lumbosacral spine. She was also found to have degenerative joint disease of both hips. She was prescribed a course of physical therapy to relieve her pain, improve her posture, and strengthen her back and lower limbs.
She was also fitted with a cane and a back brace.
She was ultimately given a prescription for an aqua therapy program to improve her flexibility and to strengthen her back and trunk muscles.
She is followed both by her physiatrist and her primary care physician to ensure that she is taking adequate calcium, vitamin D, hormone replacement therapy and oral biphosphonates.
