Vim & Vigor - Spring 2013 - North Mississippi - (Page 8)

No BoNes About It A It’s a fact: Education and prevention are key to avoiding fractures spring morning spent planting flowers and vegetables quickly turned into an emergency when Bernice Ellis of Tupelo misstepped and fell in her backyard. “I was just about to wind up my yardwork,” Ellis, 86, says. “I decided I wanted to plant cucumbers in my pots, and when I went to step on the patio, my foot got caught and I fell.” Ellis had a broken femur—the large leg bone above the knee—and couldn’t get up. “My son was in the house, but he couldn’t hear me,” she says. Fortunately, her son came outside and found his mother lying on the ground. “He tried to help me up but had to call the ambulance,” she says. “I had surgery, and my doctor told me I wouldn’t walk for six months to a year.” Ellis suffered a fragility fracture, a break that occurs when bones are too weak. After surgery at North Mississippi Medical Center, she began inpatient rehabilitation. In June, she was discharged into the care of NMMC Home Health. “The therapists and nurses came out to the house and showed me exercises to help strengthen my bones,” Ellis says. “I only kept my wheelchair a month and put the walker down as soon as I could. I stuck to doing my exercise four or five times a day, which I think made the difference in how much sooner I was able to walk on my own than anyone expected.” Now, Ellis says she is in no pain, and takes calcium and vitamin D to help make her bones strong. “I love working in my yard, and I’m already back to growing lots of flowers, plants and vegetables in pots and buckets on my back porch.” Fragility Fractures Fragility fractures happen when bones are weak and break too easily. This is known as osteoporosis. The cause of osteoporosis can be related to age, lifestyle factors, diseases and certain medications, or it can have no known cause. Endocrinologist Jayant Dey, M.D., who treats many patients with osteoporosis, realized that patients who Continued on Page 49 What Can I Do to Keep My Bones Healthy? • eat foods with a lot of calcium, such as milk, yogurt and green leafy vegetables. • eat foods with a lot of vitamin d, such as milk that has vitamin d added, and fish from the ocean. • take calcium and vitamin d supplements. • Be active for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. • avoid smoking. • Limit alcohol consumption to one or two drinks a day at most. 8 Spring 2 013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2013 - North Mississippi

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2013 - North Mississippi
Contents
Opening Thoughts
Brain Power
No Bones About It
You're the Star
Heart-to-Heart
Lighten Up!
Have No Fear
Work It!
What Are the Chances?
9 Symptoms Never to Ignore
When Allergies Attack
Virtual Health
Botox: A New Miracle Drug?
The Doctor Will See You Now
Catch the Spirit

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2013 - North Mississippi