Irene Baker, a 73-year-old retiree from South Yorkshire, suffers lasting effects from undiagnosed osteoporosis after sustaining severe spinal fractures while lifting her two-year-old granddaughter. The injury has left her with kyphosis—a permanent curvature of the spine—along with reduced lung function and limited physical activities.

Baker’s ordeal began years earlier with a fractured elbow sustained at age 62 after tripping while fell running. Despite the injury and a family history—her mother also had osteoporosis—no bone density tests were conducted, and her condition went undetected. At the time, her local health trust did not offer a Fracture Liaison Service (FLS), a specialist clinic aimed at early diagnosis and management of osteoporosis.

Five years after the elbow fracture, Baker experienced sudden pain after lifting her granddaughter. An X-ray, prompted by her physiotherapist, revealed three fractured vertebrae. A subsequent DEXA scan confirmed significant bone loss. She was prescribed alendronate, a medication that helps retain bone density and reduce fracture risk, but her general practitioner admitted limited familiarity with osteoporosis treatment and recommended only light exercise.

Baker later fractured her shoulder in 2024 and faced prolonged delays accessing further scans and specialist consultations due to lengthy waiting lists. After breaking her hand in a fall abroad, she transferred to another hospital where she received more timely care and a change in medication.

She now advocates for a nationwide rollout of Fracture Liaison Services across England. Currently, only about half of health trusts offer FLS, creating a “postcode lottery” that leaves many patients undiagnosed or undertreated. The Labour government has pledged repeatedly over the past two years to introduce FLS in all trusts by 2030, but no concrete timetable or action plan has been announced.

Baker stresses that early detection of osteoporosis is critical because the disease progresses silently until fractures occur. She believes her spinal fractures and their long-term consequences might have been prevented had she received earlier specialist assessment and care.

Since her diagnosis, Baker has limited herself to less strenuous activities such as hill walking and gentle cycling, avoiding previous pursuits like skiing and rock climbing. Despite having three grandchildren, she no longer lifts them, concerned about the risk to her fragile bones.

Her experience highlights ongoing challenges in osteoporosis care and the need for improved awareness, screening, and access to specialist services to prevent avoidable fractures among older adults.