My WebMD Sign In

Please enter email address

Enter your password

Keep me signed in on this computer

Show more Information

If you select "Keep me signed in on this computer", every time you visit WebMD.com you won't have to type your email address and password. This means that a cookie will stay on your computer even when you exit or close your browser which may reduce your levels of privacy and security. You should never select this option if you're using a publicly accessible computer, or if you're sharing a computer with others. Even if you select this option there are some features of our site that still require you to log in for privacy reasons.

Forget your password? Having trouble signing in?

Why should I
sign up for WebMD?

With a WebMD Account you can:

Track your way to weight loss success
Manage your family's vaccinations
Join the conversation

See more benefits Sign Up

Why WebMD?

My WebMD

Show Menu

Facebook Twitter Pinterest

WebMD Home

Osteoporosis Health Center

Email a Friend

Print Article

Osteoporosis Health Center

Tools & Resources

Font Size

Osteoporosis Myth: Osteoporosis Doesn't Cause Any Emotional Problems

Reality: The emotional toll of osteoporosis is very real. Having a fracture, or even seeing yourself as more "fragile" than you once thought you were, can lead to a negative body image, poor self-esteem, and a sense of limitations in activity and mobility.

Kyphosis, the "dowager's hump" that results from vertebral fractures, has been associated with significant depression in people with osteoporosis. After one fracture, many people with osteoporosis are so fearful that they may fall and injure themselves again that they don't pursue the activities they enjoy.

Recommended Related to Osteoporosis

The Truth About Vitamin D: Vitamin D Tests

Will a vitamin D test tell me if I need more vitamin D? That depends on whom you ask. As part of your regular blood test, your doctor can order a test for 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD). The problem is not with the test. The problem is how to interpret the results. An expert committee convened by the Institute of Medicine in November 2010 concluded that "the cut-point values used to define deficiency, or as some have suggested, 'insufficiency,' have not been established systematically using data...

Read the The Truth About Vitamin D: Vitamin D Tests article > >

One way to cope with depression and other psychological problems related to osteoporosis is to find support from other people going through the same thing. The National Osteoporosis Foundation sponsors local support groups called Building Strength Together. Anyone can start one in their community. You can find one, join one, or start one on their web site at http://www.nof.org/patientinfo/support_groups.htm.

When you have the opportunity to share your concerns, fears, and other feelings with others like you, and learn from their experiences, it can help to ease isolation and depression.

Another important coping tool for depression is exercise. Regular exercise is proven to boost self-esteem and relieve anxiety, stress, and depression. Exercise also helps maintain bone health. If you've had a fracture, it's important to talk to your doctor about what kinds of exercise are safe for you. With your doctor's advice, you should be able to pursue activities that will keep your body strong and help beat back depression at the same time.

WebMD Medical Reference

View Article Sources Sources