Not just a women's disease
Joining Osteoporosis Canada has helped Bill Munro learn to better manage his condition

When you speak to Bill Munro, you quickly learn that running is one of his favourite pastimes. The 55-year-old Toronto real estate agent not only finds it a great way to stay fit, but he uses it as a means to socialize with other runners or to just get away from it all.

So you can imagine what a great shock it was when, at 50, he learned he might not ever be able to run long distances again. "I'd had back pain for a while and went to the doctor to check it out," he recalls. "The X-rays showed the bones in my back were like Swiss cheese. I had osteoporosis."

Few people associate osteoporosis with men. Less common in men (one in eight men over 50 have osteoporosis as compared to one in four women over 50), its consequences can be just as debilitating. One-third of all hip fractures occur in men and, of those who experience hip fractures, 34 per cent die within the year.

Though it's not clearly known why some men develop osteoporosis, the following risk factors can play a role: poor calcium intake, smoking, excess alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, low levels of male hormones or long-term treatment with glucocorticoids.

Bill's mother and sister both had osteoporosis, and he saw that their lives hadn't ended. He was inspired by how well they managed their condition but he still wondered, "How much is this diagnosis going to curtail my lifestyle?"

He learned from his doctor that people living with osteoporosis must assiduously avoid the possibility of fracturing a bone. That meant Bill had to cut back his active lifestyle. "I couldn't shovel snow, lift heavy objects or work in the garden," he recalls. "And worst of all, I had to stop running."

To cut down on the heavier chores, Bill and his wife moved from their house to a condominium. He also began taking medication and calcium supplements and engaged in weight-bearing exercises to improve his bone strength.

Once Bill got over the emotional letdown, he learned as much as he could about osteoporosis, a practice he feels all newly diagnosed men should follow. The knowledge he gained has helped him understand his condition, and he has been able to adjust his lifestyle accordingly. He joined an Osteoporosis Canada support group and volunteered as well.

Then came the good news: he could start running again. "At a medical conference, I spoke with a physiotherapist who was interested in osteoporosis," he says. "He felt that with certain precautions I might be able to resume running."

Taking it slowly at first, he's now running in half marathons, and next year he hopes to qualify for the Boston Marathon, feats he'd never have dreamed possible when he was first diagnosed.

Bill was actively involved with Osteoporosis Canada, acting as then-chair of the Toronto Chapter. Volunteering has given him the chance to meet people who share his condition as well as the opportunity to discuss the issue with leading experts in Canada.

Anyone can get involved and volunteer with Osteoporosis Canada. Ways to help out include: fundraising, organizing support groups and speaking  engagements, or serving on a Board or committee.

To volunteer, call your local Chapter or Branch office, or contact the National office at (416) 696-2663 or 1-800-463-6842.