Come to Midlothian's first osteoporosis cafe

Retired teacher Elizabeth Duke, who is living with osteoporosis, is encouraging others affected by the bone disease to attend a special community café being held for the first time in Midlothian at Midlothian Community Hospital on 17 September from 2pm to 4pm.

A lonely condition

Elizabeth, who lives in Eskbank, has found support, advice and community through the Lydia Osteoporosis Project Café. She says: “Osteoporosis is a lonely condition because it's an invisible illness. Often there's nothing obviously wrong with you, but you're dealing with pain every day. At the café you meet people who genuinely understand what that's like."

Bones become weak and brittle

Elizabeth was diagnosed with osteoporosis, which causes bones to become weak, brittle, and porous, in 2019 after suffering a serious spinal injury. A keen yoga enthusiast and self-confessed "gym bunny", she first realised something was wrong while attending a class.

Intense pain

"I was getting up off the mat when I heard a crack and then I started getting pain," she recalls.

Doctor's diagnosis

She went to a physiotherapist initially but after two months “it all went haywire”. Doctors later discovered osteoporosis had caused multiple vertebrae in her spine to collapse. "I couldn't walk initially because my spine had changed shape," she says.

Difficult adjustment

For someone who had always led an active lifestyle, the diagnosis was difficult to come to terms with. However, with treatment including medication for the osteoporosis, physiotherapy and pain relief when needed, Elizabeth continues to live an active life and regularly attends Midlothian Active Choices and Ageing Well classes.

Cafe's importance

While she says she is never completely pain free and has good days and bad days, attending the community café has played an important role in helping her manage the condition.

People understand

"When people ask how you are, they don't really want to hear your whole story, they just want to hear, 'I'm fine'," she said. "At the café it's different. People want to know more about your experiences because they're going through similar things themselves.

Healthcare professionals on hand

"You learn from each other. People share what's worked for them, what hasn't and how they cope. There's also the opportunity to hear from health and wellbeing professionals such as physiotherapists, pharmacists and fitness experts."

Welcoming space

The Lydia Osteoporosis Project Community Café provides a welcoming space where people can meet, learn and support one another. People living with osteoporosis, their families and carers are welcome to attend.

• To book a place
• lydiaosteoporosisproject@qmu.ac.uk
• 07889486439

In the picture

Elizabeth Duke is pictured at Midlothian Community Hospital