title: A painful, never ending story: older women's experiences of living with an osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture.
abstract: Vertebral compression fractures (VCF) cause pain and decreased physical ability, with no known well-established treatment. The aim of this study was to illuminate the experience of living with a VCF. The results show that fear and concerns are a major part of daily life. The women's initial contact with health-care providers should focus on making them feel acknowledged by offering person-centered and tailored support.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  In the past decade, osteoporotic-related fractures have become an increasingly common and costly public health problem worldwide. Vertebral compression fracture (VCF) is the second most common osteoporotic fracture, and patients with VCF describe an abrupt descent into disability, with a subsequent desire to regain independence in everyday life; however, little is known of their situation. The aim of this study was to illuminate the lived experience of women with an osteoporotic VCF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten women were interviewed during 2012-2013, starting with an open-ended question: could you tell me what it is like to live with a vertebral compression fracture? The verbatim transcribed interviews were analyzed using a phenomenological hermeneutical approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The narrative provided descriptions of living in turmoil and chaos, unable to find stability in their life with little improvement regarding pain and physical function. Shifts from periods of constant pain to periods of fear of constant pain created a loss of confidence and an increased sense of confinement. The structural analysis revealed fear and concerns as the most prominent experience building on five themes: struggling to understand a deceiving body, breakthrough pain fueling fear, fearing a trajectory into isolation, concerns of dependency, and fearing an uncertain future.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Until researchers find a successful prevention or medical/surgical treatment for osteoporotic VCFs, health-care providers and society abandon these women to remain in a painful and never ending story.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 457, SE 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden. hilda.svensson@gu.se.|Gothenburg Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. hilda.svensson@gu.se.
authors.forename: H K
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2189-7617
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 457, SE 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden.|Gothenburg Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Olofsson
authors.affiliation: Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.affiliation: Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, PO Box 457, SE 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden.|Gothenburg Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: L-E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Olsson
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000209:etiology; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012934:Social Isolation; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013548:Sweden
keywords: Elderly women; Experience; Nursing; Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture; Person-centered care; Phenomenological hermeneutics; Transition