Thought I was just getting older. Then a freak accident led to a shocking diagnosis

A routine Saturday errand ended in a serious ankle injury that revealed an unexpected underlying condition. While stepping away from her car, the vehicle began rolling because she’d left it in drive, and a tire ran over her foot. She underwent emergency surgery—two plates and eight screws—to repair the fracture. In the recovery room, her orthopedic surgeon said the screws were unusually difficult to place because her bones felt shockingly soft, “almost hollow.” What initially seemed like possible osteoporosis also led to additional findings including a newly reported knee fracture and, prompted by ongoing symptoms, a plan for a bone scan.