In October 2025, Belinda Rogers’ life changed unexpectedly when severe back pain sent her to the emergency room. Despite having no fall or injury, a CT scan revealed compression fractures at T8 and T9. A bone density scan soon brought another shocking diagnosis: severe osteoporosis. For Belinda, a registered nurse and board-certified functional medicine practitioner who walked five miles a day and lived an active, healthy lifestyle, the diagnosis was completely unexpected.
Determined to understand her options, Belinda began advocating for herself. After initially discussing kyphoplasty with a pain specialist, she sought a second opinion from a spine specialist and chose a more conservative approach that included bracing and physical therapy. She also began exploring factors that may have contributed to her bone loss, including early menopause, underlying health conditions, medications, gut health, nutrition, and muscle mass.
Recovery was gradual, but Belinda began rebuilding her strength and confidence through physical therapy, strength training, and a greater focus on her overall health. Her experience also gave her a new perspective as a healthcare professional on what it means to suddenly become the patient.
Today, Belinda hopes her story will encourage other women to learn about their bone health before a fracture occurs. As a Spinal Champion, she encourages others to understand their risk factors, ask questions, seek trusted information, and advocate for their health. For Belinda, getting back to it means regaining her strength and independence without letting fear of another fracture define how she lives.
Blindsided by Osteoporosis: When Doing Everything Right Isn’t Enough
In this episode of our “Get Back to It” Podcast, Dr. Rita Roy sits down with Belinda to discuss the compression fractures that led to her unexpected osteoporosis diagnosis, the conflicting treatment recommendations she encountered, and why she ultimately sought a second opinion. Belinda shares what she has learned about bone health, strength, self-advocacy, and the importance of understanding your individual risk factors—even when you feel like you’re doing everything right.
