I’m a mum-of-three and my family have had more than 400 broken bones between them due to rare health condition
A MUM-of-three has revealed how her family has had more than 400 broken bones between them.
The family suffers with a rare condition, which has been passed down by four generations.
Amanda Reiman and two of her kids have osteogenesis imperfecta, better known as brittle bones.
She, her two kids, her siblings, mum and grandfather are unable to produce enough collagen, which means their bones are weak.
Any slight accident or wrong move can sent the family to hospital for a cast.
Amanda "We break them so often it's no point counting them."
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She said her son, Aiden, 11, "has been in a case more than he hasn't".
The mum grew up well versed in the condition, with her mum, siblings and grandfather also suffering with it.
She said: "Mum never wrapped us in cotton wool though. She wanted us to live normally."
But the mum, from South Australia, said she would be a bit more careful than other kids while running around.
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She feels lucky to have only broken 22 bones, but this doesn't include fingers or toes.
These break often - for example when her son pulled up a bag caught on her toe, or when her husband pulled up the duvet.
Amanda said: "They break so easily.
“Aiden currently has his arm in a cast, but all up he has had about 45 breaks and three full body casts.
“Amber has only had two fractures. The hospital knows us very well.”
Osteogenesis imperfecta is caused by a genetic mutation that affects the body’s production of collagen, which can be found throughout the body, especially in a person’s bones and other tissues.
Symptoms include frequent fractured bones, muscle weakness, hearing loss, fatigue, joint laxity, curved bones, scoliosis, blue sclerae.
People with the condition can also have brittle teeth and short stature among other medical problems.
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To diagnose OI, doctors will typically do x-rays to check for fractures and bone changes.
In some cases genetic testing is possible, but not undertaken routinely.
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