I am 60 and have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, as have most of the women in my family. I have tried to exercise with a walking program. During a period of months, I have developed pain in my left leg that now keeps me from exercising. The pain is in one spot and is sore when I touch it. Do you have any suggestions?

You may have developed a stress fracture in the tibia of your leg. A stress fracture usually has a gradual onset of pain. They represent an imbalance of bone loss over bone formation. They are usually seen in people who have increased their activity or were previously sedentary and began an exercise program. The fact that you have osteoporosis lends more credence to the theory that you may have a stress fracture. The tibia is a common site for a stress fracture. X-rays often lack the sensitivity to identify stress fractures. If this is the case, a bone scan should be considered because of your medical history. An MRI can also detect stress fractures, but it is more expensive. Treatment includes reducing the impact, which would mean suspending your walking program, until you are healed. Splinting, icing, stretching and over-the-counter analgesics can reduce the symptoms while your leg is healing.