i'm still amazed at how little it takes to have a bone break. in just doing the same life activities i've done most of my life (including the falls and crashes) i've become a frequent flyer in the broken bone club.
i started with two ribs (l-8 and r2), then my left shoulder (proximal, humoral head), then back (t-7, t-8,) then ACL avulsion fracture right leg and as i'm coming down the homestretch of healing from that, i broke my left wrist (distal radial head)!
i'm getting very scared...i had a rclast infusion in march and have been on bio-identical HRT for several months as well,,,i really felt i was going to do better and did a lot of positive self-talk...exercise, good nutrition and all of the suggested supplements.
i had never broke a bone until a cracked rib and a hairline fracture some years back...but they didn't get to me nor were they as severe as the fractures are....they're hitting me with a vengeance.
geesh, i asked god to give me a break....but this isn't what i had in mind....
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fracture #7 for the year
- By letshope
- Posted November 4, 2009 at 10:30 pm · 17 replies
- In Guidelines to safe movement and fall prevention
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Surgery Falls Forteo Fractures Fosamax Reclast Hyperparathyroidism Pain Osteoporosis Stress fractures Evista Stress
17 replies
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- Newest first
- By millie123
- Posted November 5, 2009 at 6:33 am
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Well, a least you're showing humor. When did this last break occur? Is it new?
- By rtsmiles
- Posted November 5, 2009 at 7:04 am
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Yes, lets hope,
I thought my fractures were bad...you poor thing. Has your Dr. talked to you about Forteo ? It has made me able to walk better and I just feel it is making my bones stronger. I , too, started with a broken pelvis due to a bad horse fall. But then the fractures began. From what I have been told, once you are osteoporotic and you experience a fracture...well, the rate of fracture increases dramatically . Please consider taking Forteo with your Dr's guidance. At this point, do we really have a choice ?
You have my thoughts and prayers. rtsmiles
- By Loods
- Posted November 5, 2009 at 8:58 am
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I personally do not believe once you are diagnosed or have a fracture your fracture rate increases. I broke a rib two years ago just by coughing. At the time I was on fosamax and it was my first break for over twenty years! I came off osteoporosis treatment and haven't had a break since.
I do wonder if (for some people) these drugs have the opposite effect and actually make the bones more unstable. I would question whether reclast is actually making your situation worse? If you are having so many fractures the treatment clearly isn't working and perhaps you should consider an alternative approach.
I feel for you because all breaks are painful. I really hope things improve.
- By letshope
- Posted November 5, 2009 at 9:37 am
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thanks you millie, rtsmiles and loods...it's good to have a group where i can talk about these things and you all understand...some people are looking at me sideways now, thinking i broke this on purpose to continue to get the pain meds...i was just stepping down of the meds for my ACL avulsion fracture (sept 4 '09). this recent fracture, to the L. radius, happened yesterday (nov. 4 '09).
going back...the next, last fracture i had: that was my L. humoral head (nov 24 '08), the ribs were sept-oct '08 and the vertibrae i never felt but they were discovered in an x-ray about this time last year ('08).
my doc at the cleveland clinic wanted to start forteo at the end of this year, after another dexa to see how the reclast and HRT were doing.
while the ACL fracture would have happened to anyone, who'd crashed on a bike, like i did, and the radial fracture yesterday...that's a hard call (osteo or not) but all of the other fractures were non-traumatic and definitely osteo related.
now i have to say that i am healing very well with the ACL fracture, which i think is a good sign?
do osteoporotics heal more slowly than non-osteo people do?
let's see what the dexa says...i may just be very clumsy and absent minded these days...i do have a lot of major, life altering issues on my plate, in addition to osteo...so...the dexa will probably tell us whether it's my bones or my brain!
i agree that forteo would be a good next move...but geesh, the side effects are not at all appealing? and gaining a lot of weight and having that injection site reaction that i hear about just isn't something i think i can handle, emotionally. i too few things that i truely feel good and secure about...and my figure and looks are one of them. my career has all but disappeared and such...but at 46 i still can pass as my daughter's sister (she's 25). now i'm not a woman who tries to be best buds with her daughter and i don't desparately try to come across as her sister...i just work my butt off taking care of myself. am i vain? perhaps. i fear developing a "dowagers hump" and the casts are not flattering...it's all a lot to weigh out.
if i were in a secure relationship, sometimes i think the decisions would be easier...but i've been with my current boyfriend for about a year and i'm afraid he's getting overwhelmed...loosing my looks wouldn't help things. he's not shallow, but these things are important to both of us. i know i wouldn't leave him if he gained 30 lbs and had a region on his thighs or belly that was dimpled from injection site reactions...but i think all that, factored in with the other, might just be the straw to break the camel's back...
and these fractures are causing my employer to worry about having me around because "i'm fragile"... a minor trip could cause fracture and they don't want a workman's comp threat running around the work place. i know it's illegal for them to discriminate...but who can blame them? the job is lousy, but i believe in the mission of helping youth who are in trouble...and in these times, jobs of any kind are hard to come by...and i guess i'm lucky to still have this one.
and i can go on and on...so you can see how being distracted and clumsy could figure into my equation.
but thank for being there...it means the world!
gentle hugs,
suzanne
- By SantaFe
- Posted November 5, 2009 at 11:00 am
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Suzanne,
So sorry that life is being so heavy-handed with you right now. I'll put good healing thoughts out for you.
Two things that have made a "strength"difference for me are K2 and Boron. For years I have been taking the usual suspects---calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, but 6 months ago when I added K2 (the M7 natto form) and boron, my life-long capillary fragility problem that caused constant bruising on arms and legs totally cleared up within weeks. This was from the K2 strengthening my capilaries ----other people on other forums have told me the same thing happened for them with K2. The Japanese are using it in high doses to strengthen bones and reverse bone loss.
The boron has made my teeth and fingernails really strong---they both used to chip easily. I am assuming (hoping!) this strengthening is simultaneously happening to my bones. So if you aren't already taking these supplements, you may want to consider adding them.
Warmly, Santa Fe
- By letshope
- Posted November 5, 2009 at 11:52 am
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thanks for the info! how are you getting the k2 and boron...is it through a doctor or is it otc? if so where do you order it from?
- By SantaFe
- Posted November 5, 2009 at 12:04 pm
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Most health food stores carry both of these. Just get a really good quality brand that your health food store clerk recommends---don't go cheap. I take 3mgs Boron (Triple Boron from "Source Naturals") a day and K2 (as M7--natto form) 45mcg a day. A good health food store person will know about these. Don't buy any that have extra stuff/supplements added---go for the straight K2 and Boron by itself.
Many members here take these supplements---maybe others have some better brand recommendations to offer. There's lots of research and info on the web about both these---very safe to take.
- By nancyjnb
- Posted November 5, 2009 at 1:56 pm
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With all of your fractures, I am guessing that your docs have previously checked your parathryoid glands....but, if they haven't...I would certainly do it. I'm surprised that so few doctors investigate the parathyroids in patients who really shouldn't have so much bone loss at young ages, before they start patients on the osteo meds.
- By bluesky
- Posted November 5, 2009 at 2:11 pm
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Suzanne--
I was on forteo and did not experience the weight gain . In fact, I think the stress of diagnosis etc. put me off of food for awhile . I know some complain about weight gain on forteo, but I do not think it is a given. Just wanted you to take that into consideration.
Yes, forteo has risks and everyone must weigh those.
I am wishing you the best.
Bluesky
- By susi200
- Posted November 5, 2009 at 3:53 pm
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It is time someone mentioned hyperparathyroidism.
I have this, and cannot take vit.d because of it, as it
raises serum calcium too much. I do not want the
surgery, and am trying to control calcium level and
build better bones with strontium citrate. A blood test
will tell if it is working. Are you hyper-parathyroid?
If so, what is your calcium level?
- By nancyjnb
- Posted November 5, 2009 at 7:12 pm
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My doctors are testing me for hyperparathyroid right now. I'm having extensive labs, tomorrow, and had an MRI of the soft tissue in my neck last week. I'd previously been on Fosamax ( a few years ago, for a matter of months ) and refused to take it again. Last month when I had my latest Dexa, my hips were -3.6 and spine was -3.3, and I said that I wouldn't take Evista or any other of the recommended meds until I had labs for parathyroid, because any of them could seriously damage my kidneys, etc. if my parathyroids weren't functioning properly. My new Endo believes that my osteo problems come from one or more of the parathyroids. I hope he's right. If that's the case, as soon as I have surgery, I should start rebuilding bone. If the parathyroids are okay, then he wants to start me on Forteo...says that I'm not a candidate for any of the others because he worries about my jaws, and I had so much pain in my bones and muscles from the Fosamax. I will be 60 in Jan.
- By letshope
- Posted November 6, 2009 at 12:49 am
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wow...thank you for more great input. my daughter has a parathyroid problem, but i don't. i don't remember my serum Ca, but it too low in my urine...they still don't know the exact nature of what might be causing my osteo...i've had such an unusual list of issues over the past few years for someone my age (46). i'll try not to be too close minded about forteo...i just fear having any more complications caused by doctors' oversights and drugs...
i'm so crabby when ever i'm in a hospital anymore...the errors they've made from improper splinting, to not knowing my medical history when it's right in front of them or poor continuity of care issues, etc...leave me thinking i should go it with out the medical community...some days...some days i think i'm just hemorrhaging money that would be far better spent on even a vacation or spa day...now that would hold merit in reducing my stress!
leaving for the first vacation i've had since '02 tomorrow...so best to everyone until i return! thanks again for your valuable input!
~s
- By ronnijay
- Posted November 6, 2009 at 11:13 pm
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I'm so sorry about all your breaks, letshope. I have been on Forteo for a month and haven't experienced a single side effect. In fact, I have lost 3 pounds since starting it. I guess it's too soon to know if I'll get any injection site reaction. Right now I have no bruising or redness. I myself would much prefer minor disfigurement over major pain, but then I am older than you, and am single, so no one sees my stomach but me. :) Since Forteo is, from what my doctors tell me, the only osteo med that actually builds bone, it sure sounds like you are a perfect candidate for it. It is very expensive so the insurance companies don't usually approve it for any but the most severe cases. But with all you have been through, I imagine your doctor wouldn't have any problem getting it approved.
I truly hope things improve for you! And i suggest that you obtain the business card of a discrimination attorney and leave it laying on your desk where your boss will see it. :)
- By BoneLady
- Posted November 13, 2009 at 12:37 pm
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letshope,
Have you had a 25-hydroxy vitamin D test done? If not, you should get one. This test is crucial for anyone suffering from stress fractures. Often, a low level of vitamin D in the blood is the cause.
- By prayer
- Posted November 16, 2009 at 5:17 pm
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Gosh, winter is here and I am starting to get frantic. I quit taking the fosomax because of all the bone and joint pain. I am 57 and haven't broken anything yet? I have bad osteoporosis but the horror stories of the iv meds has me scared. I am afraid I may fall and break a hip. Has anyone on this site ever broken a hip? Please someone get back to me on this. I need support.
- By prayer
- Posted November 16, 2009 at 5:18 pm
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Lets hope. You give me hope that what doesn't kill you makes your stronger. What do you take for the pain?
Prayer
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