Last August (2008) I had a bone density and was told, I was half a point off being oseopenia in my hips and my spine showed a whole point even higher. I am 51, two years post menopausal. The end of March I had a chest xray for surgical pre-op. Things were fine.
In April I found a bump on my ribs, very near a scar from a chest tube. I scar terribly so my Pulmanary MD and I figured thats what it was, and decided to just watch it.
My family physician at my routine appt didn't like it and ordered a chest x-ray. I have two pathological rib fractures ( 8th and 9th ribs). Things have not been well since. They ordered a mamogram which was just fine, and he is consulting two other physicians.
Now I am told, if the last round of labs are good he is referring me to an oncologist.
Can osteopenia cause pathological rib fractures, with no trauma, no pain, no bruising etc. I was clueless there was any damage there.
Ann
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Pathological Rib Fractures
- By Saharanne
- Posted June 24, 2009 at 8:13 pm · 9 replies
- In Osteopenia (low bone density)
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Exercise Cancer Surgery Fractures Reclast Osteopenia Pain Osteoporosis Lung cancer Stress fractures Stress
9 replies
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- Newest first
- By rmchavin
- Posted June 24, 2009 at 8:33 pm
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Dear Saharanne:
The lower your bone mineral density, the higher your risk of developing rib fractures. However, young people with healthy bone densities can develop rib fractures too during vigorous exercise. In fact, people who participate in the sport of competitive rowing frequently develop rib fractures. In the sport of competitive rowing, rib fractures are their most feared injury: http://www.inspire.com/groups/national-osteoporosis-foundation/discussion/h ow-severe-is-the-risk-of-bone-fractures-during-exercise/
- By Saharanne
- Posted June 24, 2009 at 8:39 pm
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I had back surgery, I wasn't active at all. I was walking with a walking until mid May. The lump appeared before my back surgery. I could barely walk before that from pain. I have not participated in any exercise since January when the back problems started. Its definately not exercise enduced
Ann
- By Saharanne
- Posted June 26, 2009 at 3:42 pm
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They have done some extensive lab and urine tests and all are normal. So they are sending me to an Oncologist. Please pray for me.
Ann
- By rmchavin
- Posted June 26, 2009 at 4:00 pm
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Dear Saharanne:
A PET (positron emission tomography) scan can see the existence of cancer earlier than a CT (computed tomagraphy) scan or an MRI (nuclear magnetic resonance imaging) scan. However, it is highly unlikely that Medicare or other insurance will be made to pay for it, even though it is desireable for you to have these scans now. If you are wealthy, tell your oncologist that you are willing to pay 100% of the cost of a PET scan or a CT scan out of your own pocket. You want a scan now, not later.
- By Saharanne
- Posted June 26, 2009 at 9:41 pm
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They won't do CT scans or MRI's right now because they say I have had all the radiation exposure I can have in a two year period? I have no clue when that ends but that is what I am facing. When they found a growth in my lung they did a ct scan monthly from June to January. Besides MRI's on my back annually, and then two in Jan, and a bone scan in January also. I will mention it. I know my insurance pays for PET scans. The surgeon was going to do one on my lung and changed his mind and stayed with the CT on the lung because of my family history of lung cancer.
Ann
- By rmchavin
- Posted June 26, 2009 at 10:07 pm
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Dear Saharanne:
It is a good thing that you are getting so many scans authorized for you. Just remember that a PET scan can see a cancer several months before a CT scan or an MRI scan can see the same cancer. Also remember that an MRI scan has only 1% of the radiation of a CT scan and that a PET scan has about 50% of the radiation of a CT scan.
- By letshope
- Posted June 27, 2009 at 8:28 am
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while i was doing yoga teacher training i broke my left 8th rib first, then my right 3rd. just doing yoga. i then broke my shoulder on a climbing wall, but not due to trauma or extreme exertion. all were non-traumatic stress fractures from osteoporosis. i also then found out my t-7 and t-8 vertibrae had compression fractures. they found lesions, one in my shoulder and then one in my tibia (the size of an egg), so the cancer scare was a big issue...but after seeing an osteo oncologist at OSU and others...i discovered that those were just "normal abnormalities", possibly fibrous dysplasia...but i "just" have osteoporosis.
age: 46
5'6", 128 (always in the teens though)
hip: 2.6
spine: 3.4
reclast in march '09
calcium 1,200-1,500mg, D3 1-3,000
- By Saharanne
- Posted June 27, 2009 at 9:40 am
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I wish That would be a mental relief but I have asked them again, and the MD said yesterday, that a "pathological fracture" is not from osteoporosis. I know my numbers were almost osteopenia in my hips, but my spine was in the low normal August 2008. I guess from what he is telling me, the term Pathological is a certain type fracture that rules out osteoporosis. I was grabbing at straws hoping this could be the cause.
Ann
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