secondary causes

• By millie123
• Posted October 16, 2009 at 9:25 am
• Report post

Your D levels are too low. Up them at least to 50ng.

• Reply

• By GRANDmother19
• Posted October 17, 2009 at 1:26 am
• Report post

My D level was twenty somthing. Now after mega doses of vitamin D3 over past few months, up to 77. My (new) doctor was very surprised and suggested I not change anything I am doing. He told me that most people are not willing to put in the work necesssary to treat osteo w/out meds. I can't take bisphosphonates due to high risk of ONJ. So I walk 3 to 4 miles five days a week on steep incline now. And a few weight bearing exercises. I didn't handle my osteo diagnosis very well. Thus the rant I imagine. I wrote an apology to you. And I do hope you accept.

Stay well.
Lana

• Reply

• By Jenga
• Posted October 17, 2009 at 7:38 am
• Report post

Thank you both for your helpful replies. I am not handling this osteo diagnosis so well myself. I have been doing the "right" things for years and now this. I already do some back excersises because of chronic low back pain/sciatica. Since the diagnosis, I have started carrying a 3 lb weight in each hand (while walking my usual 3 miles a day) and using those upper body weight machines at the gym for my back. Also now taking 1200 mg CA (elemental) and 1000 IU Vit D per day. I am taking Fosamax (8 weeks today) and I am still on the fence about that. Afraid to take it, afraid not to take it. No side effects thus far. Not sure what else can be done!
Thanks for reading.

• Reply

• By gymjunky
• Posted October 17, 2009 at 10:52 am
• Report post

Have you gone through menopause yet? My doctor said that was probably why I ended up with osteo so early also. I am 48 years old and have osteo in the lumbar spine (-2.7 score) and osteopenia in the hips, (-2.0 right, -1.9 left hip) . She said as soon as we go through menopause we lose a lot of bone mass, and then the next 5 years after menopause.
I use light hand weights and try to do weight bearing exercise 3-5 days a week. I have not been doing it but 3 X a week lately as I have been so busy. I had my vit. D level checked and they said it was normal, but I need to call back and get the number. What type of Calcium do you take? I currently take Citracal and don't like it as the pills are so big and hard to swallow. Also you have to take 4-5 to get the daily dose and I end up taking only 2 a day. Take care...

• Reply

• By Eamenard
• Posted October 17, 2009 at 11:17 pm
• Report post

Dear Jenga:

Going on Osteo meds right away is pretty irrational. They change the basic bone structure and may make bones more brittle. You should take your time to decide if this is the way you want to go. You will not implode while you take the time to educate yourself.

I wouldn't count a grandmother as a reason either. Did she have nonimpact fractures? Her lifestyle could be a major factor. DEXA measures BMD but there is no way to measure bone quality.

Secondary causes can be parathyroid, calcium in the urine. etc. Not family history. That is certain conditions in your body that effect your basic bone modeling system. Have you had nonimpact fractures? Now that is a real indicator.

Work on the D, magnesium, and calcium. Woody at Sequoia Health posts on this site a lot and he has a pretty balanced concept. Read his posts. And ignore the DEXA. It is only a flashing yellow light. It might be right about 1% of the time in predicting fracturability. Not good. Take the FRAX test. It might be in the ballpark but has limitations as it covers a very small set of lifestyle parameters.

This Osteo thing is a maze and many are working on something but there is no one answer. A good lifestyle will have many other benefits in any case.

You need to read "The Myth of Osteoporsis" by Gillian Sanson. Get it from the library or whereever. It is a good starting point. You can search this site as well for comments.

Hope this helps and don't jump on the first "train". See what path you want to travel.

• Reply

• By sdivas
• Posted October 17, 2009 at 11:47 pm
• Report post

Jenga, my diagnosis was at age 50 in the low -3 range for both hips and spine. Any emotions you are feeling at this time are very natural. Most of us have gone on a rollercoaster of emotions with the diagnosis, but osteoporosis can be managed. Everyone is different, but I am very physically active at age 62, fracture free. There is so much information on the community that it can become overwhelming, so please take your time. Almost every subject related to osteoporosis has been discussed. Using the Search above will bring up previous discussion posts. I can't tell you whether to continue with the meds or not. Decisions about meds are not easy and must be each persons choice. Read the information provided at www.nof.org. Read the experiences of people on the community. Some community members have chosen meds without dealing with any side effects while other community members write about side effects. We must weigh the benefits against any possible risk. Whether you chose to continue or discontinue the meds, hopefully you will come to a place of confidence knowing that the osteoporosis plan you put into place is the right one for you.

• Reply

• By sdivas
• Posted October 18, 2009 at 12:12 am
• Report post

Jena, I also want to add that we can do all the right things and still face a health concern. Please don't blame yourself in any way for your bone loss. Even if you didn't do all the right things, you did what you felt you should do at the time or what you wanted to do at the time. My diagnosis turned me towards a healthier lifestyle. Lean on the community members for support until you feel yourself standing firm, tall and strong. Sandi

• Reply

• By Jenga
• Posted October 18, 2009 at 10:14 am
• Report post

The Frax tool looks like it only calculates for hip fracture. All well and good, but my spine is my main concern. I guess I am not convinced that just a few more back exercises and chugging megadoses of Vit D and Calcium will improve my situation. Certainly this is good preventative advice. But I have already been eating healthy and exercising for years. These are not major lifestyle changes for me. Where are the studies that show these measures alone will maintain or improve low bone density after one already has osteoporosis? I would love to read them. Please provide links or guidance on where to find them.
Oh and eamenard - I am not irrational. I have put alot of thought and time into making this decision. And yes, I have done research. For the time being, I have decided to take them. I may or may not change my mind.
Thanks everyone!

• Reply

• By Eamenard
• Posted October 18, 2009 at 11:18 am
• Report post

Dear Jenga:

My vocabulary isn't good. You are not irrational and it is the wrong word. Not sure what the right word would be. Just take your time as Sandi said so eloquently and choose the course for yourself.

As for FRAX, there are two odds given, one for hip and the other for other fractures which includes spine, wrists and what have you. This tool is again only a rough estimate. For you having lived a healthy lifestyle, I would be inclined to forget the whole Osteo thing. You need to read Gillian's book and you will see where I am coming from. Your bones could be healthy and of good quality and still get a low DEXA.

The word "Osteoporosis" has been redefined by the drug companies accordiing to Gillian. You may not have osteoporosis in the real sense on the word. Low BMD is NOT the "gold" standard you seem to think it is.

You sound like you have all info you need. Good luck.

• Reply

Add to the discussion