A shock.

[Margaret007]

I had a T12 spinal wedge fracture 2012...scan showed I was osteopenia but nothing given or done..beginning of 2015 after waiting 5 months to see specialist I was told I had a T2&4 spinal wedge fracture. I had kypoplast surgical procedure and a scan. I was told then advanced osteoporosis I went on to have a further 14 spinal wedge fractures one after the other.the pain was horrendous..I was given several medications for it but reacted badly to all of them..ended up with Accrete D3..and saw an Osteo specialist. Was put on Zolondronic acid infusion first dose last Feb second Feb just gone.few side effects but nothing I couldn't cope with. .i ended up in a wheel chair but mailed a man I used to weight train with he was a physio treated mainly sports people...he got me up right and now I am doing about 80 per cent of what I used to ..I go to see him now every six weeks..I have lost 4 inches in height now 4..8.i used to be a weight trainer and body builder when younger and took supplements couldn't understand why I was so bad..can't walk very far and have to use a walking aid and dancing gone too.what caused me to be in this condition..I had asthma from being a child so steroids of course...I had early menapause through hysterectomy 34 years ..no help given..then melanoma cancer in 1994 again medication and finally was told just over 7 years ago I had atrial fibrillation which didn't bother me but was put on Warfarin for three years then Sinthrome..the worst possible drugs to give anyone with suspect bones..it was a case of cost cutting but I finally 9 months ago came off them. I take aspirin occasionally. ..my GP at the time would not listen it was ...it's in your mind..just because I queried everything specially if he attempted to give me a script .i don't take meds if I don't need them prefer to go the holistic route ...I take magnesium which is good for pain, heart everything, Vit C. VIt B complex and Boron a pain reliever...my aim this year is to get back to the gym ..maybe after my birthday July ..when I will be 78...don't give in to meds people research..a small p.s. I paid private when I was fifty to see a GP who specialised in the menapause and I got HRT the best thing ..I graduated to patches and was on them until I turned 74....,otherwise I think I would have started with OP earlier.

[WaryMary]

I can only commend you for your courage and positive attitude! My menopause began 40 years ago and HRT was not available to me then, working as a teacher in central Africa. I sometimes wonder if my bones would have been much stronger now if I had commenced HRT then. I assume it's too late now at 92. I am very careful to avoid falling (almost paranoid about it in fact). I suffer quite a bit of pain in my neck (upper vertebrae have been a mess for years and I put on a neck-brace sometimes, which helps. Apart from that I just continue, mostly pain free and happily embrace every new day I am given. I do worry, though, in case my neck vertebrae go suddenly worse.

[Margaret007 in reply to WaryMary]

Thank you for those kind words..I think when we are faced with the inevitable we are always filled with after thoughts "what ifs" ..I hope I do as well as you and reach your age ..unfortunately I am not pain free. I don't think I ever will be, but I am alive. I have just been to replenish my vitamin medication. It should last me 3/4 months now. It isn't too late to take bone replenishing medication but doubt HRT would be given. Take care.

[Jennymary]

Hi Margaret, you sound like one amazing lady. You say you used a gym before all your issues and you are hoping to go back, I hope I don't offend you but in Bristol where I am we have an active choices scheme which is exercise in a gym for health related issues. It may be worth looking to see if there's something similiar in your area, I wish you luck x

[Margaret007 in reply to Jennymary]

Hi Jennymary thank you for your kind words.yes I used a gym before all of this..I was a body builder did my last competition when I was 63 came 2nd..I am a qualified trainor and still do programmes for people. Up to all of this I was working part time doing rehab with stroke patients. ..now trained a friend up to carry on..if my mobility and pain issues would ease up I would be back. I do yoga stretches from a ball cannot stand but cycle on a stationary bike Gardening when I can as we have a large allotment too. .i haven't had any help from any area of the medical profession just my partner,son and grandson...take care. Xxx

[Kaarina]

Wow, you are amazing, Margaret. Such determination. A example to us all. It is good to set oneself goals. Have a great birthday in July - I hope you are spoilt - you deserve to be. Please do let us know how you go on. Are you taking K2? You do not mention that. I have lost 5 inches in height. My husband asks where I am, sometimes!

[Margaret007 in reply to Kaarina]

Hi kaarina thank you for those lovely words. No not taking K2 as we grow all our own veg and have two freezer.. Not having anymore birthdays after this one..I will be away we got a small caravan last year as we have always camped in a tent. Usually go to France for all of June but can't this time. I only have my son, grandson and partner, all so called friends just disappeared not one phone call. Their loss. I had two choices I either let it get me down or fight it. I want to be here for some time yet ..even though my age is old I am not old in mind never have been. Xxxxx

[Kaarina in reply to Margaret007]

Hi Margaret, yes, I have heard that happen with so called friends. You really find out who your real friends are in these kind of situations, don't you? Anyway, often family is by far the best. :).

Caravan sound ideal. Not so sure about camping though. We had a disastrous camping holiday in southern France with the children years ago and it was only because of the weather. The tent was lovely but not for 10 days of mainly rain! Nothing ever got dry ie the towels and the huge slugs that appeared in the tent were horrible! I remember I drank quite a lot of red wine!

I wish you well. Gentle hugs to you.

[Hidden]

I believe from your posts, you live in UK, not the US.

May want to look up Forsteo on the Eli Lily website for possible use by your friends who are just beginning to have fractures. I'm sorry it won't be of much assistance to you due to the advanced nature of your fractures. My best wishes to you.