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Newly diagnosed severe osteoporosis looking for info and support

Maguragirl profile image
32 Replies

Hello all,

I'm already a member of the colitis group but recently diagnosed with osteoporosis. After sustaining a fractured vertebrae-t4 a few months ago which was agony. I've had a dexa scan X-rays and ct etc. Recently seen a consultant rheumatologist who said my spine is very fragile. T score of -5 or more! I'll be starting injections of teriatride soon as he said I'm too serious to just start tablets..

Having looked at a lot of posts here it's good to know that many of you have travelled the osteoporosis road longer than me, and gained a lot of knowledge. I'm interested in any advice on the injections side effects etc and also I had no idea that calcium or Vit D could cause issues. I have so much work to do to find out things.

Thanking you in advance for any replies.

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32 Replies
Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase

I rolled off the bed one night at the beginning of January and broke both bones in my wrist then discovered I had osteoporosis. The first thing I did was to go online and join the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS)

They have an amazing amount of information everything and anything from diet to drugs. You can see and read them all on their website.

When my DEXA result came through I was checked out for all sorts of possible causes - vitamin D, calcium, hyperparathyroidism and a few other possibilities.

I’ve now been taking alendronic acid for about nine weeks now.

I have to say I wasn’t at all keen but I’d been doing all the right things - good diet, great vitamin D, lots of weight bearing exercise etc and I just couldn’t face the thought of another break. This wrist has been absolutely agony and although the wrist is fine now I’ve been left with problems in my fingers and shoulder so, I started on the tablets.

Apart from anything else my Pilates teacher said if she had had numbers like my T- scores she would definitely take it - I can’t remember what they were off hand but my T scores were nothing like yours

I also started on calcium and vitamin D tablets - fortunately I started them a week before the alendronic acid because I didn’t get on well with the calcium tablets and my first thought would have been to blame the alendronic acid. I tried a second type of calcium, it’s better but it still isn’t good and because my vitamin D and diet are good I’m sticking to supplementing vitamin D and increasing my calcium intake.

So far I’ve been fine on the alendronic. I take it with a big glass of tap water on an empty stomach and go out for a half hour walk round the block then come home and have breakfast. You won’t have to do that if you are having injections though.

Good luck with it all, it’s an enormous shock to get news like that isn’t it. Plus breaking bones isn’t half painful. Definitely have a look online at the ROS leaflets though and the ROS have nurses available to talk to if anything is worrying you.

It’s a good charity worth supporting. I’ve linked my Amazon Smile to them so that they get money from every purchase I make.

Maguragirl profile image
Maguragirl in reply to Fruitandnutcase

Thank you so much for your reply and good information and advice. So sorry to hear about your fractures..especially on the wrist..really difficult to manage without use of your hands. I hope you are healing well and managing to have a good quality of daily life, that sounds so painful.

Yes I've been able to get some good info on the ROS site. I think I'll be spending a bit of time now looking into osteoporosis seriously.

I have Colitis so I was on high dose Prednisolone steroid for a few months last year after ending up in hospital with a bad flare up. Not something I ever wish to repeat. My Consultant is Professor specialising in Osteoporosis so I've been told I'm lucky he is on my case. He had phoned me a few days ago to ask me to go to his clinic the next day for an urgent appointment as my condition was very serious. I was the only patient that morning so quite strange and I was a bit anxious. He said I am very high risk for multiple fractures.the one I have just happened as I wasn't even doing anything to cause it. It will be daily injections of the drug he prescribed for 2 years and as you say after that he will review things and put me on something else.

Hope fully I will get some good results from the injections in building some bone.. I just turned 60 and I work in the care sector so work is very busy and physically demanding. I've not really thought yet how or if I can safely carry on working in this job which I love. Lots of decisions and life changes to make.

Many thanks for your kind reply. I wish you well and hope we can connect again. Take care of yourself and best wishes to you.

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase in reply to Maguragirl

You’ve got a lot going on. It’s a horrible condition that I think is made worse because it causes such intense pain. Sounds like you are being well looked after, what a stroke of luck to get a professor who specialises in osteoporosis - then to get in to see the great man in person. I’m not surprised you were nervous. It must have been a daunting thought but it’s good that your treatment has been started. Hopefully you will be put in touch with a physiotherapist and possibly an occupational therapist who can advise you on how best to move etc to minimise damage and pain. It’s sad though that you are probably going to have to give up a job you love but you need to take care of your body.

I feel very fed up because over the years there were many missed opportunities to offer me a DEXA scan and allow me to work seriously on strengthening my bones before I reached he stage I’m at now.

I have rheumatic disease for which I spent three months on prednisone both of which are markers, as is an overactive Thyroid - I’ve got Graves’ disease, plus a strong family history of osteoporosis.

I also broke a wrist in my late fifties although a senior doctor at the hospital where I was treated wandered into the area I was being treated in and scolded the young doctor who was dealing with me for ‘peering’ at the X-ray. “You’re peering, we don’t peer at X-rays” followed by saying to me “ Nothing’s broken, no treatment, go home”. I asked feebly for a splint which I was given and off I went.. The pain was such that I couldn’t stand up and I was actually sick. I discovered over a year later that it was actually broken.

This diagnosis is annoying really as I fell onto both knees and both outstretched arms a few months ago, granted I landed on two soft bags of old clothes - but my first thought when I got up and realised I hadn’t broken anything was that yay, I’d missed the family curse. Fast forward a few months and it turns out I was quite wrong.

So, look after yourself and I hope all goes well with your injections and you feel stronger soon. It must be such a shock for you to discover all of a sudden that not only have you got osteoporosis but that you are a very high risk. I found it a bit of a shock to discover that I have osteoporosis and Ive got a family history of it.

Sunseaandsand profile image
Sunseaandsand

Hi, Sorry to hear about your fracture.

They are extremely painful.

There is a lot to learn about Osteoporosis and the NOS have many things to read online or download.

Last week I had what is now my 5th fracture in the spine.

All have happened without trauma and all including this one have given me excrutiating pain.

In 2017 I became disabled when I had 2 lumbar fractures a month apart.

In January last year I had the 2nd of 2 fractures in the thoracic area.

Since January last year my main way of moving around is in a power chair.

My T score is very similar to your own and I was diagnosed about 16 years ago.

I have had just about all the treatments available but unfortunately I suffered bad side effects.

I do not tolerate medications very well so do not let mine or other peoples bad experiences put you off.

Generally its people who have side effects who write the reviews looking for others with the same problems.

There are many people who can take the medications with no side effects and good results but you will not find many of them on health unlocked.

I would like to say that Lack of Calcium and Vitamin D will not cause Osteoporosis.

These are both needed to help bone strength as is a good healthy diet,but lack of them will not cause Osteoporosis.

Some medications can contribute to Osteoporosis, and Steroid medications are one of them.

Are you on Steroids or have you ever had to take them in the past?

Is there a history of Osteoporosis in your family?

No disrespect to your Rheumatologist, but they are not the ones with the best of knowledge on Osteoporosis or the treatments.

They are not specialists in this area.

You say that you were told you are having Teraparatide injections because tablets would be no good.

There are many treatments available that are given by tablet or injection.

Some of these are available both in tablet form or injection.

Teraparatide works differently to the other treatments as in that where the other treaments work by slowing down the rate at which the bones are broken down by cells called Osteoclasts.

Whereas Teraparaide also speeds up the bones been built by the Osteoblasts.

It works well for the spine but does not work well for the hips.

I had Teraparatide (Forsteo) injections every month for 2 years.

You can only have this treatment for 2 years in a lifetime.

This is because when it was in trials it was shown to cause cancer.

The treatment is delivered to your home by cold storage, it has to be kept in a fridge at all times.

It can cause a few problems if you are travelling or away from home owing to having to keep it at the correct temperature.

A nurse shows you how to use it and will give you your first injection.

IThe side effects I had were terrible Nausea Like mornig sickness but all day which would worsen as the day went on and also bone pain.

Many times I felt like giving up and giving in but I persevered and completed the 2 years.

The density in my spine at the end of the 2 years had increased slightly, but in the first six months of treatment the density in my hips had decreased by 14%. My hips gained a little of the 14% back but still ended up lower than they were before beginning treatment!!

(Not good)

We are all individuals though and one man's medicine will be another man's poison.

If you are wanting to start yout treatment and are having to wait overly long owing to Covid-19.

Then you should be able to have something in tablet form whilst waiting.

After all when you finish treatment with Teraparatide you will then have to have another of the treatments.

After stopping any treatments you will lose bone more rapidly if not followed on with another treatment.

You will gain a wealth of knoweledge from other members on diet and vitamins, I will not cover that as other members will reply to you, some have excellent knowledge which you will find really helpful.

On a final note. I do not know your age, other health problems or how you take excersise.

What I would say is please do not take any risks, your spine is at high risk of fracturing.

Do not lift, bend, twist reach, or stretch.

Be carefull if excersising.

If you can walk then do as much as possible and other light excersise.

We have to make our own choices in how we choose to manage our bones.

Health Unlocked is a good place to gather information.

The Nurses help line I have found to be very good.

Take care and let us know how you progress.

Maguragirl profile image
Maguragirl in reply to Sunseaandsand

Hi there and thank you so much for your reply. I've had others and so pleased that other people are passing on some very useful information and sharing their own experiences with this condition.

5 fractures! Wow I'm so sorry to hear that. How can anyone cope with that kind of pain? The one I had is on T4 and that was very bad for about 10 weeks. It's healing but every now and then it nags away. I am just on paracetamol for pain as due to Colitis I can't take many pain medications.

The Consultant has chosen to start me on the injections ( delivered in a cpl of weeks ) as he said due to the results of my scans I need to start asap. As you can imagine I was in a bit of shock hearing how bad my spine is that on the day of the consultation I didn't have the right mind to ask a lot of questions. I have to wait for some more blood results before they decide on calcium and vitamin D supplements. I'll be doing daily injections of the Terrosa. Hopefully I won't get bad side effects..but I'll give it a go. I have a good diet but have never eaten much red meat I just don't process it properly due to my Colitis.

I work 12 hour shifts in the care sector where there is a lot of heavy lifting, and moving heavy equipment. I'm going to contact me GP soon to go over this as I need advice as to how I can best manage at work. Being 60 it's not a good time to change careers..but if it's going to be risky doing what I do I may have to consider other options. It's already more stressful due to the current covid pandemic.

Thank you again for replying I appreciate everyone's input. Up til recently I never worried about my back as I'm always very careful. But as I fractured once without doing anything physical I can recall to cause it I'm a lot more aware of everything I do. Trying to not become paranoid about wondering if I should move a certain way etc.

Sending best wishes to you and I hope you are managing your pain and having a reasonable quality of life with all those fractures. Everyone here going through this are very brave.

Take care.

Sunseaandsand profile image
Sunseaandsand in reply to Maguragirl

Thank you for replying.

I noticed from your reply to another member that in the past you were on Steroids for another Health problem.

It is good that you no longer need to be on them.

It is very difficult as often treatment for one condition can result in us having other health problems.

Your specialist has arranged for your treatment to begin quickly and as a result you will not be waiting long. I hope you tolerate it well with little side effects, we have to try these treatments and hope that they will be tolerated well and improve the density of our bones.

The secret I think is that as soon as one treatment ends begin another so as not to undo the good work that has been done.

You say that you can not recall doing anything to contribute to your fracture, your bone density is very low and your line of work has probably caused the fracture.

Is it at all possible your employer could give you a different role?

To carry on doing what you are at work will be like walking through a mine field.

It is not a case of being paranoid, you must put yourself first, and do your upmost to prevent further fractures.

My first fracture once healed did not effect my quality of life in a huge way.

I was still able to have a reasonably good quality of life.

My second and third fractures happened a month apart and put me on crutches.

Once healed I still could only walk a short way and had to rely on crutches, to move around and began to become reliant on help from others with personal care meals ect.

Then pain began to increase until I had to use a wheelchair, my husband and other family members had to take me everywhere as I was unable to do so myself.

Eighteen months after my 2nd and 3rd fractures I had my 4th (last January).

Since then my life has changed completely.

I am reliant on my husband and family, I have lost my independance and so much more with it.

I have just had to have a break from Counselling which has helped me a great deal.

Acceptance does not come easy.

Great changes come with multiple fractures, even our body shape.

Please I am not telling you this to frighten you in anyway.

I am trying to raise your awareness to how fragile the bones are and what it can lead to.

I wish you good luck with your treatment and your future health.

Stay safe and take good care of yourself.

Maguragirl profile image
Maguragirl in reply to Sunseaandsand

Thank you again for replying and for helpful advice. Your fractures have certainly been life changing. I can't imagine how anyone can cope with that. It seems that it's so different for people and some seem to have very bad luck. What a nasty condition it is as it works away at your bones with no symptoms until you get a break..then it all becomes clear how bad it is.

I've not tackled the issue of my job yet..I doubt I will be offered another role. I work in care homes where it's 12 hrs on your feet and a very fast paced environment. You have to be multitasking all the time. I also work with clients who have dementia ( my special interest ) It's challenging to work in this area as communication can be difficult, and unfortunately aggression is common. I already sustained a serious shoulder injury years ago from a client. I have to look carefully at the risks for me doing this now considering my diagnosis. First line I need to go through everything with my GP. Before I seen the hospital for my results my GP before that had just said I had ' slight bone thinning ' and more or less no big deal. Obviously it's more than that..so hopefully the advice will be more appropriate.

Thanks for your support it really helps to know I'm not alone out here. Also thanks to anyone I've not replied to personally. My back has been playing up and the arthritis is causing pain too so it's not always easy to focus.

Take care and stay safe out there.

KidneyCoach profile image
KidneyCoach

I also have about 12 spinal compression fractures in varying degrees from T3 through L3-4. Severe arthritis as well as scoliosis due to bone loss. No trauma. I was put on Fosamax for 5 years or so. Stopped that more than 10 years ago. Doctor says the medication will stay in my bones for the rest of my life. I was then told I MUST be on something so they put me on Prolia which caused me all sorts of complications. Doctor freaked out when I chose to stop all meds for bone loss.

I'm a complicated case as I've been on dialysis for 18+ years. I've also had broken toes, arm and leg. I walked on my leg for many weeks prior to finding the hairline fracture. I do take pain meds. I still have breakthrough pain depending on activity. Walking far is near impossible. I just don't have the strength to keep upright without pain.

I do take Vit D but must be cautious with calcium. I already have calcification in vessels. Long term dialysis and hyperparathyroidism contributes although I had parathyroids removed almost 10 years ago.

Gotta run for now. Blessings

Maguragirl profile image
Maguragirl in reply to KidneyCoach

Hi KC,

Meant to reply to you earlier. Thanks for the support and info everything I can learn from now on is going to be important. I suppose we all take our bones for granted until something goes wrong.

You have had a lot to deal with and I can't imagine how you are coping. I feel I am doing quite well considering as only 1 fracture.

I count myself lucky as I have a sister with myeloma..had treatment and now in remission thankfully. She had a fracture in t4 like me, so my GP did tests and with relief I was clear for that.

I hear people saying that Prolia doesn't work for them as you mentioned. I think it's all very well that some drugs show statistically they work, but they mustn't forget we are individuals with different bodies and metabolism etc.

Take care and I hope your pain is managed well so you can have some relief.

Wherever you are enjoy the sunshine if you are able to. X

catno1 profile image
catno1

Hi,

A quick hello to basically say you're not alone. My last dexa t-score result was -5.7 in my lumber spine. I understand your concerns and hope you get some support from those that have the injections on here

Please take care, I understand the hellish painful fractures as I had multiple fractures just six months ago. Due to previous ongoing diseases none of the treatments appear to agree with me and am awaiting more support from my Consultant.

Kind Regards,x

Maguragirl profile image
Maguragirl in reply to catno1

Hi and thanks for replying. So sorry you haven't found a medication you can take..hope your doctor is able to work something out soon. Oh no..a few fractures..that's so painful. I hope you are finding ways to manage but I know it's not easy.

I got a call today from pharmacy to say my teriparatide med will be delivered this Thursday! Wow didn't expect it as soon, and already feeling nervous about starting it. They will set up a nurse to come in to give me instructions to make sure I'm confident in doing the injections.

After looking into it more I seen some people saying they had rapid heart beat after the injection! I really dread that as I occasionally get that with no cause found but it's quite alarming. Hopefully I won't get that.

Best wishes and I hope you find treatment soon. I wish you well. X

Nuthatch profile image
Nuthatch in reply to Maguragirl

I’m glad you are getting a nurse to show you how to do the injections - I was initially told I wouldn’t get it at all due to lockdown because Lloyd’s homecare had stopped all home visits!

Luckily I was a nurse many years ago and my daughter is a doctor so I was quite happy to watch the Terrosa videos which are really good. They’re at terrosapatient.com.

As I said I’m my other reply I’ve had no bad side effects at all.

rockinr_56 profile image
rockinr_56

Whatever you do do not take a Prolia injection if you have any type of kidney disease. It just about killed my husband. And that was before all the warning post came out or all the warning came out on TV

Nuthatch profile image
Nuthatch

Hello - sorry to hear about your diagnosis, it’s a horrible shock isn’t it? I’d completely agree that contacting the ROS helps - they are very knowledgeable and don’t mind how many times you ring.

I was diagnosed with severe OP about 3 months ago by which time I had 5 vertebral compression fractures which I believe were mostly due to my GPs not taking my back pain seriously and treating it as mechanical low back pain. My t scores are -3.6 spine and -3.1 spine. I saw a consultant rheumatologist who rather reluctantly prescribed me teriparatide (the guidelines don’t really cover me because I’m not 65 or over - I’m 64!) but I wasn’t prepared to start with one of the (much cheaper) bisphosphonates after doing a lot of research.

I’m in my 3rd week of injections. I was very nervous about the first one because there are lots of reports re side effects (as there are for every drug because it’s what people report rather than success stories). Happy to say the injections are very easy to do and I’ve had no noticeable side effects other than a bit of muscle cramp at the fracture site which goes off very quickly with some stretching. Oh and some hot flushes! Quite manageable.

I was due to see the specialist physio at the bone health clinic the day lockdown started so waiting to see if that will happen now things are easing a bit. Though I live in the area which currently has the highest number of infections so I’m not holding my breath!

I’m carefully doing some of the exercises from the ROS website - started with too much and had bad sciatica like pain for a few weeks so scaled it right back. They will advise about those too. I find the pain relief following a fracture exercises really helpful. And I walk between 3 and 7 kilometres every day as we have a dog.

My back pain is just slowly getting a bit better and my consultant said some people find teriparatide helps with this too.

I wish you all the best and hope things improve for you and you find the teriparatide helps. I understand any actual increase in bone density takes several months. And I will have to take a bisphosphonate after I’ve finished the teriparatide otherwise any gain will be lost. But I have lots of time to think about that!

I was panic stricken to begin with but getting lots of information has helped together with the support of this forum.

Sorry for the mega post! Take care - here is a virtual and very gentle hug 🤗

Maguragirl profile image
Maguragirl in reply to Nuthatch

Thank you for your kind reply,

It's good to know someone else on the teraparatide as I will start the injections this coming Monday. Was getting myself worked up worrying about side effects etc! Hope fully I won't have any, or minimal that I can cope with.

I just spoke with my GP..he hadn't had the consultants letter yet from the hospital so I gave him all the info I was told. As I work long shifts in care homes I enquirer about managing work etc. I've struggled with the long hours and it's quite heavy work. Working with people who have dementia also exposes me to some aggression. I was pushed again yesterday and almost fell over, but the wall beside me prevented it. Very painful tho so I was glad to finish my shift. My back and shoulder are still sore.

GP said I'll be ok to carry on in my job, just try not to fall..well obviously I'll try not to. I think unless you are in my line of work nobody knows just how physically demanding it is. He said to keep physically active. I am! Surely osteoporosis and the severity of it is an individual thing? One persons experience, pain etc will be different?

I'll have to talk to my employer about my diagnosis and treatment and see if they agree I am ok to carry out my duties. I already asked months ago before I knew my diagnosis if I could have another role but they said they couldnt offer me anything.

I'm so glad you are getting on good with the injections and hope you see a real difference soon. Also good luck getting a physio appointment soon. Everything is so much more difficult during the covid.

Take care and I wish you better health in the near future x

Nuthatch profile image
Nuthatch in reply to Maguragirl

Good luck with the injections - I’m sure far more people have them with no problem than those who rush into the internet to report side effects!

It’s up to you of course but I’d advise speaking to the ROS nurses about your work. I’ve found my GP practice is blankly ignorant of OP and not interested in learning. I couldn’t manage a job like that now. I am lucky that I have a desk based job that I can do from home so I understand if you need to keep your job - just hope your employer can make some reasonable adjustments for you. Are you in a union? I can’t afford to stop work - I’m another WASPI woman still waiting for my pension... which will be half what I currently earn when I get it in 18 months time 🙄

Anyway good luck with everything. Let us know how you get on with the injections 🤗

Dizzy64 profile image
Dizzy64

Hi Maguragirl,

I have a fractured spine after being misdiagnosed for 3yrs with a leg discrepancy and being in agony while working and eventually I demanded to know what was wrong with my spine and being told it had moved so the base is now in my right buttock too late to operate after seeing 2 spinal surgeons and the onset of Dystonia and after being on sticks for 7yrs now use powered wheelchair as felt like my spine was being crushed. Aswell as other medication I take Calcium and vitamin d3 and was concerned over calcification of the arteries and spoke to my Dr who explained that its the d3 that the important part as it takes the calcium and vitamin d to the bones and muscles. I also had this clarified by 2 Pharmacists.

Hope this helps, it pays to ask questions as if in doubt.

Best wishes, take care.

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply to Dizzy64

In fact although vitamin D3 is essential for you to be able to absorb calcium, it is other micronutrients, like Vitamin K2 and magnesium, which make sure that calcium gets to the skeleton and doesn't settle onto the walls of blood vessels and into organs. Making sure you have all the micronutirents is very helpful in avoiding problems associated with "too much" calcium. That being said, dietary calcium is always preferable to large supplements of calcium.

Dizzy64 profile image
Dizzy64 in reply to HeronNS

Hi HeronNS, yes I agree with what you've said when I was put on Calcium and Vitamind3, I remember the Dr saying don't you go out and my reply was I'm never in and have milk and yoghurt everyday and used to walk to and from work and Saturdays take myself out for the day and was only home on Sunday. She couldn't understand it.

But my mum had Osteoporosis and shattered her ankle, 1 minute I was talking to her in the kitchen and I'd just turned away and she screamed and was on the floor and had to have plates put in her ankle she was only 53 and after that she lost all her confidence that was 1979 and was sent home with a zimmer frame and a commode as bathroom was upstairs my dad bought her a hospital bed and the front room was turned into her bedroom. We have come along way with the aftercare and grants.

Sorry if I've rambled on as I think in my case it's hereditary.

Thank you for your advice and clarification x

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply to Dizzy64

Did your doctor check you for "secondary causes of osteoporosis"? Here is one article: americanbonehealth.org/bone...

Maguragirl profile image
Maguragirl in reply to HeronNS

Hi HeronNS,

They did various blood tests..it seems that an early menopause caused by hysterectomy and my being on high dose Prednisolone were influences. Plus I have a family history.

Thanks for replying and hope you are doing well there x

Dizzy64 profile image
Dizzy64 in reply to HeronNS

I've had everything done cts, dexa scans, asked if I'd been in a car crash (I haven't).

I saw 1st spinal surgeon as he thought there was something else was going on and he asked if I would see his colleague and between that period I'd started having spasms and just wanted my arms and legs ripped off gp referred me to a Neurologist and after 200 blood tests I was diagnosed with Dopa-responsive Dystonia.

I couldn't have the operation because the anesthetist said it was too risky, which was fair enough. So I have to have my left piece of footwear raised 2inches.

I also have Reynaulds disease in my hands.

Thank you for the link I will read through it.

Take care x

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply to Dizzy64

I looked up your condition. A very rare disease. I hope you have been able to have treatment to make life better?

Dizzy64 profile image
Dizzy64 in reply to HeronNS

Hi HeronNS,

I appreciate your taking the time to look my condition, I do have the rare form of Dystonia and yet so few people know about it. I am on quite a lot of medication and they work well, I have good days and bad days and constantly fighting tiredness/poor sleep.

My biggest problem at the moment is my hands, poor grip and strength if I hold anything for too long I lose feeling in my hands.

I am waiting for hand therapy, which has been postponed because of COVID19.

But I can't change it and have never let it get me down. There are people alot worse off then myself.

Sorry it's so late.

Take care x

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply to Dizzy64

Yes, the fallout from the covid lockdown is turning out to be much wider than we expected. Perhaps as restrictions ease you'll soon get in for some therapy.

To cheer you up here is what happened to me this week: I had a "virtual" visit with my physiotherapist because as a result of covid restrictions I'd been wearing worn out sneakers and couldn't replace them. I would go out for a long walk early in the day then stay in the rest of the time. I now live on one level having moved from a house last year. Consequently I developed a painful foot, and eventually a wonky knee. So on Saturday I got exercises from the physiotherapist which I did twice and they seemed to be helping already. Then as I pulled a bed box out to retrieve some summer clothes I also shifted another box. I thought to myself, must push that back in before hubby trips over it. Then, having the attention span of a gnat, I noticed something on the other side of the room requiring attention and promptly tripped over the hazard, smashing down as hard as possible onto my hitherto good knee.

The good thing is I discovered there seems to be a lot of give in engineered hardwood or I'd have inflicted permanent damage. I won't go into the details of an extremely long time at the local ER where I think I kept being triaged down the list (at hospital for about 9 hours, I would have killed for a cup of tea by hour 5) however one x-ray and three days later followup with orthopod I have no break or tear, just an injury to match the other leg. So I have a brace on the recently injured knee, the other knee hurts more than the newly injured one, so I feel like a zombie as I hobble around our condo. I am such a klutz. It was ever thus. Before we were married my future husband nicknamed me Crash because I tended to not pay attention and walked into things!🤣

Dizzy64 profile image
Dizzy64 in reply to HeronNS

Hiya HeronNS,, you poor thing😂that's made my day, sorry.

It's nice to know that I'm not the only one, I've broke both my little toes one by walking into the leg of the coffee table and had to put toe back in place and the other one walking into the leg of the ironing board after thinking I'll put a cd on while I do ironing and when we used to babysit for his sister, you daren't put a cup on the floor hence my ex husband named me bootsy🤣.

I've been lucky since my disability as I have had soft falls apart from face planting on the coffee table when my arms were full, luckily just my forehead took the brunt of it. Seems I have a thing about coffee tables 🤔🤣.

Oh and last year I was going out to meet my friend and forgot I hadn't put my belt on while in my powerchair and over stretched to open front door and head butted it as I landed on the floor with the chair on my leg, but managed to get it off and turn it off so I could use it to help me get up, it's a strong door no dents😂 so now belt automatically goes on as soon as I get in.

My biggest worry is if I fall backwards as I could become paralysed, but I am very cautious to prevent that.

Hope your better soon. 9hr wait that's the longest I've heard of, I've waited 3.5hrs and that was long enough.

Glad the floor is ok, stay away from the boxes they're dangerous 😱💐

Take care and look after yourself x

Maguragirl profile image
Maguragirl

Hi Dizzy64,

Thanks for your reply. Sorry to hear what happened to you. I can't believe how people are being treated by some GPs re Osteoporosis. It's a debilitating condition and sadly for some completely life changing not in a good way. How could they leave you like that for so long? I know I'm new to all this but having spent a bit of time researching it seems to be common to ignore patients. I've heard of countless opportunities to diagnose it after many scans, X-rays, fractures etc.

I was told months ago after I knew something serious had happened to my back that it was a pulled muscle. Told to exercise & just userelaxation for the pain. I was unable to sit or lie down for 10 weeks it was agony.

My GP told me last week I'll be fine to work long shifts on my feet in a heavy job. He said I'm only at risk if I fall off a horse or fall skiing! When I reminded him that I already have a back fracture on just getting up one morning he changed the subject telling me he would write my script for vit D3 to be collected. I felt totally unsupported and my anxiety not acknowledged.

I won't start my teriparatide injections until next week now as I have symptoms of covid tho mild, and am waiting to be tested.

I really hope you are managing with all you have to cope with. I don't need calcium they said just the D3 so I'll take them.

Thank you for reading my post and your kind reply. Everyone here has been a lifeline for me just now. I'm a positive person normally..but my emotions have gone from shock to worry and sometime angry lately.

Take care of yourself and I send you and everyone here a virtual hug. X 🤗

Dizzy64 profile image
Dizzy64 in reply to Maguragirl

Hi Maguragirl, thank you for your kind reply, it was terrible at the time work kept sending me to Occupational health and it was the second time I went and saw a lovely nurse who explained everything and she put her arm around me and said you know it's chronic don't you my reply was I know it will cripple me but won't kill me.

I have remained positive about everything that's been thrown my way as I believe its how you cope with it and there's always someone worse off than me.

Take care of yourself and if you need support or advice I'm happy to help x

Maguragirl profile image
Maguragirl in reply to Dizzy64

Hi Dizzy,

Glad you had support from that nurse, it would really help. I agree that trying to be positive about things helps. Have you managed to keep working? I've had to cut back on my hours as was struggling physically to do too much.

Nice to hear from you. Hope you keep well and best wishes x

Dizzy64 profile image
Dizzy64 in reply to Maguragirl

Hi Maguragirl, no I haven't been able to keep working unfortunately, because I have other health issues.

That was the hardest thing as I'd worked from 16 and loved my job.

They wouldn't finish me on the grounds of ill health so every 3yrs I have to go through the humiliation of seeing if I'm fit for work....

Nice to hear from you too and take care x

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS

I haven't watched the video (seems long) but that recommendation of around 600-900 mg calcium seems right. Also the dose should not be taken all at once as 300-400 is about all the body wants to absorb at any one time. I believe a study showed that taking one's calcium supplement with yoghurt helped with absorption. Also there are some medications and other supplements which interfere with calcium - or vice versa. Don't take an iron supplement at the same time as your calcium dose. And supplementary magnesium should also be taken at a separate time of day as calcium may prevent the body from taking up the magnesium. On the other hand calcium from food is supposed to be best, so consume a diet rich in various sources of calcium. Don't rely on liquid milk, it is not the best source for human adults. Fermented dairy products and vegetables high in calcium, tinned salmon or sardines (eat the bones). I know we are told this vegetable has lots of calcium but you can't absorb it, or that vegetable is better but only if .... and at a certain point I always throw up my hands and say eating a varied diet of natural and minimally processed foods which have been grown as much as possible in traditional not chemical ways is likely to give best results without needing a degree in biochemistry. :D

Gillymar profile image
Gillymar

I was on teriparatide injections for 2 years with no adverse side effects. Good luck

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