Bone Health

[PorthlevenGirl]

How do people cope with height loss, what is the best bone medication to halt bone loss?

[Posy-White]

Hello PorthlevenGirl

I lost height overnight because of sudden spinal fractures - it was a lot and not the usual slow over years ( I lost 12 cm/ 4 3/4") because it was all in one hit the management was clear - mirrors lowered things on shelves altered! Prior to that I had light things e.g. jumpers on high shelves to make myself reach and do gentle, even and easy stretches as part of every day routeen.

As to best medication.... well the best diet possible with added vit D and callicum is the basic, lots of people on this site give far better advice than I'm able to do on diet and vitamins / minerals; added to that is a good exercise plan suited to your abilities so that what ever medication you take is back up/ greatly helped. Then to medication this will depend on where you are with your osteoporosis. Perhaps you look at ROS website at the medication available in the UK the nature of them, side effects etc. Then call the helpline nurse and talk through the medcations so when you go to the GP / Consultant you feel in be control to ask for one medication other another.

Good Luck

Posy White

[PorthlevenGirl in reply to Posy-White]

Many thanks Posy-White, your helpful comments have been taken on board.

[Mavary]

Hi!<welcome to the group. I’ve gone from 5’ 2” to 4’ 11” so know your problem. Nothing fits properly because you haven’t got a waist any more. There’s nothing we can do with that unfortunately as for medication. Everyone has different kinds on views on it. I personally was on terraparatide for two years and am now on Denosumab. I’ve had seven fractures in my spine so had to go on something. I trusted my Consultant but a lot have done research and have come up with other things. As long as it works I would take anything. I just considered the fact that they have years of training and are dealing with the problem every day.

[PorthlevenGirl in reply to Mavary]

Many thanks Mavery, I know what you mean about having no waist, it took me a while to understand what has happened, even though at my recent DEXA Scan I was told I had lost 2” I didn’t realise that this would have an effect, how slow am I! Many thanks for your advice.

[Walkingdogs]

Hi there, I lost 8cms because of spinal fractures 2018. I know how difficult it is to be faced with that. I feel the biggest problem is having less room in the stomach. I get full up very quickly. I eat small meals now, but have something in between. I also try to eat as healthily as possible. I’ve been on Alendronic Acid for 3 years plus a vitamin and mineral supplement, also vit k2 mk7. My last scan in November showed a good improvement. When I was first diagnosed 12 years ago I didn’t want to try the meds and tried to go for the natural way to improve. Unfortunately it didn’t work and my bmd got much worse, hence the fractures. Maybe if I’d been younger I might have stood a better chance without the meds. I’m the same age as you now. As for the height loss. I wear baggier tops, and make sure I’ve trousers or jeans with a bit of stretch. I also try to do posture exercises and I walk everyday. If you’re in the uk, there’s a great group, the Osteoporosis uk group. You’ll get lots of info there. Also the ROS is very good. Hope you feel better soon.

[Mavary in reply to Walkingdogs]

I only eat small meals too now. I wondered why. It’s obvious when you think about it. My height went all of a sudden too. I was measured at 5’ 3” when I was going to the lung clinic three years or so ago. The next time after my back had gone they measured me at 4’ 11” . I’ve had four fractures since that so I could now be anything. I used to be the tallest of three Sisters. Now I’m as tall as my next Sister who was always 4’ 11” . I’m a little shorty now.

[PorthlevenGirl in reply to Mavary]

I was 5’ 4” until six months ago Mavary so was shocked when my scan result in December came back with 5.1! It’s upsetting not to have a waist, I’m quite slim so my distended stomach is very noticeable. This website is a very good, I don’t feel that I am the only one this has happened to.

[Mavary in reply to PorthlevenGirl]

Mine too plus I’ve got a kyphosis which is getting worse. I’m getting like the hunchback od Norte Dam. That’s the best of hooded sweatshirts they are loose and the hood hides the humpbthats coming.

[PorthlevenGirl]

Hi Walking dogs, being new to this website it doesn’t make me feel alone in having to cope with this. I think my height loss was due to a fall last summer when I had a fall and landed on my tailbone, embarrassingly I was at a wedding reception! Discussing this with my doctor he admitted that when I had a DEXA scan in 2014 the report the doctor received confirmed I had osteoporosis and recommended I was started on relevant medication. He apologised that this had been overlooked and hadn’t happened. Naturally I’m upset with my situation, but I obviously I have to move on. I do short walks daily and do exercises given to me by my physio. I eat very healthily, take Alendronic Acid, but why do you recommend Vitamin K2? Like you I make sure my clothes have a bit of ‘give’ and baggier tops, I love clothes and fashion so this grieves me as I have a wardrobe full of lovely clothes I can’t wear anymore. I am in the UK and will check the Osteopororosis Group. Many thanks for your help 💕

[Mavary in reply to PorthlevenGirl]

Me too. I’ve always loved clothes. You can still get nice clothes just wear them a little bit looser instead of fitted. Fitted trousers and loose tops can look great.

[PorthlevenGirl in reply to Mavary]

Thank you Mavery, I have been looking for nice tops, I’ve always worn jeans/trousers and not a lot of dresses/skirts so hopefully I’ll be able to adjust my wardrobe.

[Mavary in reply to PorthlevenGirl]

I’ve got some nice lightly fitting t/shirt kind of tops with patterns on that are quite slimming. In the Summer I wear loose fitting T-shirt’s and loose fitting jumpers in the winter.

[PorthlevenGirl in reply to Mavary]

Yes, Mavery, I have a good selection of winter jumpers, but I’ll have to sort summer tops out!

[Mavary in reply to PorthlevenGirl]

For summer I’ve got a selection of loose blouses and T-shirt’s with cut offs that match. I bought two lovely blouses in Edinburgh Woolen Mills. You’ve got to pick and choose as a lot of it is a bit fuddy. I’ve also got white long trousers if it’s cooler and of course jeans. A nice jacket or matching cardigan on the top and you’re sorted. Roman or M&Co have got some lovely things too. Try and get patterned rather than plain as this takes the eye off the shape.

[Walkingdogs in reply to PorthlevenGirl]

I’m a shorty too at 5ft now. Can’t reach top cupboards anymore and my waist has gone. Thankfully though I’m not in a lot of pain like some others. I just can’t stand for long periods.

[Walkingdogs]

I’ve read that Vit K 2 helps the bones absorb the calcium, as does vit D. I also take boron. My dexa scan 2018 showed my spine-4.2 and Hip 3.2. My scan 3 years later was Spine 2.8 and hip 2.6. Something must be working. I wish I’d done this when first diagnosed. It would have saved me a lot of pain. Hopefully your bones will benefit too. X

[PorthlevenGirl in reply to Walkingdogs]

Thank you Walkingdogs, I’ll try Vitamin K2, hopefully my next scan will show an improvement. Psycologically, I must accept my new osteoporosis condition and adjust accordingly!

[stillmovin in reply to Walkingdogs]

Well done Walkingdogs to get your spine results from -4.2 to +2.8 in 3 years!! I have never heard such an amazing turnaround! I had to read your reply a few times! It certainly brings hope to us who are awaiting apprehensively for another Dexa scan. You didn’t mention if you took bisphonates medication as well as the vitamins etc? Are you sure that wasn’t a typing error? Sorry to go on but it is fantastic to do that without meds. Could you please give a bit more detail about how you did it ? It would certainly be a massive help to me and many others to hear. My 3 rd Dexa is due very soon and I am dreading it.

[Walkingdogs in reply to stillmovin]

I was amazed too, and asked the doctor for a printout. It was a different scanner, but the doctor said it shouldn’t make that much diffence. The only thing I can think of is, when I had the scan 2018 I’d just had the compression fractures, and on the printout of that one, it said that the spine reading was unreliable. Maybe it was certain vertebrae that was 4.2. Mind you when I had a scan 12 years ago my spine was -3.2. I didn’t take the meds until 2018. I also take calcium, magnesium and k2. I try and get a walk everyday and do exercises. My back still is weak though, and probably will alway feel that way after 5 fractures.

[stillmovin in reply to Walkingdogs]

Well done that you are so much improved now! I haven’t taken the prescribed Alendronic nor the risedronate medications. I am waiting to see if my changes that I made in my diet and exercise will show better bone density results but I am worried that they may not. It really is a chance I am taking. X

[Walkingdogs in reply to stillmovin]

Good idea to wait and see your results. I’ve been lucky that I haven’t had many side effects from the AA, just some the first couple of months. Because my scores were so low, I felt it was the only thing I could do, also because of the compression fractures, and loss of height. Fingers crossed for you.🤞🤞

[Walkingdogs]

That’s true, it took me a while to except as well, but I have now. As time has went on my back has improved a bit. I just have to pace myself. I look at it this way. There’s loads of people a lot worse off health wise than me. Do have a look at the Osteoporosis support uk. It’s a great group. Wishing you all the best. X

[PorthlevenGirl in reply to Walkingdogs]

Thanks for your very helpful advice. I have a curved spine due to fractures so I hope this will improve, I have some lower back pain but am managing to cope without painkillers. I have been reading about surgery to fuse the upper spine to straiten it, but that seems rather extreme!

[Walkingdogs]

It does seem extreme. Have you tried posture exercises. The ROS have some on their website, you can also ring their nurses for advice. I found some on YouTube as well and I do them for a couple of minutes twice a day. I find they help straighten me up a bit. If you search on YouTube for YWLT 2 minute exercises, they’re easy to do.

[PorthlevenGirl in reply to Walkingdogs]

Thanks for website information, I will look into it, you have been very helpful, much appreciated.

[FearFracture]

I'm 53 and I haven't lost any height yet, but I've read through several of the responses from other ppl who have lost height and are now 4'11" and I'm 4'11" with no height loss.

One of my mother's cousins, who is now deceased, was a little taller than me. I'm guessing she was around 5'1" or 5'2". Over the years she lost a good deal of height and was probably about 4'6" or 4'5" at the end. So, although I haven't lost any height at this point, I've long ago, pre-osteoporosis diagnosis, accepted the possibility.

[Pte82]

PorthlevenGirl, research boron to prevent loss of height. Dr Jorge Felchas MD from North Carolina has a youtube video about loss of height and other boron related information. Search on "nothing boring about boron" for an overview and "boron osteoporosis" for more specific. Delta tocotrienol and vitamin C are overlooked bone builders too. Are you using magnesium? It is needed to balance calcium and activate vitamin D and also activate thiamine which in turn is critical for brain/gut signaling through the vagus nerve for proper digestion so your body can build stronger bones. Always consult your health care professionals before using any supplement.

[PorthlevenGirl in reply to Pte82]

Many thanks for your advice, I will research as you suggest.