Hello 2 years ago I had to have a shoulder replacement after I had a fall and broke it and it has never really healed and I've been left with chronic pain, but since then I have lost 5 inches in height and its really effected my mental health as its really worrying me and come as a shock, I had a bone scan after I broke my shoulder and thats when I found out I had osteoporosis which was also a shock but its fine ,so I'm not sure if its that that's made me lose height I know you can with that but 5 inches is very drastic I think ,I know there's nothing I can do about it now but just wondered if anyone else has heard of losing so much in height as that, it's really effected my life as I was only 5ft anyway so it's really noticeable and made me lose a lot of confidence and also really worried I don't lose any more .
Lost height : Hello 2 years ago I had... - Bone Health and O...
Lost height
I lost 5 inches after being diagnosed with osteoporosis and having 7 compression fractures in my spine. I was 5 ft 5ins and I'm now 5ft with an arched back.It's not good but I try to stay positive and get on with things as much as I can.
I am under Bone Health at my local hospital and have an annual infusion.
Have you been referred anywhere?
Morning and thank you so much for replying, yes I had my first infusion last year but I haven't seen anyone or even spoke to a doctor about what's happened with my body so not had anything explained to me about why this big change has happened, I have an arched back too it seemed to all have happened over night I hate it because I can't do anything about it and it's stopping me going out a lot and like people seeing me because I'm so conscious of how I look ,everything was fine before I broke my shoulder just thought it would get better I would never have known it would have left me looking so different, I as well try not to let it get to me but because I was short anyway and now I'm 4ft 7in it's so noticeable , it's so good to hear I'm not on my own ive been so scared about it all I just feel like I'm shrinking, thank you and best wishes to you x
I have lost 5 inches in height due to scoliosis. It sucks doesn't it? 
Mine did not happen overnight by any means and to be honest I did not really notice it until at a pre op appointment good few years ago now, a nurse asked me how tall I was. When I said 5'8" she laughed and said to go with her to be measured. Shock horror. 5' 3". You are not alone with this.
Thank you kaarina it just felt like over night because I didn't notice it was only from other people kept saying you getting shorter! And I would laugh about it but thought it strange because these were people that see me all the time they have always been used to me being short been short all my life so it must of been so noticeable but I just didn't realise at all at first ,and what makes it worse is I can't wear high shoes anymore because of my back so I can't even make myself look any taller have to wear trainers all the time ,it's really having a big impact on my life and just hope it stops at 5in and don't lose anymore, I'm glad I come on here now it is so comforting to hear from others in the same boat it's just a nightmare isn't it ,thank you and best wishes x
I have not lost anymore height thank goodness. Hopefully you will not either. Gentle hugs to you.
Thank you kaarina fingers crossed and good luck to you x
hi there Slotmachine33 You are definitely not alone! I have lost 4” due to osteoporotic spinal fractures combined with age. You don’t say how old you are but as we age we can lose height not just from fractures but also the ageing process and compression of the discs between the spinal vertebrae. I suspect some of my height loss is down to that as I don’t (yet) have much of a back arch. I have started exercises with a personal trainer to improve my posture as I do slouch and also to improve stability to reduce my risk of falls. After four months I do think that I stand straighter as a result. What I really hate as a result of the height loss is the bulging waistline. I never was a sylph but now I’m a barrel and my clothes don’t fit any more….
Hello duol and thank you I'm 65 and think it wouldn't bother me so much if I wasn't short to start with 4,11 or 5ft at the most but it never bothered me none of my family are tall ,so being so short anyway it really has noticed to everyone and wonder would this have happened anyway if I hadn't broke my shoulder 2 years ago because everything was fine ! Before then ,I'm glad the exercises are helping you I do some but always give me pain and I've been doing them for a long time but still hurts to do them ,so pain don't help that something else I didn't have especially rib pain for months,also all body fat has disappeared everywhere so got all loose skin my body has completely changed really effecting me and don't want to go anywhere because I feel people are looking, I don't think I would feel as bad if my back wasn't arched god knows where that come from ! it's just given me a complex and really don't like it , but thank you so much it's really helping to talk to people and wish you well x
Hello, I really do empathise, and I share a lot of what you are experiencing, most especially what you mention about losing body fat and being left with loose skin everywhere, as well as height loss. I have these same bodily changes with osteoporosis, also all happening in a really short space of time. No help or support from the doctor, who totally dismissed my questions about the loose skin, saying that no one else had ever raised such issues!
Thank God for this forum, and for all you good people prepared to share experiences - it's invaluable!!
Thank you and yes no help from no one they dint realise what an impact these things have on people especially a women, and yeah it seemed to have happened over night I couldn't believe it was so shocked, but not a lot we can do so I will have to try and except it in time it still really bothers me , wish you luck x
I too have lost 6" from OP vertebral #s x 6. I didn't notice either as so ill and in pain from kidney op, back etc and endless pain meds which made me nauseous and lose appetite so I lost 3 stones in under 6 months. To suddenly find I was short and hunched back was a shock! I often think if I could just straighten up it would make a huge difference. But I just have to accept and adapt. I'm housebound anyway now but didn't like anyone to see my hunch initially, now I don't care, it's what I look like now and I can't change it so just carry on. I'm 68 and feel this all happened too soon!🤷♀️ Best wishes. 🤗
Thank you fraid and sorry to hear about your problems I know it makes you feel about 85 ! I think the same if only I could straighten up a bit I would look and feel a bit better but my upper body won't budge, hopefully I will get where I don't care about it so much but at the moment it's making me very depressed and life changing to what I was, my husband says its not bad and I look fine and not as bad as I think but he thinks he's making me feel better ,think he forgets we have mirrors haha, I have my next infusion this year and will speak to them about if I can get any help or exercise to help this ,I'm so stiff it make doing any exercise hard and painful but I still do some, I wish you well and thank you again x
My mother experienced your exact same situation. She had a recast infusion after her 5 inch loss of height, she also developed a hump as a result of the loss. it seemed to appear overnight after she broke her shoulder in a fall. We will know this summer, after her Dexi if the infusion was helpful. I would think so because she hasn't lost any more height since the infusion. She's now 92.
Really ! It seems the broken shoulder has caused this because I was fine before, but no doctor has explained this at all to me I think that's why it's such a shock to me, thank you so much for sharing this and wish your mum well 92 ! Thank you x
My mom was on osteoporosis meds in her 70's, cycling off and on them, as was the protocol with said meds. Note: she was only in osteopenia with her Dexi scores but back then, they put you on osteoporosis meds as a preventive approach. She stopped taking the meds at age 85 and began to fracture various bones, i.e. both thumbs, wrists, shoulder, arm within a year of stopping her meds. She had her first recast infusion at age 90. We have no idea why she suddenly lost that much height and she expresses the same feelings as you about how it's impacted her life and her mental wellbeing. Hang in there and hopefully you will find a treatment that works for you. Best of luck and don't be so hard on yourself.
Oh your mum did have a time of it didn't she poor thing, yes it has been life changing and I don't feel the same person or look it and had to change stye of clothes too I can't dress how I used to which has made me very down , but anyway we can't do much about it thats the hardest thing I think so I will have to adapt in time ,thank you for your kind words x
We are always looking for clothes that can minimize the hump. If you find any particular brand, please post it here. Totally agree with you about adapting but also feeling good in our own skin. I also have osteoporosis at age 70. Had it now for 12 years. No meds so far but no fractures yet either. Hang in there and know you are not alone and that things will get better.
Oh I know it's hard because everything has to lay on your back but I did find when I tried a jacket on an old one of mine it's got padded shoulders and seemed to make me look a bit better so not sure if it was the padded shoulders in the jacket but I will be getting more clothes with padded shoulders I think ! But yes of course I will post it on here if I find a style that helps with the hump and thank you again and carry on being careful you can do without any fractures!! X
I find anything with a hood is best. It covers the hump quite well.
Really I will try that thank you x
Hi I’ve gone from 5’2” to 4’11” . Maybe 4’10”. I’ve had seven spinal fractures which has made me shrink. I’ve got Osteoporosis quite badly.
Sorry to hear that ,its not nice is it ,I wish you well and that you for replying x
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
has anyone lost a tooth or teeth, without being on osteoporosis drugs?
DEXA results worse, trialling HRT
zoledronic acid infusion
Prolia and osteoporosis
Don't know what to do!
Accuracy of. Dexa Scan Score
clothes for kyphosis….
Five years on Prolia Zero side effects plus started two more years additional.
Finally home after almost 4 Months! 
Need Advice on Prolia vs Natural Osteoporosis Treatments
