1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

STOP! Don't do this if you have osteoporosis

Posted by isabelle7 @isabelle7, Jul 7 8:35pm

I am starting this thread hoping people will post things they've done that they have regretted, for one reason or another, when suffering from osteoporosis.

I'm going to start the conversation with a list of things we've learned already, and we are newbies!

1. Lift objects heavier than recommended by your physician (for my husband, that means nothing heavier than 5 pounds right now, with 3 fractures).

2. Don't bend at the waist! He got a fracture bending to empty the dishwasher.

3. Be cautious when driving - avoid rough roads, bumps, and go very slow over speed bumps.

4. We had planned to go on a boating tour (on a commercial fishing boat) on the ocean. After seeing a boat rocking and bouncing over choppy water we decided not to go.

5. Do not slouch when sitting in a chair or couch. If you're going to rest for any period of time on a couch elevate your legs (per our physical therapist).

6. Do not try any exercises until you have cleared it with your doctor, especially before your doctor confirms your fracture is stable.)

Please add to the discussion. I think this could be useful to people, especially people new to this.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

isabelle7 | @isabelle7 | Jul 11 10:56pm
In reply to @vmcd "Walking has been my salvation - the one thing I can do that gives pleasure and..." + (show)
@vmcd

Walking has been my salvation - the one thing I can do that gives pleasure and a much needed distraction - I need to get a grabber - right now I’ve been using the long handled broom & dust pan ~ sweeping the object into the dust pan and raising it up to retrieve the item

Jump to this post

@vmcd

Walking is such a good a healthy thing to do. I could use one of those long handled brooms and dustpans for my kitchen. Thanks for the idea. The teacher grabbers are helping my husband.

REPLY
isabelle7 | @isabelle7 | Jul 11 10:57pm
In reply to @babbsjoy "Your method is very inventive! I, too, really love walking. I live where it is very..." + (show)
@babbsjoy

Your method is very inventive! I, too, really love walking. I live where it is very hot and humid (few places aren’t right now, right?)—so I get up really early to go with the sunrise. Kind of neat, as not many people out and I feel like nature is waking and I get a front row seat!

Jump to this post

@babbsjoy

Early morning walks are the best!!

REPLY
isabelle7 | @isabelle7 | Jul 11 10:59pm
In reply to @greta63 "I'll add something. You are correct about staying with the same dexa scan equipment. It's important..." + (show)
@greta63

I'll add something. You are correct about staying with the same dexa scan equipment. It's important but it may not always be possible. I had my scans done every other year for a number of years on the same eqipment. Several years ago I went back to the same medical center and they had switched to a new system. They did the scan as usual but they couldn't compare my new scan the same way as before. Of course they could get all the readings or measurements, but they couldn't compare the latest results with the previous ones. Two years later they could at least compare my new scan to my previous one. Technology changes over time and medical centers have to update their equipment.

Jump to this post

@greta63

Good to know!

REPLY
isabelle7 | @isabelle7 | Jul 11 11:03pm
In reply to @windyshores "@ldg001 many of us are not able to pursue a "holistic" approach and need meds to..." + (show)
@windyshores

@ldg001 many of us are not able to pursue a "holistic" approach and need meds to avoid further pain and disability. Especially those who have fractures. We don't know your situation but if your DEXA shows serious bone loss at any point, just know that there are no warning signs or symptoms before fractures. I hope your osteoporosis is mild and that you can continue to hold your current status.

I take supplements, walk and do tai chi but those are like trying to topple a building with a feather, for me! The loss of estrogen is a cause for many of us.

Jump to this post

@windyshores

You are so right! For my husband there were no warning signs with his fractures. We were shocked when his first one showed up on an X-ray. And equally shocked with the second and third. I’m constantly reminding him not to do certain things and to put his feet up if he’s relaxing on the couch. He falls asleep at times and slouches. A major no-no according to his physical therapist.

REPLY
isabelle7 | @isabelle7 | Jul 11 11:20pm
In reply to @ldg001 "Hi, I don't remember what my scores were, but my osteoporosis was pretty bad. I did..." + (show)
@ldg001

Hi, I don't remember what my scores were, but my osteoporosis was pretty bad. I did not have any fractures, but probably would if I didn't do what I did. I knew I didn't want to go through what my mom did. She really suffered with it and had to take painful injections in her knees. I took and still take Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Calcium along with Vitamin D, at one point I also took MK-7 (its a form of K2) with this. I make up the difference of the Calcium that my doc recommended with plain calcium tablets . Sometimes this Raw Calcium is hard to find, sells very quickly, so I try to buy as much as I can when it's available. The Garden of Life also has a Growth Factor to go along with the Rain Calcium, but I do not take it. Somewhere I read that the strontium will give miss readings on your DEXA. I'm 72, and started going to gym about 6 years ago. I hope this helps and wish you well on your healing. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.
God Bless

Jump to this post

@ldg001

Thanks for sharing what you’re taking. My husband is the one with osteoporosis from taking prednisone for over a year. He didn’t have a choice and is still on it trying to taper down. Steroids can cause bone issues but no one told us. So by the time we found out it was too late for any hope of treating his with alternatives. Which is my preference.

It’s been a rough year. He first developed PMR in May 2023 and just when he was doing well tapering down the prednisone he developed giant cell arteritis in Feb 2024. He’s been on high doses of prednisone for over a year and it’s taken a toll. He’s 75 and before this he was so healthy. He had the stamina of a 45-year old man. Now he is covered in bruises from the prednisone, he can’t bend down or lift more than 5 lbs until his fractures stabilize and he’s constantly exhausted and falling asleep. The one good thing is he’s no longer in constant pain. Thanks to the prednisone he didn’t develop more serious consequences. So we have to be thankful.

I wish you the very best!!

REPLY
2 replies
isabelle7 | @isabelle7 | Jul 11 11:23pm
In reply to @ldg001 "I'm so sorry you are having such pain and fractures. I hope it gets better for..." + (show)
@ldg001

I'm so sorry you are having such pain and fractures. I hope it gets better for you. I try to avoid meds (sometimes they bring on other problems) if I can, it's not always possible. Check out Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Calcium, it must be good cause it is hard to find, sells very quickly. I am a big believer in essential oils, they have done wonders for my arthritis. Be careful of the oils, they are not all the same, some have additives and synthetics, some claim to be pure.
I wish you well, take care. God Bless

Jump to this post

@ldg001

Would you mind sharing the brand you’re using and which essential oils you find helpful and for what condition.

REPLY
1 reply
isabelle7 | @isabelle7 | Jul 11 11:28pm
In reply to @doreenc "The Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic are excellent online sources for osteoporosis info. The Royal..." + (show)
@doreenc

The Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic are excellent online sources for osteoporosis info. The Royal Osteoporosis Society (UK) is another great site for information.

I've read so many books on osteoporosis and one of the best (besides Great Bones by Dr. McCormick and Dr. Lani No Nonsense Bone Guide) is the Mayo Clinic on Osteoporosis. It's a relatively small book but the information is incredibly valuable and best of all, it had a chapter for living with a fracture - no other book addressed this. I got it from our library (I think I've read almost every book out there on OP! Lol). But the Mayo Clinic book really impressed me.

Another tip for living with a fracture is using a metal pooper scooper (bought on Amazon) to replace a dustpan after sweeping. Funny enough, the Mayo Clinic book also states to do not bend to use a dustpan. I really like that the book provided a lot of practical info after fracturing.

That said, I love the tips you provide and this is an excellent thread you started. When I broke my L3 in January, I had to figure out what I could and couldn't do on my own (before I discovered this wonderful site). I avoid potholes, I don't lift anything heavy, I don't put the fitted sheet on the bed (my husband does that, I adjust my side mirrors to observe oncoming traffic when entering a highway instead of twisting and I no longer bend to get things from my lower kitchen cabinets (I rearranged my kitchen to put things at waist level or higher).

Jump to this post

@doreenc

Thanks for the UK site. I’ll check it out. Also for sharing the Mayo Clinic book has info on fractures. I’ll have to order it. And thanks for the other tips.

REPLY
madhub140 | @madhub140 | Jul 12 7:58am
In reply to @thxgod4life "This is good to know about salt and calcium. I didn't know that." + (show)
@thxgod4life

This is good to know about salt and calcium. I didn't know that.

Jump to this post

However, Barbara O'Neill highly recommends Celtic salt because of its high mineral content for osteoporosis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGwPSxlJwqA

REPLY
isabelle7 | @isabelle7 | Jul 12 8:29am
In reply to @ldg001 "Thank you, my workout consists of weight bearing upper body (which I love, they make me..." + (show)
@ldg001

Thank you, my workout consists of weight bearing upper body (which I love, they make me feel so good) lower body, etc. I also had a trainer for a while, also at least 3 x a week. I have bad knees and bad lower back so I have to be careful with some exercises. I definitely cannot do the ab machine, very bad for my back. For my nutrition, I do intermittent fasting which has been great for both me and my husband and mostly eat healthy and usually only 2 x a day. I try to avoid beef, I cannot eat much of it nor often. Of course I do my certain supplements besides Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Calcium, along with my Vit D. As I get older, its always one thing or another, but I try to stay on top of it. Some things that work for one may not work for others. You have to listen to your body, and of course check with your doc to make sure you are doing what you need to do. If you have any other question, please feel free to ask. Ohhhh, I also do some yoga stretching, especially when I can't sleep, it's really great, and really helps. I always start slow and work my way up.
Good luck on your journey, wishing you good health.

Jump to this post

@ldg001

When you say weight bearing exercises for your upper and lower body, what kind of exercises are you referring to?

Like you I avoid beef and do intermittent fasting which also works well for me. My husband is the one with osteoporosis. I'm going to look into the Garden of Life calcium. We too take a variety of supplements, all OK's by our doctors.

I'd like to learn yoga and start slow. I am not someone who exercises regularly. I do childcare and spend my days with babies and toddlers so I'm quite active, do lots of squatting and careful lifting. I also love nature so any chance I get I'm out walking.

My husband has always done an exercise routine. He used weights for years and in the last couple years has been using resistance bands. He gets pretty intense with his exercising. I should say he got intense. Now he can't exercise at all, can't lift anything over 5 pounds and can't bend at the waist until his three fractures (and God help us he doesn't have new ones again - he goes for another x-ray next week). Those restrictions will be reduced once his fractures stabilize but the doctor said that might be 6 months to a year. It's driving him crazy not being able to exercise. So we try to walk on trails that have benches available every so often so he can sit and rest his back. He certainly can't do long walks, so we do a lot of shorter ones. It's been rough.

REPLY
1 reply
isabelle7 | @isabelle7 | Jul 12 9:15am
In reply to @cehunt57 "I have osteoporosis and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4. I get a bone density test..." + (show)
@cehunt57

I have osteoporosis and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4. I get a bone density test every 2 years. I think it is a Dexa scan. I will ask about the benefits of a REMS scan. I am on Prolia, an injectable medication every 6 months. Before I started it I asked if it would cause problems for my kidneys. My nephrologist approved it. I have these appointments coming up this week and will ask about the scans and the med. If there’s any new information I’ll report back.

Jump to this post

@cehunt57

Do Prolia and Forteo do the same basic thing? My husband was recently given a prescription for Forteo and he will need daily injections for two years followed by a few years on Reclast, per his endocrinologist. A shot every six months sounds heavenly in comparison. Just wondering if we could have done that instead of the Forteo.

REPLY
2 replies
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.