Useful items and links for people with fractures

thanks for the Brick House Bones video!

Thank you for sharing! Especially appreciate the Brick House Bones exercises

Here's an excellent series of videos that indicate how to live with osteoporosis on a daily basis: https://vimeo.com/170183042

@madhub140

Thanks for sharing!

I did fairly strenuous tai chi including sword tai chi and martial arts for 15 years with osteoporosis. Cancer meds worsened things and I did fracture but could have gone on for awhile if I hadn't done something unwise. I was perfectly capahle of bending down. I avoided the twisting in yoga.

To me, the first spinal fractures I had in 2006 from a traumatic accident, protected me in many ways. Even though I did martial arts, I could not open windows in many cases and could not lift a lot of weight.

I do not think all people with osteoporosis, especially early osteoporosis, should live in fear and just need to be smart. Those with fractures are a different story. We are exponentially more vulnerable to fractures.

@windyshore
That's amazing you were able to do those things with osteoporosis. So strange how different some people's bodies handle different illnesses. My poor husband bends down to empty the dishwasher and gets a fracture. He sits wrong and gets another. I can't wait for the day he can resume his activities because this is really tough on him and on me. It's so limiting. But we have been warned that if he continues fracturing his spine he could end up in severe pain (which he doesn't have now). So we're trying to follow their advice. It's hard.

I totally agree with you about people not being afraid of fracturing just because they have osteoporosis. For whatever reason my husband is prone to them. I hate that. I just hope and pray that once he takes Forteo and the fractures become more stable that he won't be as prone to getting them. Do you know how that works? Since he's had fractures, will he always be vulnerable to them even with the drugs and when the fractures stabilize?

Today my neurosurgeon recommended the garden kneeler that was posted about here when I mentioned I have trouble establishing balance when standing up after hands-and-knees gardening. I did not tell her about playing tup-a-war with 2' tall wild onions. Tonight it is lugging hoses around for watering. Thank goodness for pocket hoses. I try to live life as normally as reasonably possible with osteoporosis and cervical problems and a leg that is not fully operational.

@isabelle7 you haven't mentioned his DEXA scores. The fractures will stabilize but our risk of fracture is at least 75 times what it was according to my orthopedist, and with more than one or adjacent fractures, maybe more. Tymlos and Forteo really help but in my experience, didn't improve my ability to lift or open windows etc.

When he was emptying th dishwasher did he lift a few bowls at a time kind of thing? I still cannot lift 2 or 3 bowls into a cabinet. If I make a mistake like that ( bowels) I don't fracture but have a few days of pain.

The spine is complicated, with discs and other types of degeneration, nerves, stenosis that affects nerves, muscles that spasm around it etc. Stenosis can also cause nerve pain in hands and feet. Then there is the cervical spine with all the vulnerabilities of the neck. Bone density helps a lot but pain and disability are about so many factors.

@normahorn

Do you plan to get the garden kneeler? If you do I’d love to hear how you like it. We have been thinking about getting one.

It’s good that you’re living life and normally as you can.

@windyshores

I’ve attached a screen shot of his t-scores.

That’s too bad the meds didn’t help in the ability to lift or open windows.

I asked him about the dishwasher incident and he said it was a bend and twist motion and he just lifted on dish. I now empty the lower section and he empties the upper section.

He’s been to three acupuncture appointments and says he believes they are helping.

I’m really hoping that since his was steroid-induced that he’ll have a chance to turn some of this around.