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 28 8:41pm
In reply to @speedweeder "I have shrunk 4” in the last year. Three fractures last September and more late last..." + (show)
@speedweeder

I have shrunk 4” in the last year. Three fractures last September and more late last October when I was feeling better and decided to get something out of the oven that slipped causing me to fall. Ugh!!! I so wish I had called my husband in from mowing to get it out. What is disheartening is how my innards have compacted. Also, I never thought I was a vain person but I am. I look terrible in my clothes because I’m so hunched over.

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@speedweeder @vmcd @windyshores

I am so sorry you've lost so much height and the other changes to your body. Can you explain about issues with your innerds and about what can heal and what doesn't? My husband is the one with osteoporosis and he's definitely shorter. I noticed it after his first fracture and then noticed it more after his second and third. We've stopped at three, fingers crossed, the last x-ray showed they are stabilizing and he just started on Forteo shots. Praying they work! I'm sorry you are both living with this. Watching what he's going through, I can only imagine how difficult it is. I truly feel for all of you!

REPLY
annie1 | @annie1 | Jul 28 9:17pm
In reply to @speedweeder "I have shrunk 4” in the last year. Three fractures last September and more late last..." + (show)
@speedweeder

I have shrunk 4” in the last year. Three fractures last September and more late last October when I was feeling better and decided to get something out of the oven that slipped causing me to fall. Ugh!!! I so wish I had called my husband in from mowing to get it out. What is disheartening is how my innards have compacted. Also, I never thought I was a vain person but I am. I look terrible in my clothes because I’m so hunched over.

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Hi look terrible too. As women are appearance obviously is Huge thing and makes the pain even worse..
I have a question for everyone in pain, I know drinking With?
Painkillers or ambien You're supposed to be very dangerous , but do you think a few sips of wine after I took ambien would really kill me ?

REPLY
1 reply
isabelle7 | @isabelle7 | Jul 28 11:44pm
In reply to @annie1 "Hi look terrible too. As women are appearance obviously is Huge thing and makes the pain..." + (show)
@annie1

Hi look terrible too. As women are appearance obviously is Huge thing and makes the pain even worse..
I have a question for everyone in pain, I know drinking With?
Painkillers or ambien You're supposed to be very dangerous , but do you think a few sips of wine after I took ambien would really kill me ?

Jump to this post

@annie1

Personally I would not drink any alcohol while taking medications. I’ve read many times that alcohol is not good for people with osteoporosis. My husband has it and quit drinking his glass of wine with dinner.

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isabelle7 | @isabelle7 | Jul 29 2:56pm
In reply to @madhub140 "My sister had six fractures and does Tai chi with a community in Portland, OR every..." + (show)
@madhub140

My sister had six fractures and does Tai chi with a community in Portland, OR every single day except Sunday. She says it is what pretty much saved her attitude on life.

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@madhub140

That’s a lot of fractures!! So glad Tai Chi is helping her. I’m not sure if we have it in our area but I’ll check. My husband has 3 fractures.

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isabelle7 | @isabelle7 | Jul 29 3:02pm
In reply to @lulub98 "I have recently been diagnosed with osteoporosis at 81. I’d like some feedback if it is..." + (show)
@lulub98

I have recently been diagnosed with osteoporosis at 81. I’d like some feedback if it is possible to rebuild density with proper diet, exercise (strength training w/ professional) yoga, and walking and biking ( and I just started taking a collagen powder. What do you think?

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@lulub98

I think it would depend on your scores from your Dexa scan. I can only speak from experience with my husband. His t-score was -3.4 lumbar spine and a little better for his cervical and thoracic spine. He has 3 fractures one from just emptying the dishwasher. The others we have no idea. No falls. He’s now on daily injections of Forteo for 2 years to be followed by 2-5 years of Reclast. His osteoporosis is from taking high doses of prednisone for two medical conditions for over a year. So your situation might be different.

A really good person to ask is @windyshores.

Best of luck!!

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melia7 | @melia7 | Jul 31 12:05pm
In reply to @maggie25 "I have severe osteoporosis and was told no flexion of the spine (except a mild cat/cow..." + (show)
@maggie25

I have severe osteoporosis and was told no flexion of the spine (except a mild cat/cow in yoga is ok) and no weighted twisting.
Also, I learned the hard way that if you take a break from your bone strengthening exercises, please start over at the lowest weights when you resume! This is critical.

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to Maggie25
Your observation about a danger of flexion of the spine was useful. Thanks! I too have severe osteoporosis of spine. I wonder if spine extension is risky too? I use to do a lot of such exercises.

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3 replies
melia7 | @melia7 | Jul 31 12:44pm
In reply to @juanitalinda "@isabelle7 I am in the same boat as @isabelle7s husband. I broke a rib in my..." + (show)
@juanitalinda

@isabelle7

I am in the same boat as @isabelle7s husband. I broke a rib in my sleep .... and my femur bending over to pet the dog .. .and my vertebrae from coughing while putting on deodorant.

And I am on the same restrictions. I manage short walks and do my PT. Likewise, I pull forward in parking lots and go to great lengths to avoid a left hand turn so I don't twist my spine at all. And 5 lbs? Geez ... that's less than a gallon of milk, not to mention a full coffee carafe.

BORING!!! But ... better safe than sorry.

In the meantime, I am taking my Evenity shots and hoping that within a few months my bones will be stronger. I can't wait to 'live dangerously' and buy a gallon of milk all by myself.

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to juanitalinda:
So sad to know what you had gone through! And many of us are in the same boat. But were you aware about your fracture risk before you got the fractures? Have you fully recovered from them ?

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2 replies
juanitalinda | @juanitalinda | Jul 31 1:24pm
In reply to @melia7 "to juanitalinda: So sad to know what you had gone through! And many of us are..." + (show)
@melia7

to juanitalinda:
So sad to know what you had gone through! And many of us are in the same boat. But were you aware about your fracture risk before you got the fractures? Have you fully recovered from them ?

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I had a dexascan about 6 months before the fractures started. My hip was -1.3 femoral neck -2.2 and lumbar spine -2.0. In other words, my dexas certainly didn't indicate I was high risk. And I was very active. Oh well .. I guess the bone structure was lousy even if the density wasn't awful.

As to fully recovered? I wish. It seems that almost 90 pt appointments and religiously doing the exercises .. and then some, makes a difference. But it looks like the fractures caused some nerve damage, or maybe it is stenosis.
I am maybe back 60% of where I was functionality wise. And that is apart from all the restrictions so I don't do more damage. Still ... if the Evenity is doing its thing I should be under less restrictions.

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1 reply
maggie25 | @maggie25 | Jul 31 2:59pm
In reply to @melia7 "to Maggie25 Your observation about a danger of flexion of the spine was useful. Thanks! I..." + (show)
@melia7

to Maggie25
Your observation about a danger of flexion of the spine was useful. Thanks! I too have severe osteoporosis of spine. I wonder if spine extension is risky too? I use to do a lot of such exercises.

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I was told the vertebrae are softer toward the front of our bodies and extension is ok. But I think moderately.

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