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.

@stuffy pharmacists don't tend to deal with the supplements you mentioned. You could ask a functional/integrative medicine doctor. Studies are lacking on these supplements and interactions with mainstream drugs unfortunately as is regulation.

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@windyshores

@stuffy pharmacists don't tend to deal with the supplements you mentioned. You could ask a functional/integrative medicine doctor. Studies are lacking on these supplements and interactions with mainstream drugs unfortunately as is regulation.

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That's true, but presumably patients and their doctors
report fatalities or horrible outcomes from these interactions with patent medicines. Probably if the manufacturers advised on these things, they would then have legal liability, however, and of course they have all those lawyers to advise against that. I'm just saying that one shouldn't expect that sort of help from Big Pharma.

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I am curious (since so many of these precautions seem to be related to the spine), do these same precautions apply if one's lumbar spine T-Score is not super low (-1.6), but it is the total hip measurement (-2.6) that landed one with an osteoporosis dx recently? (My femoral neck measurement came in at -2.2.)

I have been wearing an 8 pound weighted vest for my daily 2 mile walks and was about to increase it to 10 pounds next week... I am conscious about much of what was written here, but I do twist in my car (for backing up) a great deal and I have also failed to make and changes in how I reach in to front-loading washers or dishwashers, etc. EDITED: I changed the word "recommendations" to "precautions" in 2 spots.

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@annie208

I am curious (since so many of these precautions seem to be related to the spine), do these same precautions apply if one's lumbar spine T-Score is not super low (-1.6), but it is the total hip measurement (-2.6) that landed one with an osteoporosis dx recently? (My femoral neck measurement came in at -2.2.)

I have been wearing an 8 pound weighted vest for my daily 2 mile walks and was about to increase it to 10 pounds next week... I am conscious about much of what was written here, but I do twist in my car (for backing up) a great deal and I have also failed to make and changes in how I reach in to front-loading washers or dishwashers, etc. EDITED: I changed the word "recommendations" to "precautions" in 2 spots.

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There are some safe exercises you can do for the hips, like clamshells. An exercise band helps.

-1.6 is not a concerning number, but there are safe back exercises you can do.

This has been referenced elsewhere, but I'll relink here:
https://melioguide.com/products/exercise-for-better-bones-program/
I am going to check out this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Give-Strength-Illustrated-Strengthen-Osteoporosis/dp/B0CP445QR7/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

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@annie208

I am curious (since so many of these precautions seem to be related to the spine), do these same precautions apply if one's lumbar spine T-Score is not super low (-1.6), but it is the total hip measurement (-2.6) that landed one with an osteoporosis dx recently? (My femoral neck measurement came in at -2.2.)

I have been wearing an 8 pound weighted vest for my daily 2 mile walks and was about to increase it to 10 pounds next week... I am conscious about much of what was written here, but I do twist in my car (for backing up) a great deal and I have also failed to make and changes in how I reach in to front-loading washers or dishwashers, etc. EDITED: I changed the word "recommendations" to "precautions" in 2 spots.

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@annie with a spine at -1.6 I personally would not worry about some of the things mentioned. I am a fellow patient so of course ask your doctor or PT.

I feel that this thread needs to differentiate between mild osteoporosis, more serious osteoporosis, and those with fractures- all different groups with different needs for caution, in my view and experience. But this is only my view and experience!

I have a chart of my DEXA's and they do jump around. A change of -.5 is statistically significant according to my doctor. So your -2.6 means a diagnosis but it is borderline and if it were -2.4 you would not have that diagnosis. It is a slope not a cliff! Is your doctor suggesting meds?

That said most fractures happen for people with osteopenia. Of course that is because more people have osteopenia than osteoporosis, and the rate is much higher with osteoporosis! So yeah, don't do anything crazy 🙂

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Im jumping in here and I have posted this info before…..
This all Depends on the type of cancer youve had, and if you havent had cancer, I strongly encorage you to look into these books.
Read Dr John Lees books: What your doctor wont tell you about menopause and/or What your doctor wont tell you about breast cancer.

Dr Lee passed years ago, but he discovered with HIS patients, that many were estrogen dominant.
He started them on progesterone cream and tested their bone density several times. He discovered that their bone density improved tremendously. He actually has seen osteoporosis reversed in many of his patients.
If you dont have breast cancer, nor had it, Get his book.

If youve had breast cancer, and your cancer feeds on progesterone, likely you wont be able to use the cream.
However, discuss with your doctor, what percentage of progesterone is contributing to your cancer.
There are naturopaths, integrative doctors functional medical doctors and holistic doctors you can look for to discuss what youve learned from Dr John Lees book(s).
It is worth to check it out.

Blessings. 🌺

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@windyshores

@annie with a spine at -1.6 I personally would not worry about some of the things mentioned. I am a fellow patient so of course ask your doctor or PT.

I feel that this thread needs to differentiate between mild osteoporosis, more serious osteoporosis, and those with fractures- all different groups with different needs for caution, in my view and experience. But this is only my view and experience!

I have a chart of my DEXA's and they do jump around. A change of -.5 is statistically significant according to my doctor. So your -2.6 means a diagnosis but it is borderline and if it were -2.4 you would not have that diagnosis. It is a slope not a cliff! Is your doctor suggesting meds?

That said most fractures happen for people with osteopenia. Of course that is because more people have osteopenia than osteoporosis, and the rate is much higher with osteoporosis! So yeah, don't do anything crazy 🙂

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thank you!
Does anyone know about the relative merits of DEXA, DEXA including trabecular bone scan (TBS), and DEXA ultrasound (cheap, self-directed and can include fat and muscle mass numbers - plus no radiation)? Is it important to go to the same place so you at least know the meaning of changes on that machine? Inquiring minds want to know...

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This is a good discussion. I've been waiting to choose my medication and meet with my endocrinologist for months. I did my research and was very prepared with my questions. I was also listening on how she talked about my bones and thyroid, and my body as a whole. She passed my tests. This is a personal journey, we will all have our own experiences. We don't know each other's health and co-morbidities. I learned to take this and other boards, with a grain of salt. I truly learned about personal risk in my life, in every aspect. I make every decision on based on what ifs, when it concerns my bones. I am always ready. My advise, research, get a good team, don't rely on other diagnosis to treat your own. Be as healthy as you can.
Where I am now, is struggling to think about tomorrow. I'll be adding a nutritionist and a weekly food delivery for some variety. I'm very small, and there is no way I can continue to cook all the food I have to ingest to get my nutrients. I prefer to get them through food.

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@ebtexas55 my cancer was 80% PR and 95% ER so hormones are out. I did read Dr. Lee's book a long time ago and we used progesterone cream for my daughter's endometriosis. She had surgery anyway though!

@stuffy I have only had a DEXA and seem to remember someone saying that machines were more standardized these days so using the same one may not matter as much- but ask your doctor!

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@kayabbott

Actually my spine is -1.1, so barely in osteopenia. Normal for a post-menopausal women is a T score of -1 and less. Osteopenia (oops, almost typed osteopenis, which sounds quite painful) T score is -1 to -2.5.

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i guess different scales are used in different places. Here -2.1 is considered osteoporosis

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