1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health
Profile picture for drterri

Recently diagnosed with osteoporosis and I am terrified

Posted by drterri @drterri, Nov 3 9:03am

Hi, I was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis in my spine and hips about a month ago and I am now living in fear. I feel like I'm made of glass and I'm afraid to move. I walk around stiffly, afraid to bend, afraid to twist, stepping carefully to avoid falling, scared to drive or ride in a car in case I get in an accident. Note that I am actually doing everything I need to do (taking care of myself and my house, working full time, going out with friends) but I am doing it all in a constant state of anxiety. Every so often I go down a very dark path, mentally, and decide it would be better to just end it before it gets worse. I have been able to talk myself out of it every time, thankfully, by thinking about how sad my family would be without me. Will I be able to get past this and live my life without fear again? I'm 62 and figure I have another 20+ years on this earth. I have been looking forward to spending my final years peacefully, enjoying life but at this rate, that isn't going to happen. Any positive stories or encouragement would be much appreciated!

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

Profile picture for bearbayou
bearbayou | @bearbayou | Dec 2 4:51am
In reply to @gargoy "Hi, thanks for your comment. I found out a relative of mine uses Lifepro Vibration plate...." + (show)
Profile picture for gargoy @gargoy

Hi, thanks for your comment. I found out a relative of mine uses Lifepro Vibration plate. Very cheap! I know Marodynes are expensive, but if you read the page on Martin's site, it mentions the gravity of the plate and other parameters. I'm not sure I can get the same parameters with the cheaper ones, but I should research. I am concerned about my retinas. They are fine, but not like a young persons. So I wonder if vibration plates would be safe for me. Martin covers that concern for the Marodyne plate on her site. She doesn't ever talk about any other brands. That doesn't mean Marodyne is the only good brand...but I need to feel that my eyes will be safe. I've searched the internet and have not found any reports of eye damage with low intensity vibration plates.

Jump to this post

@gargoy --I have A "Lifepro Vibration" plate which just arrived. On Amazon's site (which I'm weaning myself from) in the questions 'answered' by AI, it's concluded that the Lifepro can be considered both low and high intensity. All depends on the setting we choose. Reportedly, there's little risk to our eyes at the low-intensity levels 1-10.
(At any rate, I will also ask my ophthalmologist.)

"Variable Intensity Levels:

Low Intensity: Speed settings 1-20 (many users mention using levels 1-10 for gentle therapy)
High Intensity: Speed settings up to 99 RPM for more intense workouts
What Makes It Adjustable:

99 different speed settings allow you to start very gentle
9 preset programs (P0-P9) with varying intensities
Remote control for easy adjustment during use
Customer reviews frequently mention starting at very low settings (speeds 1-5) for therapeutic use, lymphatic drainage, and recovery, then gradually increasing intensity for fitness goals. One reviewer specifically mentions using "level 1 at mid speed" for gentle lymphatic drainage."

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for glnamcgr
glnamcgr | @glnamcgr | Dec 2 8:10am

Your experience with your healthcare sounds all too familiar. Doctors are very eager to prescribe medication with no discussion of alternative holistic options and no discussion of side effects—and you will be on these drugs for the rest of your life! Good for them and the drug companies, but not so good for you! I have done years of research on osteoporosis and medications, and I am 100% convinced the benefits do not outweigh the risks. I was also diagnosed with osteoporosis in my 60s. I am now 80. I downhill skied until I was 72 and only quit because I couldn’t find any other old ladies to ski with me! And, yes, I fell often while skiing because I like speed! I still ride my bike, play pickleball three times a week, go to the gym, jump on my trampoline, use my TRX rope at home and walk my little princess Maltese poodle a mile or two each day. Please take time to research! There’s a difference between dense bone and strong bone. Work to make your bones stronger! Don’t let this ruin your life and don’t let the doctors frighten you into taking drugs. My mother had two broken hips after age 90 and she lived to be 97. I believe the people who let fractures take years off their life are people who aren’t motivated to get out of bed, do PT, and get on with their life. Don’t let this consume you; just keep moving and enjoying life! Eat healthy, don’t smoke, limit your alcohol intake, work on your balance, and most importantly, lift weights! I am wary of supplements, especially calcium as it can go to your arteries. I take a very small amount of calcium, K2, and magnesium. I have so many more thoughts to share with you, but I have to get to Pickleball. Good luck!

REPLY
3 replies
Profile picture for nycmusic
nycmusic | @nycmusic | Dec 2 1:23pm
In reply to @otherside "I've been taking AlgaeCal for many months now on the recommendation of my nutritionist. I've no..." + (show)
Profile picture for otherside @otherside

I've been taking AlgaeCal for many months now on the recommendation of my nutritionist. I've no idea if it's actually helpful in increasing calcium, but I'm quite certain that it doesn't "reverse osteoporosis."

Jump to this post

@otherside also, be sure to keep moving, do your OP exercises , focus on balance to avoid falls, eat a diet with natural calcium, vitamins and magnesium…that’s my program in a nutshell…at least OP shouldn’t get worse, pray, pray ! It’s not hard but takes commitment. I should mention that I take a good natural supplement, New Chapter, that comes in tiny tabs and I can adjust the dosage…it has less magnesium than AlgaeCal, which is better for my reconstructed gut.

REPLY
Profile picture for drterri
drterri | @drterri | Dec 2 1:57pm
In reply to @glnamcgr "Your experience with your healthcare sounds all too familiar. Doctors are very eager to prescribe medication..." + (show)
Profile picture for glnamcgr @glnamcgr

Your experience with your healthcare sounds all too familiar. Doctors are very eager to prescribe medication with no discussion of alternative holistic options and no discussion of side effects—and you will be on these drugs for the rest of your life! Good for them and the drug companies, but not so good for you! I have done years of research on osteoporosis and medications, and I am 100% convinced the benefits do not outweigh the risks. I was also diagnosed with osteoporosis in my 60s. I am now 80. I downhill skied until I was 72 and only quit because I couldn’t find any other old ladies to ski with me! And, yes, I fell often while skiing because I like speed! I still ride my bike, play pickleball three times a week, go to the gym, jump on my trampoline, use my TRX rope at home and walk my little princess Maltese poodle a mile or two each day. Please take time to research! There’s a difference between dense bone and strong bone. Work to make your bones stronger! Don’t let this ruin your life and don’t let the doctors frighten you into taking drugs. My mother had two broken hips after age 90 and she lived to be 97. I believe the people who let fractures take years off their life are people who aren’t motivated to get out of bed, do PT, and get on with their life. Don’t let this consume you; just keep moving and enjoying life! Eat healthy, don’t smoke, limit your alcohol intake, work on your balance, and most importantly, lift weights! I am wary of supplements, especially calcium as it can go to your arteries. I take a very small amount of calcium, K2, and magnesium. I have so many more thoughts to share with you, but I have to get to Pickleball. Good luck!

Jump to this post

@glnamcgr this is incredibly encouraging and helpful; thank you!

REPLY
Profile picture for nycmusic
nycmusic | @nycmusic | Dec 2 3:03pm
In reply to @bearbayou "Hello "Otherside"--- Regarding your using AlgaeCal for many months have you had a DEXA follow-up scan?..." + (show)
Profile picture for bearbayou @bearbayou

Hello "Otherside"--- Regarding your using AlgaeCal for many months have you had a DEXA follow-up scan? I ask since you state that you're "...quite certain that it doesn't 'reverse osteoporosis". UCLA Health, May 10, 2021 issue ---"Calcium supplement AlgaeCal can increase Bone Density"-- notes:
"A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition in 2016 found that some people using the product did see an increase in bone density and that the product wasn’t associated with adverse health effects."
-- I'm new to taking AlgaeCal.

Jump to this post

@bearbayou like all supplements, it works differently in different people…the trick is to find one that works for you..AlgaeCal has even been mentioned in NIH paper as having some good effect..it does seem that plant-based calcium is better absorbed .

REPLY
Profile picture for otherside
otherside | @otherside | Dec 3 12:05am
In reply to @bearbayou "Hello "Otherside"--- Regarding your using AlgaeCal for many months have you had a DEXA follow-up scan?..." + (show)
Profile picture for bearbayou @bearbayou

Hello "Otherside"--- Regarding your using AlgaeCal for many months have you had a DEXA follow-up scan? I ask since you state that you're "...quite certain that it doesn't 'reverse osteoporosis". UCLA Health, May 10, 2021 issue ---"Calcium supplement AlgaeCal can increase Bone Density"-- notes:
"A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition in 2016 found that some people using the product did see an increase in bone density and that the product wasn’t associated with adverse health effects."
-- I'm new to taking AlgaeCal.

Jump to this post

@bearbayou Perhaps I should have said I'm very doubtful that AlgaeCal can increase bone density rather than that I'm fairly certain. I haven't had a follow-up DEXA scan for 10 years. Due to having had two hip replacements and arthritis in the spine I've been told the numbers wouldn't be accurate. I'm also rather skeptical about DEXA to begin with; its diagnostic categories are arbitrary and I believe the scores are geared to overtreatment.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for kristie2
kristie2 | @kristie2 | Dec 3 10:12am
In reply to @otherside "I've been taking AlgaeCal for many months now on the recommendation of my nutritionist. I've no..." + (show)
Profile picture for otherside @otherside

I've been taking AlgaeCal for many months now on the recommendation of my nutritionist. I've no idea if it's actually helpful in increasing calcium, but I'm quite certain that it doesn't "reverse osteoporosis."

Jump to this post

@otherside you can get a blood test to see where your Calcium levels are.

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for gravity3
gravity3 | @gravity3 | Dec 3 11:58am
In reply to @otherside "I've been taking AlgaeCal for many months now on the recommendation of my nutritionist. I've no..." + (show)
Profile picture for otherside @otherside

I've been taking AlgaeCal for many months now on the recommendation of my nutritionist. I've no idea if it's actually helpful in increasing calcium, but I'm quite certain that it doesn't "reverse osteoporosis."

Jump to this post

@otherside

How long ago did you have a dexa scan? I understand they are not too expensive if you want to private pay.

REPLY
Profile picture for beccac
beccac | @beccac | Dec 3 12:26pm
In reply to @otherside "I've been taking AlgaeCal for many months now on the recommendation of my nutritionist. I've no..." + (show)
Profile picture for otherside @otherside

I've been taking AlgaeCal for many months now on the recommendation of my nutritionist. I've no idea if it's actually helpful in increasing calcium, but I'm quite certain that it doesn't "reverse osteoporosis."

Jump to this post

@otherside Yeah, I really do think that if anything actually does 'reverse osteoporosis' it's that heavy duty stuff for superfit people that some (usually $$) advocates promote. Dangerous as hell for someone like me. And dubious anyway IMHO.But slowing the loss maybe, and definitely developing the muscles and posture and habits that reduce the likelihood of fracture seems crucial - dietary changes too.

REPLY
Profile picture for beccac
beccac | @beccac | Dec 3 12:32pm
In reply to @glnamcgr "Your experience with your healthcare sounds all too familiar. Doctors are very eager to prescribe medication..." + (show)
Profile picture for glnamcgr @glnamcgr

Your experience with your healthcare sounds all too familiar. Doctors are very eager to prescribe medication with no discussion of alternative holistic options and no discussion of side effects—and you will be on these drugs for the rest of your life! Good for them and the drug companies, but not so good for you! I have done years of research on osteoporosis and medications, and I am 100% convinced the benefits do not outweigh the risks. I was also diagnosed with osteoporosis in my 60s. I am now 80. I downhill skied until I was 72 and only quit because I couldn’t find any other old ladies to ski with me! And, yes, I fell often while skiing because I like speed! I still ride my bike, play pickleball three times a week, go to the gym, jump on my trampoline, use my TRX rope at home and walk my little princess Maltese poodle a mile or two each day. Please take time to research! There’s a difference between dense bone and strong bone. Work to make your bones stronger! Don’t let this ruin your life and don’t let the doctors frighten you into taking drugs. My mother had two broken hips after age 90 and she lived to be 97. I believe the people who let fractures take years off their life are people who aren’t motivated to get out of bed, do PT, and get on with their life. Don’t let this consume you; just keep moving and enjoying life! Eat healthy, don’t smoke, limit your alcohol intake, work on your balance, and most importantly, lift weights! I am wary of supplements, especially calcium as it can go to your arteries. I take a very small amount of calcium, K2, and magnesium. I have so many more thoughts to share with you, but I have to get to Pickleball. Good luck!

Jump to this post

@glnamcgr I love this comment. Because my hip is T-4 I'll keep the door cracked, and wear a hip protector everywhere too (mine's perfectly comfortable) but I'm going to go that route and see how things look in 2 years. At 74 and a retired hospice worker I've seem how blithely docs insist on wrecking lives with meds and txs to move the reading on a scan a smidge, and how little that often means in real life, I'm not athletic, will never be a pickleball type, but I know how to exercise and what's safe for my condition I'm bumping it up a whole lot of notches. TY.

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