Can long term medication have contributed to DDD and osteoprosis

Hi Axeddie. I too have DDD which is due to a very athletic lifestyle my entire life, lots of pounding and stress on my body. After experiencing bilateral hip pain while skiing I went to the doctors. First to a hip doctor that said it wasn't my hips, it was my back and I ended up with L4-5 fusion at 68 yrs old. When I had hit menopause (no more bone protecting estrogen) at 53/54 yrs, my gynecologist told me to do weight bearing exercises, biking and swimming didn't count (not weight bearing). I had started running marathons at 52, which he greatly supported. My additive personality had me running 4/5 a year when everything says to only run 2. I was told to avoid carbonated beverages, especially dark colored ones (Coke, Pepsi etc.), quit smoking. which I had a few years prior and limit alcohol consumption, which I also quit. I did all these and the osteopenia has not progressed. I also started taking Calcium as instructed at 35 and continue to do so. Thankfully there are meds to arrest the osteoporosis and I'm guessing you are taking them. We are 29 yr olds trapped in aging bodies. I wish you the best.

That gave me a laugh..."We are 29 yr olds trapped in aging bodies..."
My body is protesting today from 2 separate adventures with grandsons this week. Both involved scrambling on rocks - we had to take separate adventures with the 7 year old, who is very agile and does intermediate to hard trails from the 4 1/2 year old who tries to keep up.

I had to give up running at 54 when I had my first 2 hip replacements (worn out by running all my life) but substituted walking and gardening. Now 12 years into my second set of hips I am gratified to find I can still climb up rocks, down into creeks to wade and almost everywhere else. I draw the line at climbing the "spider webs" at the park although I am about the size of some of the kids - can't you just see a call to the fire department to "rescue an old lady from the playground equipment"?

And my DEXA scores have remained the same for over 10 years. I too began Calcium in my 20's because I had a family history of osteoporosis and DDD.

I want my obituary to read "she died to soon while rock climbing at the tender age of 90"
Sue

Some medications can have a long term profile that may cause damage. But we are all different and react differently to medications. PPI have been found long term to cause some issues but weaning off can be hard.

Hi alexis7,

Thank you very much for your informative reply. I've also led a very physical lifestyle but I always thought that is what would keep me healthy and mobile into my older years. This is probably why I keep looking for possible reasons - such as long term use of omeprazole - for what might have caused my DDD and osteoporosis.

Did you get the fusion done very long ago? I am from the United States and I came to understand that it is no longer done there. Were you (or do you) living outside the US when you had it done?

I am in US outside of Dallas. I haven't heard they stopped doing fusions but I wish I had not had mine. I believe that & the total hip replacement contributed to my "chronic L5 nerve damage. I had the fusion surgery at the beginning of Covid, March 2020. I don't think anything can prevent DDD, it's an age related process.

I also live in the Dallas suburbs. I have lived being fused C3-C7, T2-S1 and SI joints. I am 60 and had my first fusion in 1977 for scoliosis. I have always been healthy through eating and supplements. I am having hip replacements currently due to wear over the years. Your nerve issues could be piriformis syndrome, compression of the nerves. I have nerve issues probably from L5-S1 or fluid sacs on my spinal dura that have been there for many years or compression of nerves.

@deedee12 I would like to speak with you more about your fusions and current situation. I had Harrington rod placed in 1982 for scoliosis from T3 to L1, C7-T1 in 2020 and 2021, now scheduled for "revision" of the thoracic fusion to extend to S1 and fuse SI joints at the same time. I am not able to walk, sit, or stand for any length of time due to sciatic nerve, hip, leg, and sacrum burning, shooting pains and numbness (worse when I lie down). I continue to have issues with my cervical spine too as only the minimal fix was done at the time. Same here at the age of 53 have DDD, scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, etc as well as RA, osteoarthritis, hypothyroid. I have enjoyed leading an active lifestyle all along and am a concerned about what life will be like after this. Any tips, pros, cons, sharing of what you ARE able to do still would be greatly appreciated!!!
@peggy87

We are the same in some areas. I had my Harrington rods put in when I was 14. I had a 62° curve which they got down to 35°. I continued with lumbar issues. In 1989 after 6 surgeries, they completed a 2 part surgery and and then I was fused T2-S1 and screwed into each side in the pelvic bone (3 screws each side). I really did not have any issues until 2018. My cervical had developed degenerative issues. They did ACDF C3-C7. I was still having cervical pain and they related it to flat back. In 4/2021 I had a lumbar osteotomy to correct my sagittal balance. They did not fuse my si joints at that time and I believe they should have. The SI joints were fused 2/2022 and 4/2022. I still had cervical pain and si joint pain. At this time I researched several doctors, I received 3 opinions. In my cervical, C3-5 did not fuse and also my SI joints and fractured screws in my lumbar. In 3/2023, I had a neurosurgeon whom did a posterior fusion C3-5. This has helped tremendously with my cervical. In April I had a call from Mayo Clinic that the accepted my complex cases. I am now working with a group of doctors with my SI joints and degenerative hips. I am 5 weeks post op with my right hip and going well. I have left hip replacement schedule for 11/16 and then revision on si joints. Long process bit feel really good about direction. Let me know when you want to chat.

Sounds like there are enough similarities. Hopefully we can chat in the next couple weeks! What works for you?

@deedee12 Sounds like we have many similarities. Could we talk sometime this week by chance?