I keep falling and breaking bones and I am only 48.

Posted by graceful @graceful, Jun 22, 2023

Hi all! I am only 48 and I just spent 2 years with a fractured ankle that will not heal - waiting for a surgery - i have now lost my job because of it and just last week fell down my stairs and broke both my ankles and my leg. My family doctor is very concerned and actually mentioned sending me to Mayo to find out what is going on. However, I am unemployed and have no idea how i would pay for something like that! Has anyone ever heard of anything like this? Any suggestions? I have 4 MRI's scheduled for next week to see the exact damage i have in both of my feet -

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bones, Joints & Muscles Support Group.

Can you get insurance on the ACA marketplace?

Have you had a DEXA scan to see if you have osteoporosis. Docs may order that. If your fall was a hard fall, maybe the recent fractures are not a sign of low bone density.

I have 7 spinal fractures but 3 of then were not from trauma so I am being treated for osteoporosis.

Keep us posted!

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Graceful, 1) Have you had a bone scan done to see if you have osteoporosis?...soft bones 2) Have you been tested for diabetes/.....slow healing.
3) Have you had a complete bloodwork panel done to check calcium, etc.? Praying and I am so sorry you are going through this at such a young age. Bless You!

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It sounds like you need a Dexa scan and further testing like an MRI or CT scan. Also bloodwork to test your vitamin D snd Calcium levels.

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I also have broken my femur and fractured my tibia and fibula in the same leg. One connection I was able make with my condition was a possible link from Proton Pump inhibitors like Prilosec to weakened bones. I have been taking otc Prilosec daily for about 6 years and believe this might be the reason. You can read studies on this online. I also am totally aware of my environment at all times-no stairs, no throw rugs, looking down to make sure there are no obstacles in my path. I was in my 50s when all this happened to me so I’m sure at your young age you are looking for solutions. Please find a highly recommended orthopedic surgeon. I don’t know what state you’re in but UCSF San Francisco did my last surgery and they are wonderful. They also have programs to work with you financially. Good luck on finding answers and keep us posted.

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You may have a deficiency of one or more of the following: calcium, magnesium, vitamin D or vitamin K. All are necessary to build strong bones. I've been supplementing since I was about 30 years old. I am now 70. In January I fell down a full flight of stairs in the middle of the night. I was trying to find the way to my bathroom with my eyes closed and felt myself falling. I thought I was in the bathroom but when I opened my eyes I was at the bottom of the stairs. Miraculously, I didn't break a thing, just got banged up a bit. I attribute my staying in one piece to my long history of getting the nutrients I needed. Please stay away from the "bone-building" drugs--they build very brittle bones. Also, two therapies that help bones heal faster are pulsed electromagnetic frequency therapy (PEMF) and red/infrared light therapy, also known as cold laser therapy or photobiomodulation. Here is a home use device I recommend that combines both: https://dnavibe.com/pages/aptd

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@cperlin

You may have a deficiency of one or more of the following: calcium, magnesium, vitamin D or vitamin K. All are necessary to build strong bones. I've been supplementing since I was about 30 years old. I am now 70. In January I fell down a full flight of stairs in the middle of the night. I was trying to find the way to my bathroom with my eyes closed and felt myself falling. I thought I was in the bathroom but when I opened my eyes I was at the bottom of the stairs. Miraculously, I didn't break a thing, just got banged up a bit. I attribute my staying in one piece to my long history of getting the nutrients I needed. Please stay away from the "bone-building" drugs--they build very brittle bones. Also, two therapies that help bones heal faster are pulsed electromagnetic frequency therapy (PEMF) and red/infrared light therapy, also known as cold laser therapy or photobiomodulation. Here is a home use device I recommend that combines both: https://dnavibe.com/pages/aptd

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@cperlin the two anabolic "bone building" drugs, Forteo and Evenity, do not build brittle bones. They improve bone quality as well as density and even help with healing fractures. This is a common misconception.

Bisphosphonates and Prolila are anti-resorptives that may cause brittle bones but I have been told, after a few years. Evenity is both a bone-builder and an anti-resorptive.

I have taken all the supplements that you take, for many years, and still have 7 fractures.

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This is from Medical News Today about Evenity (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/drugs-evenity-side-effects#mild-side-effects) :
Serious side effects of Evenity
Evenity may cause serious side effects. Although serious side effects aren’t common, they may occur. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Evenity’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects during Evenity treatment, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

Hypocalcemia (low blood calcium level). Symptoms can include:
itching of the skin
fatigue
confusion
Osteonecrosis of the jaw (death of bone tissue in the jaw). Symptoms can include:
jaw pain
swelling of the jaw or gums
loose teeth
Unusual femur fracture. Symptoms can include:
difficulty walking
thigh, hip, or groin pain
Stroke, heart attack, and cardiovascular death.*
Severe allergic reaction.†

The osteonecrosis of the jaw and the femur fractures are also characteristic of the biophosphonates and indicate building of brittle bone. Pharmaceutical companies are infamous for creating new patented drugs that are supposed to be better than the old ones but then it turns out they lied.

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@cperlin

This is from Medical News Today about Evenity (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/drugs-evenity-side-effects#mild-side-effects) :
Serious side effects of Evenity
Evenity may cause serious side effects. Although serious side effects aren’t common, they may occur. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Evenity’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects during Evenity treatment, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

Hypocalcemia (low blood calcium level). Symptoms can include:
itching of the skin
fatigue
confusion
Osteonecrosis of the jaw (death of bone tissue in the jaw). Symptoms can include:
jaw pain
swelling of the jaw or gums
loose teeth
Unusual femur fracture. Symptoms can include:
difficulty walking
thigh, hip, or groin pain
Stroke, heart attack, and cardiovascular death.*
Severe allergic reaction.†

The osteonecrosis of the jaw and the femur fractures are also characteristic of the biophosphonates and indicate building of brittle bone. Pharmaceutical companies are infamous for creating new patented drugs that are supposed to be better than the old ones but then it turns out they lied.

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@cperlin I indicated in my post that Evenity is both bone building and an anti-resorptive. Both my doc and McCormick's excellent book "Great Bones" explain that Evenity is more anabolic for the first 6 months and more anti-resorptive in the second 6 months. It is anti-resorptive drugs (that affect bone turnover) that may cause brittle bones over time. However, jaw necrosis, as an example, happens mainly with cancer patients on high doses for a period of time- I have been told and read.

Anyone contemplating Evenity needs to have cardiovascular risk evaluated.

Tymlos and Forteo are not anti-resorptives and build quality bone.

Drug companies are legally required to list all side effects and the lists that result can be scary. But fractures are also scary, painful and limiting.I gained 20% (quality) bone density on Tymlos for my spine, going from severe osteoporosis to borderline. I am so much stronger than I was, after my multiple fractures.

I have a kid with type 1 diabetes and epilepsy, who is still alive thanks to drug companies, so my view may be different. Nevertheless, I waited too long to commit to a bone drug because the intolerable side effects of Fortoe drug made me scared to try Tymlos- and then COVID interfered.

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@windyshores

@cperlin the two anabolic "bone building" drugs, Forteo and Evenity, do not build brittle bones. They improve bone quality as well as density and even help with healing fractures. This is a common misconception.

Bisphosphonates and Prolila are anti-resorptives that may cause brittle bones but I have been told, after a few years. Evenity is both a bone-builder and an anti-resorptive.

I have taken all the supplements that you take, for many years, and still have 7 fractures.

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This is excellent information for me. I have parathyroid-related bone loss, and I've been supplementing for years: Mg, D, K, & Ca (when my hyperparathyroidism wasn't active).

I need to start a medication, but was afraid of the biphosphonates because I've seen the lawsuits.

Thanks! 🙂

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@larak

This is excellent information for me. I have parathyroid-related bone loss, and I've been supplementing for years: Mg, D, K, & Ca (when my hyperparathyroidism wasn't active).

I need to start a medication, but was afraid of the biphosphonates because I've seen the lawsuits.

Thanks! 🙂

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@larak if you have hyperparathyroidism, I wonder if Tymlos or Forteo are a problem, since they boost the parathyroid short term. Have you discussed with your doc? Evenity affects sclerostin, not the parathyroid, so maybe that is better???? I have no idea and wonder what your docs say.

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