Male Osteoporosis - The Missing Link

Posted by Oh My Aching Back & Neck @jmweissler, Jul 18, 2022

A discussion amongst males who have osteoporosis.

I am a 65 yo male who triggered a dormant case of osteoporosis as a result of a fracture @ L5/S1 in 1998 and as a result had massive fusion in 1998. Suffered in pain for 9 years as no ortho would see me. Finally was invited in to HSS in 2008. An exploratory showed that I had not fused. I immediately had a 360 degree fusion. I have now had 16 fusion surgeries. 13 in my lumbar (T12-S3) and 3 in the cervical (C3-C7). I have just completed a set of epidurals on my C7-T1 to see if I can avoid another fusion. My last DEX was -4.4 in my 1/3 forearm as that’s all that can be measured due to all the metal. I have been on Prolia but doesn’t seem to do much. Any thoughts or ideas? Greatly appreciated 🙂

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

I've been paying attention to the osteoporosis threads in case I ever need to address that. (I'm hoping to stave it off with diet, exercise and, most important, lucky genetics.)

I recently mentioned on one of the threads that women about for about 64% of cases of osteoporosis in the U.S. and there's almost no mention of the other 36% of the cases that men apparently have, whether diagnosed or not. So kudos for bringing up the subject as I suspect men are being ignored to their detriment.

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This is a great discussion. Thanks for starting it, @jmweissler and for commenting @callalloo. Maybe @jmweissler, you would benefit from a consult with Dr. Loren Fishman, if possible. You can read about his research and contact him through http://www.sciataca.org. Sara Meeks, a Physical Therapist who specializes in osteoporosis has worked with men who have it. You can Google her and find her information. I wish you the best.
My husband was just diagnosed with osteoporosis. He's 78. He fell over a box the USPS carrier left in front of our front door in late January. He had surgery to repair his hip, which has healed well. He's walking with a cane now.
Our PCP ordered a dexa scan because she said his fracture was osteoporotic. His score was better than mine. His mother had oseteoporosis; so did my mother and her two sisters. He was prescribed alendronate once a week. Since he has dementia, I have to keep reminding him to avoid forward flexion of the spine. We take a long walk everyday. Unfortunately, he would never be able to do Dr. Fishman's "12 Poses vs Osteoporosis" yoga because of his cognitive limitations and tolerance for chsllenging exercises. Getting the alendronate into him in the morning, before eating, and having him stay upright for half an hour + is a challenge. We both now take calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin K, magnesium and boron.

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Hi @jmweissler, I'm wondering if you've ever been screened for osteogenesis imperfecta, a group of genetic disorders that mainly affect the bones. You were relatively young when you had your first fracture in 1998.

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I asked my endo & was told it is not a normal test & then went out on maternity leave. I will see her soon & ask again. U will definitely look into it. Thanks 🙂

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