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Shrinking due to osteoporosis

Posted by wagsofbevis @wagsofbevis, Mar 5 9:18pm

This may seem minor, but despite eating healthy and exercising 3-4x/ week my whole adult life, (daily in retirement) I have lost 2 inches in height over the last 12-13 years. I am 64, taking Fosamax for osteoporosis. My concern is that it seems the extra flesh that covered my former frame now now rests in my midsection. I can’t find any information on if skin eventually tightens up when one shrinks.
I’m also curious in general to know how skin and organs adjust when a person loses height.

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

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greta63 | @greta63 | Mar 8 4:16pm
In reply to @patwerthman "Shrinking is supposed to be a natural part of aging? I thought. However with osteoporosis it’s..." + (show)
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Shrinking is supposed to be a natural part of aging? I thought. However with osteoporosis it’s also an issue I’ve lost over an inch at age 65. However, I’ve also been measured by different clinics within the last 4 years and they are all different by + or - 1.5”. So not always completely accurate. Recently I was measured taller, by an inch. For example.
Strange

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@patwerthman I was 5"5' in my younger days. I'm now 5"2'. I've had 3 thoracic fractures. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis about 20 years ago.

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callmekate | @callmekate | Mar 8 4:44pm
In reply to @babs10 "When we have osteoporosis, the midsection can appear to expand because the spine gradually compresses and..." + (show)
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When we have osteoporosis, the midsection can appear to expand because the spine gradually compresses and curves forward, which shortens the torso and pushes the abdominal area outward - the rib cage moves closer to the pelvis and posture changes make the belly protrude even if body fat has not increased.

The most helpful exercises are those that strengthen the back extensors and support upright posture, such as prone back extensions (lying face down and gently lifting chest), resistance-band rows, wall angels, bird dog, and deadlifts and hip hinges with good form, along with core stabilizing work like planks - these help counter that spinal rounding, maintain height, and keep the abdomen from being pushed forward.

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@babs10 thanks for these specifics. I'll check them with my chiro and then dive in!

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ccps101 | @ccps101 | Mar 8 5:07pm

Interesting I went to a particular specialist about a year ago and she uses a digital measurement for height, it’s like a laser. It gave me very confidence in an accurate reading.

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patwerthman | @patwerthman | Mar 9 8:42am
In reply to @greta63 "@patwerthman I was 5"5' in my younger days. I'm now 5"2'. I've had 3 thoracic fractures...." + (show)
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@patwerthman I was 5"5' in my younger days. I'm now 5"2'. I've had 3 thoracic fractures. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis about 20 years ago.

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@greta63 oh gosh, that’s a big change. 3 fractures besides. Painful. How do you think they happened, if I can ask?

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loriesco | @loriesco | Mar 9 12:13pm

The misinformation above shocked me because doctors haven’t stepped in to tell you why the shrinking . Osteoporosis does not cause shrinkage in terms of height. Shrinkage in terms of one’s height is caused by discs between the vertebrae spinebones. The discs dry out called desiccation, and if you have degenerative disc disease, you become less tall. It is hereditary in my family, so unfortunately, I am watching myself shrink overtime like my little parents and my even little her grandparents. I hate the fact that my belly is taking the breath of it because the ones that seem to shrink the most are the ones in your lumbar section that support most of your weight. Surgery (fusion) of your vertebrae Spine can help stabilize and stop shrinkage in that particular area. Our bio mechanics are very delicate. Unfortunately, they didn’t add the inches back in during my lumbar fusion, but they could actually add a half inch back in my cervical spine fusion. We used to make fun of my mom for her big belly now I no longer make fun of what was but have empathy since I inherited it.

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kfhoz | @kfhoz | Mar 9 12:47pm
In reply to @loriesco "The misinformation above shocked me because doctors haven’t stepped in to tell you why the shrinking..." + (show)
Profile picture for loriesco @loriesco

The misinformation above shocked me because doctors haven’t stepped in to tell you why the shrinking . Osteoporosis does not cause shrinkage in terms of height. Shrinkage in terms of one’s height is caused by discs between the vertebrae spinebones. The discs dry out called desiccation, and if you have degenerative disc disease, you become less tall. It is hereditary in my family, so unfortunately, I am watching myself shrink overtime like my little parents and my even little her grandparents. I hate the fact that my belly is taking the breath of it because the ones that seem to shrink the most are the ones in your lumbar section that support most of your weight. Surgery (fusion) of your vertebrae Spine can help stabilize and stop shrinkage in that particular area. Our bio mechanics are very delicate. Unfortunately, they didn’t add the inches back in during my lumbar fusion, but they could actually add a half inch back in my cervical spine fusion. We used to make fun of my mom for her big belly now I no longer make fun of what was but have empathy since I inherited it.

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@loriesco Yes, other conditions also can cause loss of height. But the research on osteoporosis and height loss due to vertebral fractures is compelling to me that fractures and height loss due to OP alone are real.

Royal Osteoporosis Society:
https://theros.org.uk/information-and-support/osteoporosis/spinal-fractures/
Excerpt: "One of the most visible signs of osteoporosis is a curved back and loss of height as a result of spinal fractures. You may also hear these being called vertebral fractures, or compression fractures."

Cleveland Clinic:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17498-spinal-fractures
Excerpt: "Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens your bones, making them more susceptible to sudden and unexpected fractures. An undiagnosed spinal compression caused by osteoporosis can make you lose several inches from your height or develop a hunched forward posture (kyphosis)."

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greta63 | @greta63 | Mar 9 1:55pm
In reply to @patwerthman "@greta63 oh gosh, that’s a big change. 3 fractures besides. Painful. How do you think they..." + (show)
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@greta63 oh gosh, that’s a big change. 3 fractures besides. Painful. How do you think they happened, if I can ask?

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@patwerthman
My first fracture(s) happened when I was getting a box down off a shelf. I didn't know it was heavy, so when I pulled it off, it sort of fell into my arms. I immediately felt the pain. I hoped it would just go away, but something told me it wouldn't. The pain was quite debilitating. I could barely get in or out of bed or turn over without experiencing pain. I went for xrays but the fractures didn't show up until I had an MRI. Eventually, they saw 2 fractures. Six or seven years later I was doing stretching exercises and by the next day I felt that awful pain again. This time I went for an MRI early on. Once diagnosed, I decided to have a kyphoplasty which relieves the pain and saves some of your height. I got serious about the medication after that--two years of Forteo, and then Prolia. I don’t want any more fractures if I can help it. Hope this helps.

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patwerthman | @patwerthman | Mar 10 8:10am
In reply to @greta63 "@patwerthman My first fracture(s) happened when I was getting a box down off a shelf. I..." + (show)
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@patwerthman
My first fracture(s) happened when I was getting a box down off a shelf. I didn't know it was heavy, so when I pulled it off, it sort of fell into my arms. I immediately felt the pain. I hoped it would just go away, but something told me it wouldn't. The pain was quite debilitating. I could barely get in or out of bed or turn over without experiencing pain. I went for xrays but the fractures didn't show up until I had an MRI. Eventually, they saw 2 fractures. Six or seven years later I was doing stretching exercises and by the next day I felt that awful pain again. This time I went for an MRI early on. Once diagnosed, I decided to have a kyphoplasty which relieves the pain and saves some of your height. I got serious about the medication after that--two years of Forteo, and then Prolia. I don’t want any more fractures if I can help it. Hope this helps.

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@greta63
Oh gosh. Yes. Thank you for explaining. I’m so sorry you’ve had all the fractures & pain. Hopefully the meds are offering you better protection. Praying for no more fractures, shrinkage, or worse. Stay strong. We are all in this together.

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pmhpesp5 | @pmhpesp5 | Mar 10 10:50am

What you describe is common with aging. More scientific explanations can be found here:
https://ufhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments/aging-changes-in-body-shape.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4984841/.
I like sharonba’s response. Stay active, get enough sleep, have a healthy diet.

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pmhpesp5 | @pmhpesp5 | Mar 10 10:53am

I actually yelled at several nurse assistants when they told me my height. Said,
“I have been 5’8 1/2” all my life. Please remeasure.” Lol

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