Young woman diagnosed with osteoporosis

Yes yes yes, could very well be impacting this..I just want to make this further point to all who have daughters and granddaughters alike to impress on them the importance in the youth and on into 20-30’s that is the time to really be really building their bones. That’s your reservoir for later, but all should continue with exercise ongoing after that.
With all the phone use , social media craze as doing more tech stuff even if it’s good stuff, and kids not participating in sports ( not to having pick up basketball games hardly any young people play tennis anymore , etc) as doing more tech stuff , even if it’s good tech stuff. -They are setting themselves up for issues down the road!! It’s not easy to motivate them if really attached to this stuff. Be diligent, be a nag…. Someday they will thank you, or maybe they won’t have to because the issues May not arise!!!

@sophie93 this is from an expert, dxaguru, on Inspire:

This is an area that was an issue 20 years ago, but not today. The categorical tricotomy of normal, osteopenia and osteoporosis based on T-score cut points is over 25 years old. At that time we had very limited data relating area density of bones and fractures. We did know that the lower the BMD by Dxa, all else being equal, there were more fractures than a similar group where BMD was higher.

We now have better more robust tools that adjust for differences inbone size to assess fracture risk. FRAX, for example uses patient height and to a lesser extent weight as surrogates for bone size. And it turns out, that shorter (smaller frame) people at the same BMD readings on Dxa will have higher fracture risk in FRAX, not lower risk because the machine is giving lower Dxa readings and T-scores.

A toothpick is the same real density as the birch log it was made from, even though it is much easier to break. But on a Dxa scanner, the toothpick always reads much lower in density, and thus is more reflective of the strength and resistance to breaking. It’s the same with bones. Men and women have the same density bones on CT scans that measure true density. But men have fewer fractures because their bones are generally larger. On Dxa larger bones read higher in area density and thus better reflect fracture risk.

FRAX removes the one size fits all osteoropsis cut point of -2.5 T-score and treatment decisions are based on risk of fracture versus risk of treatment side effects and fracture reduction.

Thus by FRAX a 75yr old woman with a T-score of -1.5 may be at higher risk for fracture than a 45 yr old woman with a T-score of -2.6. The former would benefit more from treatment than the latter.

T-scores should never be viewed like a pregnancy test. There is almost no difference in fracture risk between s -2.4 (only osteopenia) and -2.6 (“full blown osteoporosis” as one member called it).

I would love to see T-score alone diagnosis paradigm just go the way of the buggy whip. We now have tools that make your concerns about being on the diagnostic fence unwarranted.

Generally, I was very active as a kid... Not exactly doing sports, but being outside in the sun, playing all the time. So, it's not like I was inactive. Also, my parents always made sure to feed me the right foods, healthy, unprocessed, homemade "real" food. So I don't know really... Maybe it is just the way I am. Maybe some people are "destined" to have weaker bones, after all :/

But I agree with you, nowadays more and more young people and kids are being stuck at home in front of the screens all day long. I see also people avoiding the sun more and more, which in my opinion is wrong.

Despite me being active throughout my childhood and eating all the right foods - I still have low bone density now. I think the early menopause coupled with my small frame are the culprits...

Ask your doctor to order blood tests for serum calcium, ionized calcium and parathyroid hormone. If your calcium and parathyroid levels are both high, it would indicate hyperparathyroidism. When your parathyroid hormones are too high, they increase your blood calcium levels by pulling the calcium from your bones, which results in osteoporosis. Usually it's due to a benign tumor on one or more of your 4 parathyroid glands. It requires surgery to remove the gland with the tumor.

Hi @ripley

My doctor already ordered a complete blood test with electrolyte status as well as a complete hormonal panel.
All the electrolytes (including Ca, ionized Ca and the other electrolytes) were in the normal range.
Parathyroid was fine as well.
So we ruled the parathyroid out as a cause

This passage is culled from Science Direct, but I don't have the link.
Bone resorption and formation are coupled at specific moving locations. Estrogen limits the formation of those coupled units and balances the cells osteoblasts ( that form bone) and osteoclasts ( that degrade bone). Without estrogen the osteoclasts have longer existance. Estrogen increases osteoblast formation, differentiation, proliferation, and function.
Estrogen also controls (through the kidneys) how we absorb calcium. And how it is used by the body once it is absorbed.

Really helpful and interesting, thank you 🙂

Hi there,
I am 29 with osteoporosis due to a malfunction with pituary gland. I am on OVREENA pill and some vitamin D and calcium. What is ibandronic acid? My spine BMD is -4 and overall -3.6.
I don't know what is ahead. I know that if diagnosed when younger you have less likelihood to have fractures. I hope you see improvement and feel free to message for support. I have cut out gluten in hopes that will help me absorb vitamin D and calcium. I am also considering moving abroad to a country with more sunlight as this helps with the pain.
Wishing you the best and sending lots of strength.