1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Osteoporosis and Osteopenia

Hospital program

Posted , 6 users are following.

Anhaga
Anhaga

Just came back from the first of two sessions at our hospital designed for people to deal with a diagnosis of osteoporosis.  Although I didn't really learn anything new I was very encouraged by the presenters' positive attitude.  Next week may be another story as one of the presenters will be the osteoporosis specialist, who I expect will be talking about medications.  They'll also do nutrition - which could be interesting as the book we've all been given only lists dairy as a food source for calcium, and only vitamin D a a co-nutrient.  I wonder if I'll be able to stand the session!

I was disapppointed in that I'd been told I'd be given my complete bone report (I only have a copy of the summary) which has pictures, details of t-score at more than one site, that kind of thing, but we didn't get anything like that.  The only reason I even have the summary is because I asked for it from my doctor and it didn't even include t-score at femoral neck.  That was given to us today, but I had talked the hospital person into giving me that info months ago.  Can't understand why all this seems so secretive. 

This week - overview of what osteoporosis is and what it isn't, risk factors for fracture, things to do to lower the risk; followed by physiotherapist showing us simple things we can to do to improve balance, increase muscle strength, keep spine straight.  💃🚶🏃

1 like, 21 replies

21 Replies

  • kathleen65757
    kathleen65757 Anhaga

    Posted

    Hi Anhaga! That sounds interesting. Hopefully, there will be something new for you. I am not aware of anything here like that.

    I was wondering about keeping the spine straight...is that about posture?

    How did they say to increase muscle strength?

    I have forgotten your tscores. What are they again?

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga kathleen65757

      Posted

      Hi Kathleen.  Just the usual about the posture, remembering to push the shoulders back, and down if possible.  They didn't go into a great deal of detail but they did get the participants to stand up and do simple things like see how ling we can stand on one foot, that kind of thing.  How to reach down without bending the back (make as though to sit in a chair, I did find that a good tip as I bend my back quite a lot more than I should).  I only have the one t-score, the one I talked them into giving me last year, femoral neck, which is -2.  

      Next week when the osteoporosis doctor is there may be when they give us the whole report.  If not, I'll have to ask, because the bone clinic claims that all doctors in the province have access to their patients' reports, my doctor claims she does not.

      The participants in the room (there were also people having the session streamed in three or four smaller communities, we were the ones in the room with the live presenters) were quite a range, although all obviously quite old.  One man, who I think nodded off part way through, seemed to be accompanied by a woman who was also participating.  It would have been nice if there'd been a little go round at the beginning so we could introduce ourselves to each other.  Perhaps there should have been but there were technical difficulties getting the live stream functioning and we were starting late as it was.  I enjoyed it, in the sense that I wasn't bored even though most of the information was not new to me, but over all I think I feel a bit disappointed, but I'll wait until next week to pass judgement.

  • LayneTX
    LayneTX Anhaga

    Posted

    Well, it will be interesting to hear what they do say, though sad if they don't give more info than what they gave you already. Please do report more as you get it. 

    i too am worried about posture. Often I find my upper back tired and I want to slump. I even set a timer to remind me to ensure good posture. wink 

    thanks for reporting. 

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga LayneTX

      Posted

      One person at the session asked about the gizmos people use to hold their shoulders back, can't remember what they're called.  The physiotherapist said she had never met anyone who ciould actually stand to use one for long enough, but if indeed one could, wearing it for about three weeks would probably be enough to get the muscles trained to "remember" to hold the shoulders back.
    • marykelly
      marykelly LayneTX

      Posted

      I am following this discussion as I have bad posture and my back is tired too , I really need some good exercises to improve my posture and make strong back muscles.
    • Juno-Irl-Dub
      Juno-Irl-Dub LayneTX

      Posted

      Layne,  I really know  know what you mean by your 'tired back'.  My only solution for this is to lie down for 10 nimutes. Really works! Also, like you I have awful posture and find it difficult to remember to  ' straighten up'. 

      Keep trying anyway. . .  

    • LayneTX
      LayneTX Juno-Irl-Dub

      Posted

      Anhaga, thank you so much for reminding me shoulders back AND down. I forget the down part except in yoga class.  Good to know about them recommending to not bend back forward, I didn't know this. Gosh I recline in chair with legs up to watch tv, is that bad curve for the back?

      it too bend over curve back to pick things up. 

      Is it ok to lie on stomach? When my upper back hurts (that's been since I got hump back from Prednisone, doctors don't think that harmed my back but sure is coincidence.) I lie on stomach and listen to 30 minute meditation. It's so nice.

      ha, ha, I watched a movie where two gals stood with hands on hips and tall and said something like stand like a superwoman, it helps get the attitude going. Be strong! wink 

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga LayneTX

      Posted

      Years ago I got a sheet of exercises from my doctor and one of them is to simply lie on the stomach, resting on elbows and head up.  You hold that for a while, maybe a minute or more.  Later a physiotherapist gave me a different take on that exercise where you move back and forth sort of going from yoga "child's pose" to the streched out position and back, ten times twice a day. Regarding bending forward, at the clinic we were shown how to get lower by doing something which requires (and by doing will give you) thigh muscle strength.  Go down as if you are sitting in a chair.  That way you can pick something off the floor, for example, without actually bending forward, or at least minimizing that forward bend.  There are the usual instructions about how to lift things, and they had a few practical ideas like placing your grocieries on a chair to unpack so that you aren't bending over to the floor, or reaching up to lift the items out of the bag.  

      Onward - walk like a superheroine!💃

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga marykelly

      Posted

      You will find helpful exercises online on the various sites which promote natural bone healing as opposed to medication.  If you have other back issues, however, it's a good idea to get professional guidance at least to get started.
  • Anhaga
    Anhaga

    Posted

    Second week of bone clinic was a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT.  The dietitian sounded like a shill for the dairy industry.  She didn't even mention green vegetables or other plant foods as a source of calcium and other bone nutrients.  When asked about alternatives to milk she could only come up with the fortified beverages, which to me sound like supplements in food format, although she'd just told us that food was a better source than supplements.  Neither she nor the rheumatologist seemed very interested in or aware of Vitamin K2.  The doctor even said there had been four studies of K2 all of which proved that K2 did not help bone density.  (Although I can go online and in short order find discussion of Japanese studies which show otherwise.)  Which kind of begged the question - what about bone HEALTH as well as cardiac health.  I sat and doodleD or I'd have been ready to scream I felt so frustrated!  The doctor said she did not usually recommend calcium supplements, only Vitamin D3.  But she spent 95% of her considerable time telling us about the bone meds.  I'm so glad my GP cancelled a request for a referral to her when I said I wasn't going to take any OP meds. It would have been a waste of both our times. 
    • Anhaga
      Anhaga

      Posted

      And when I asked her about my very high level (albeit not quite toxic) of Vitamin D I didn't get any answer except that vitamin D toxicity was extremely rare and because my level hadn't got to the toxic level my question appeared to be irrelevant to her.  (A measurement of 169 when levels should be in two figures, and my GP says we worry when the level gets to 200.)
    • Juno-Irl-Dub
      Juno-Irl-Dub Anhaga

      Posted

      Anhaga,  sorry to hear you were so disappointed with your hospital program. I guess the simple fact here is  - that you know more about diet, meds., and supplements than any of the professonals there.  This is frustrating when you feel that you are attending to have some questions answered by the ' experts'  . . . .  Anyway, look on the positive side, you're doing great!!     J                                                                                                    
    • LayneTX
      LayneTX Anhaga

      Posted

      Oh my gosh, that is awful (had to change what I wanted to type) wink

      There is so much more calcium wise. To think so many people will be less informed. Thank goodness for Internet and people who will to share their success stories and education on natural things and to those who research how the body reacts, creates, heals, ... I'm losing respect for doctors more and more.  

      I like the doctor/medical types (m.d., chiro, ...) who have issues and resolves them through science and natural methods for themselves, then shares it...even if it costs us money, they probably deserve it.

      I had lunch with a gal today and it was actually stressful.  She'd rather take a drug than exercise, rather eat and drink sugary foods than healthy foods. Thinks walking is boring. Doesn't like anything I tried to talk about...meditation, researching on Internet, books, cooking... Learning...

      then asked if I do happy hour... And she is riddled with autoimmune and other aches and pains.  Not sure I'll go again.

       

  • Anhaga
    Anhaga

    Posted

    I have taken part in a bone clinic offered by our local hospital.  Last week's two hour session was an introduction to what osteoporosis is, how bones form and rebuild, etc., actually quite interesting, although I kind of knew it all it was interestingly presented and provided a context for what was to come.  Second part that week was a good session with a physiotherapist with all the usual advice about caring for the spine in the way we move, etc.  Yesterday's session was another fish altogether.  The dietitian came across as a shill for the dairy industry, which was most unfortunate.  I asked her about leafy green vegetables and she told me the calcium in them was not very bioavailable (true of spinach or beet greens, perhaps, but not true of other leafies, like kale, collards, broccoli).  Then I asked her about Vitamin K2 but after fluffing about K1 and my attempting to correct her course she said I should refer that question to the rheumatologist, who was our final authority.

    The rheumatologist was only there to talk about the medications.  I asked her about vitamin K2 and she said there had been four studies none of which had shown that K2 had any effect on bone density.  There were two things wrong with that answer.  First, it's not hard to find information about Japanese studies which show that Vitamin K2 does in fact help improve bone density.  Secondly, there are other good things K2 does, like protect the body from calcium getting deposited in the wrong places.  The final thing which really distresses me.  I went to this workshop mainly because I'd been told that I'd be given my complete bone report.  Well, all we got was the t-score for the femoral neck, a figure I had already with some difficulty managed to find out more than six months ago.  When I asked about finding out the other measurements the rheumatologist told me that I didn't need to know them.  In other words, today I have no idea what the condition of my spine was last September when the scan was done.  I was really insulted by this patronizing attitude, and I don't know what to do to get more information about MY bones.

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga

      Posted

      This is what I posted on a couple of other forums, in case anyone has any advice about how I can get more information.
    • kathleen65757
      kathleen65757 Anhaga

      Posted

      I just do not understand that. On the day mine was done I was handed a piece of paper with the results in writing and graphs.

      I knew straight away and legally it is your information to have.

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga kathleen65757

      Posted

      I emailed my physiotherapist asking her if she would find information about various t-scores ueful when working with a patient at risk as I am, but haven't heard back yet.  Thought if she said yes I'd have a bit more ammunition.  But you're right, I shouldn't have to be begging like this.  It just wastes everyone's time and my limited energy!
    • Anhaga
      Anhaga kathleen65757

      Posted

      Freedom of Information Act:

      Can I get access to my medical records? Yes. If the records are at one of the provincial hospitals, they are covered. You can call the Review Office and they will try to help you figure out who you should call. Please see the “Contact Us” section (page 21) for the Review Office number. If the records are not at a hospital, you need to ask the doctor directly. If you are not satisfied with their response, you need to contact the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. Check out the “Contact Them” section (page 21) for the contact information for the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

    • kathleen65757
      kathleen65757 Anhaga

      Posted

      They should just hand it to you on the day. It does not breach any security or country secrecy act etc. How ridiculous they make it such an issue!
Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.