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I'm 37 years old, I've shrunk 6cm in height and my feet have shrunk 2 sizes

Posted , 4 users are following.

JamesUK
JamesUK

Hi,

before I accidentally posted this question in the forum section "Polymyalgia Rheumatica and GCA". Reposted the same question here in osteoporosis,

Any advice much appreciated.

I'm a 37 year old male. Approximately a year ago I first noticed my height loss, one day all of a sudden I noticed my dad was taller than me, he wasn't before, I was taller than him. My dad is in his sixties so shouldn't be getting taller. I then noticed more and more that friends and family who I used to be taller than were all of a sudden taller than me. After 6 months I eventually went to see my GP. He measured my height and I was 171cm tall. To find out my previous height we looked up my hostpital admission records. A couple of years before I'd had a few hospital admissions and each admission they had measured my height which each time was recorded as 177cm. 

That was 100% confirmation I had lost height but my GP was still sceptical, saying it's unheard of for someone my age to lose that much height.

He reluctantly refered me to see a back specialist at my local hospital.

I had an X-ray of my spine. The specialist looked at the X-ray and said nothing major is showing up. He said there is minor abnormality in one of the vertebrae but nothing that would cause any significant height loss. He said to find out if I had osteoporosis I would need to have a DEXA (DXA) scan. But he said he couldn't do that as I don't meet the criteria. He said if I was a older than 50, post menopausal female then he could easily authorise it, but as I am 37 year old male there is nothing he can do.

He also said as I had no back pain there was nothing more at all he could do, so has just refered me back to my GP. That's where I'm up to now.

The thing is I don't think all the height loss I've lost is even in my back area. With my clothes the place where I've noticed a difference is in my trouser leg length. Plus my feet have dropped 2 sizes I used to be a size 10, Im now a size 8 at most. The thing is I'm too embarrassed to even bring this up with my GP, as shortening feet and legs just sounds ridiculous and unbelievable, but it clearly 100% has definitely happened. Just to say some proportion of the height loss could be in back aswell, it could be a combination of both back and legs. Just with my clothes size the place I've noticed it is in the legs.

Up until now I have avoided looking up on the internet my symptoms. Today I searched around net and I can't find anything with my particular symptoms. The closest I could find were Ankylosing spondylitis but I have no pain or swelling. Plus also osteoporosis. but no conditions anywhere specifically have shortening of legs and feet.

So I'm at a dead end now. Does anyone have any ideas what conditions/illnesses could cause this to happen to me?

I am very, very unhappy to have lost 6cm in height and I want to find out what caused it and if possible prevent it from getting any worse.

Any advice is much appreciated.

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • kathleen65757
    kathleen65757 JamesUK

    Posted

    You should be able to have a bone density scan but you will have to pay for it.  It sounds like osteoporosis with that height loss. You nee to know. Also, your GP should refer you on to the relevant a specialists until you get an answer.
  • eileen64__UK
    eileen64__UK JamesUK

    Posted

    Hi

    I agree yu should be able to get a DEXA scan. Would you be prepared to pay for it if necessary?  I've no idea what it would cost in the UK but at least that would show if you have osteoporosis or anything else and they could start treating it.

    I have lost height....not sure about foot size? but I have oisteoporosis and get treated for that. I also have kypho scoliosis....thats a curved spine.....some people it curves one way others the opposite way and some have a double curve.

    The first I noticed that was one trouser leg seemed slightly shorther than the other. I thought it was one leg longer than the other but its because my spine curves to one side it pulls the trouser leg up slightly. I'm older than you so the height loss will have something to do with that as well.

    Sorry not a lot of hep but thats the best I can do

    Love

    Eileen   UK

     

  • donna04274
    donna04274 JamesUK

    Posted

    Hi James

    I had a DEXA scan last year (I am now 37years old) and did not have to pay for it. The scan confirmed osteoporosis in the spine and osteopenia in the femur. I feel your GP should refer you on to a specialist for investigations for osteoporosis. Please dont be embarraessed to discuss this with your GP. Hope you get somewhre with it.

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