Medicines or Supplements?

Anhaga, I respectfully disagree with you. It is inaccurate to say that Tai Chi has been found to increase bone density. It’s been theorized – mostly, it seems, by people connected to Tai Chi institutes – that it *might* do so. But no solid evidence backs this up to date. As to whether natural methods are as good as medications for increasing bone density, intuition would suggest that they are not, as otherwise why would anyone feel pressure to take the medications in the first place, given their potentially catastrophic side effects and myriad ess severe-yet-often-quality-of-life-destroying other effects? Why would the overwhelming majority of physicians so avidly push these meds on patients, as they currently do, if natural methods worked as well? One could be cynical and say it’s because they’re in cahoots with Big Pharma, which to some extent is probably true. But if evidence-based studies supported the equivalence of natural methods with meds, I don’t believe there would be all of the heated debate. The medical profession, which by no means do I put much trust in, still couldn’t get away for long with a vast cover-up of prescribing dangerous meds if natural methods worked as well. The crux of our dilemma is that they are NOT as effective but that so far no safe (or at least safer) viable alternatives have emerged.       

Quoting from Harvard Health Publications - re low bone densit - A review of six controlled studies by Dr. Wayne and other Harvard researchers indicates that tai chi may be a safe and effective way to maintain bone density in postmenopausal women. A controlled study of tai chi in women with osteopenia (diminished bone density not as severe as osteoporosis) is under way at the Osher Research Center and Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

At the very least Tai Chi will improve muscle strength and is recommended for improving balance - a key component in avoiding fractures at any age.

Thanks for this first email, all the insight/advice, and subsequent interchanges, Anhaga. This is all v. helpful and food for thought. I'm disinclined to walk much as I don't yet walk very easily - it's silly I know, b ut the 2 surgeries were SO exhausting (especially the first when they remove the hip/prosthesis and put in a 'spacer' for 2 months), that now that I'm still 'transitioning' I am not as dedicated to survival as I was! I don't mean I've given up, just that the necessity of living moment by moment to get back to even walking was SO demanding that transitioning to being in very much less pain, yet with scar tissue stuck somewhat, handicaps me even though I now look normal. It's as much a psychological adjustment (aka spiritual, as I'm a Christian so that's foundational even to psychology), as it is physical. The news about b eing osteopenic was a bit of a surprise, but thanks to  you and the other very helpful responses I can factor this in as seems appropriate.

I may even be motivated to walk - albeit with a cane - ont he nearby hills! But I am going to include more magnesium and perhaps a bit more calcium.

So thanks again.

 

Wendy, I don't relly know anything about it, but i imagine there are some simple exercises you can do that would gradually strengthen your muscles so that eventually you will be able to take some short walks.  My gut feeling is that if you find walking arduous it probably means that even five minutes is going to be helpful, so don't rule it out altogether if you are able to manage it at all.  I think there are also methods for doing pilates or yoga and maybe versions of tai chi or qi gong that do not require use of the legs if they are still healing.  Good luck.  Let us know how you get on.

In addtion to being a Harvard researcher, Dr. W owns and operates a tai chi center. So while the study he's been involved with is certainly a legitimate and interesting line of investigation, he would have to be considered as someone with a conflicting interest in the findings.

 

Thank you, Anhaga.=You're right -- I know that exercise is always good as long as it doesn't take more than it gives - my two hip surgeries (due to infected hip already with prosthesis) on exactly the same incision over only 2 months, caused so much scar tissue internally that it sort of stuck together, resulting in a very deep scar along about 6 inches of the whole scar being attached pretty firmly very close to the prosthesis itself. I've now had 4 surgeries on that hip. So, this time,  the muscles and whatever else usually supports and b ears the weight on the outer hip area going up into the buttock didn't resume their previous position. It doesn't matter that it looks disfigured, looking like the scar is secured much too deeply, distorting the surface of that part of my hip, but the lack of depth for that muscle, now, seems to compel the areas to either side of the scar to tense up, stiffen, and cause pain when I walk for more than a short distance. If I take a walking cane I lean on the opposite side and it helps divert total pressure on the operated side. I did loads of exercises after the first surgery and expanded to additional ones after the second (which was this time last year), it was a h eck of a haul just to be able to walk as my foot and knee had also seized up due to not bearing weight! But I got there, and seem to be left with what I'm experiencing n ow. I do loosening up exercises, I try to do creative dance (at home - nobody watching!) which actually utilizes a whole lot of good movements, and I've added knee bends as per my chiroprcter's advice on 'how to', which hurt the knee for a week but now seem to have done something good (here's hoping). It's too easy though, in this awful weather, to feel like hibernating and not walking more than to and from the car, or around a supermarket - where I have to lean fairly heavily on the shopping cart to avoid the stiffening and pain I described above!

Who is Dr W?

That sounds like an awful lot you are dealing with.  And it also seems like you are doing all that you should right now.  Do you think after some time when you are fully healed they may be able to loosen any adhesions that have formed from repeated surgery?  I know right now that's the last thing you want to think about!  A friend of mine actually cut off his hand when he was doing woodworking.  It was reattached and he was able to move the fingers but with a simple pincer-like grip.  Recently (and I think it is well over a year since the accident, maybe more like two) he had another procedure which freed up his fingers and now they move independently.  It's not perfect, but he is thrilled with the result, so much better than before, and of course infinitely better than what might have happened.  I guess this is all part of that lesson we seem to be taught over and over again, especially as we age - patience!

 

Alison, oh, right, the doctor in the study I found.  There's a lot more info than that, I just grabbed onto that as the first thing I came up with.  Wouldn't you recommend tai chi just for its muscle-strengthening and balance-improving qualities, even if it does no more than help maintain bone density, not increase it?

Dr. W = Dr. Wayne, whom you cited. Also, I meant to type "conflict of interest," not "conflicting interest." It's standard, in peer-reviewed medical journals, for authors to state whether they do or do not have a "conflict of interest" at the end of their submissions. Generally this would refer to their having a stake in a pharmaceutical company, but if the modality under study is tai chi, a stake in a tai chi center would seem to fill the bill as to conflict of interest.

 

I dont' think further surgery could solve the issue - at least, the nurse that I initially spoke to about it said the surgeon would not re do it. My brother, who's an orthopedic surgeon himself, is the one who said it's the sticking together of the scar tissue, all those layers, that causes it. I don't know whether it might have been avoided if I'd known it at the time (ie, immediately after each of the 2 surgeries), and perhaps, say, massaged the area surrounding the obvious scar so that it loosened up earlier. But now, apparently no go. Patience. You are so right! I think getting older (and suffering longer!) is one of those opportunities we're given to develop it! I know I wasn't born with it, that's for sure. Your friend's second hand surgery could work because it had nothing to do with scar tissue being the problem in the first place - our daughter almost severed a finger in her teens, had surgery, it didn't do the trick so they re-did it. After each surgery she went for specific therapy but nonetheless her finger didn't straighten totally,  but I think that had to do with ligaments not stretching, despite the therapy (which we did, dutifully, just as prescribed).

there are definitely no guarantees that things will always 'work out' in the way we hope - but I hope I can strengthen my bone density by keeping on doing what I'm doing. And thanks to this discussion group, I have decided not to go on the AA med at this juncture, but I will include the Calcium/Vitamin D that the doctor gave me. I'm wondering actually why they haven't tested me for Calcium.

Does anyone know whether the standard test for Calcium on the NHS shows whethr it's being absorbed, or whether it's just there in the blood that is drawn?

Not being a medical person I don't know too much about it.  I was just thinking that after a few years once you are as healed as you will ever be there might be an opportunity to loosen the scar tissue, but as you say that may be impossible.  Don't forget your Vitamin K2 when you are taking your calcium and D3! 

Thanks! I won't forget the K2.