Osteoporosis diagnosis
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I have been diagnosed with osteoporosis at the age of 36. I have been in constant pain all year because I fracture my ribs regularly. I think the diagnosis has actually started to sink in now and I hoped people would be able to answer a couple of questions:
1) My doctor said it is curable yet no literature states this. Does anyone have information on this?
2) Any advice on pain management as I am finding it very draining now?
thank you in advance.
0 likes, 13 replies
susan79492 Sedge99
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Sedge99
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susan79492 Sedge99
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I'm 61 and my spine score is an equally bad -3.3. I did everythng right excpet I went through menopause. Do you have early menopause or irregular periods? I'm on Forteo (teriparitide)--it is the only drug that actually builds bone. I'll be on it for just six months and then go back to alendronate. I hope it is working. It is kind of a scary drug but worth asking about. Are you in the UK? I don't know if the NHS covers that drug.
Sedge99
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susan79492 Sedge99
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So the GP started me on alendronate, but when I saw my T scores I asked for a referral to a bone specialist. The specialist is the one who put me on Forteo. The side effect that is scary, bone cancer. It caused it in rats but it has not cause it in humans so I'll take the risk. For me, I can't live being so fragile. I like to hike and bike. I think Forteo is for postmenpausal women though who have had a fracture. I'm not sure about somone as young as you are. Anyway ask the specialist about it.
Here is how to read the T scores:
Scores between -1 and -2.5 indicate Osteopenia (thin bones).
Less than -2.5 indicate Osteoporosis (porous bones) , eg. - 2.7, -3.0 etc. And -3.0 shows serious Osteoporosis.
susan79492 Sedge99
Posted
So the GP started me on alendronate, but when I saw my T scores I asked for a referral to a bone specialist. The specialist is the one who put me on Forteo. The side effect that is scary, bone cancer. It caused it in rats but it has not cause it in humans so I'll take the risk. For me, I can't live being so fragile. I like to hike and bike. I think Forteo is for postmenpausal women though who have had a fracture. I'm not sure about somone as young as you are. Anyway ask the specialist about it.
Here is how to read the T scores:
Scores between -1 and -2.5 indicate Osteopenia (thin bones).
Less than -2.5 indicate Osteoporosis (porous bones) , eg. - 2.7, -3.0 etc. And -3.0 shows serious Osteoporosis.
jean_34066 susan79492
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Sedge99
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eileen64__UK Sedge99
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I was diagnosed with OP early this year...much older than you.
I didnt realise and for years........ I have been getting down on my knees, leaning over the bath and using the hand shower to wash my hair..;......quite frequently my ribs would crack with leaning on the bath. I just got to the stage where I tried tostand and lean over the bath and do it that way......we do have a cubicle shower but i dislike a shower.....love my bath
All of this was happening and i didnt know i had OP. I had a 2nd hip replacement and was doing NHS exercise afterwards.....four weeks post op I was standing with my hands on the table and moving my leg out to the side slightly to strengthen the muscles......and there was a crack.....they took me into hospital and after an X Ray decided I had fractured my Greater Trochanter Bone ??? never heard of it before but its at the top of my hip where the replacement is. Long storey short.
That was Jan and this is November and i'm still on 2 crutches and will be for the rest of my life. When I came home after getting that diagnosis I decided I would ring the GP about a DEXA and it turned out I had OP and that was why it fractured so easily.
So like you......I'm trying to find successful pain management. I've got pain from spinal problems and arthritis as well but i can cope with that but this fracture havent managed to get pain relief yet
Although saying that the Consulatant/surgeon gave me a cortisone injection 6 weeks ago and it has helped....not pain free but its a lot better. I see him again on Monday to let him know how the injection has worked.
Soprry I've rambled.
I'll read the thread with interest with my own fractures in mind as well.
By the way I'm in the North East
Love
Eileen UK
Sedge99
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eileen64__UK Sedge99
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That is awful........I cant imagine it. Nothing much I can say except I do hope they find some proper diagnose and then some treatment.....not to cure but to help
Love
Eileen UK
Sedge99
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Thank you all for your replies.
Sunflower26 Sedge99
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