People diagnosed with severe osteoporosis around tscore of -3.5 or worse

I have arthritis, Crohns, diabetes, diverticula, gallstones, LS, and am prone to depression.

I am 71 so similar age to you as well.

I have refused medication but cannot remember if you are taking any of the drugs.

I have herniated discs which cause back trouble by a nerve going down into the sacroiliac so that is the most debilitating for me.

My exercises are in the pool because of this but the step ups are at least weight bearing.

Thanks for your feedback.

I take a tablet for BP, Lodotra for PMR, Cocodamol for pain, Vit D and magnesium.  I may rattle but who cares?

BTW I use Aqua-weights in the pool - good for weight bearing.

I do step ups which are weight bearing as well.

I like that I can do things in the pool I cannot do on land. It is very freeing!

Sorry you have had fractures. I have not and hoping that will continue.

I don't know about the flaxseed oil and turmeric though!

It sounds like you are following the same protocol as others who read a certain book and follow a particular writer doctor.

Do you know your exact tscores or just that they were quite bad results?

You can check out other forums on this topic which deal with all this too.

​I was diagnosed with OP following the fracture of both my wrists last December.  After the Dexa scan, I was told I have OP and my t score -4. 

​I have been taking the ical-d3 ever since, tried the AA and promptly came off it!  For reasons similar to everyone else!

​I had to take steroids as a child as I am also a chronic asthmatic, and am seeing a rheumatologist next month, as my gp - seems to be someone difference now my regular gp unfortunately left - just indicated you have a -4.  They understand why I came off the AA.  Be itneresting to see what the rheumatologist says.

​I started HRT last October and my gp said that that should help over time to protect my bones a bit.

​I also suffer with M.E./Fibro, asthma, OA, and have been taking slow release vitamin C for years which I am sure helps fight infections.  Also magnesium, K2 and Zinc (recommended by Colin), I have also started a more healthy regime and better eating habits.  I include oily fish - not keen on taste! lol - once a week and try and eat more fish anyway.  I eat a lot of chicken/turkey too.  I was on flaxseed oil a good few years ago but stopped it.  I would be interested in knowing other ppl's views on that as if it is helpful I will include it

​I am a fan of turmeric and the golden paste homemade recipe which I take twice a day, and yes, it really does help with the pain and inflammation, just tastes horrible!! lol  Id be happy to msg you the golden paste recipe if you would like   It is easy to do, and includes coconut oil and black pepper as well as the turmeric.

​It is very hard to try and do the right exercises, without harming our bones, and in my case muscles/soft tissue.  I hope you are in not too much pain at the moment.

​kind regards Carrie   

​I so agree, it isn't always easy to remain positive, and I think we all have good and bad days.  All we can do is all we can do. 

​Interesting what you say about yoga class and pilates.  I was wondering about pilates or tai chi but am wary of joining a class, in case of doing myself an injury....

​I know yoga is supposed to be so good for you, I think I was put off by tryng it once and straining a muscle!  Perhaps I should try again.

Do take care.

​kind regards Carrie

If you can find a Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi teacher, with whom you feel comfortable I would say give it a go - BUT don't try too hard. I think the advantage of Yoga is that it is not a competition,  just exercise and stretch within your capabilities and if the person next to you can touch their toes, bend over backwards (!) so what!!

Listen to your body. I am a great believer in remaining positive. However, having no pain whatsoever (despite back score -4.9) does help a lot!

Look after yourself and everybody keep smiling!

Hi Mary,

Thank you.  It is something I am seriously considering looking into.   

:D lol re yoga positions!! 

?-4.9 .....you are very lucky not to be in pain.  With my M.E./Fibro/OA as well I have grown accustomed to living with pain, so it has sort of become a 'norm'.  I am just praying the HRT I am on and natural method/nutrients I am following help prevent further fractures in the future.  AND my - score can be reversed! lol

?Love your positivity   You take care!  Kind regards Carrie

I won't do anything except the pool. I cannot sit on a chair or walk very far so will only do the pool but I manage quite a lot in there.

I think everyone is individual. I know about stress and how it affects everything.

Depression is not about being positive or looking on the bright side or being a bit down. Only people who have had depression must fully understand it and thankfully I have so I know never to say that to others. 

I am fine at the moment but I know to monitor myself.

I am glad yoga works for you. Thanks for your response.

Yes, depression is not fun.  I remember they always say, go exercise, it will help remove your depression, well, when you are in the depression moment last thing you want to do is exercise. 

What helped me when in the depressed mode is researching or reading about depression, then it seems it would turn itself around.

after experiencing the excruciating PMR pain, I will never let myself ever get depressed again. Or if I feel a bit down, which is normal, we can't all stay at one mental level for ever, but now I have the tools to pick myself up. Yea! I'm so happy about that.  I've worked really hard since PMR! Over 1 1/2 years now, to understand disease and dis-ease. I still let people get to me, but I'm learning how to shake it off and know there are some people I just can't be around because I let them bring my energy down. But that's ok.

As for exercise, even walking 10 steps and stopping, then 10 more, and using good posture is so helpful.  Also...I love this... Stand tall, ribcage down however, put your hands on your hips, stand like you are superwoman or superman! Feel the strength! We are...super! (ok, remind me of that when I feel down )

During my midlife crisis (when I actualy had it planned how to do myself in and only the thought that my young son would find me stopped me) I took up walking.  Because of my relatively safe community I often walked in the evening, at sunset and as the sky was darkening.  That helped.  I'd make up poems as I walked (my walking poems).  But I always felt as though there was a great black chasm behind me, waiting to swallow me.  One day I thought I would try to draw a picture of how I felt.  I started with an image of a seated woman, and then began to draw in the black space behind her.  And the image became a tree, a giant, supporting, sheltering tree.  I won't say I've never been desperately unhappy since then, in fact I'd say the general tendency of my personality is melancholic, but that moment of understanding was truly life changing, life affirming.  May everyone with these moments of darkness find a similar illumination. ????

Hi Layne,

?So agree with how some ppl bring us down and lower our energy levels ....and also with learning how best to deal with ppl and disease/dis-ease.

Going to try the superwoman exercise when I come off here now !!

?kind regards Carrie

Hi Jean,

?Powerful evoking moment.   They do say that writing or art therapy is helpful, as is walking if one is able, so agree with everything you say.    So glad that you were able to get thru that time....and able to share now   Thank you!  May positivity always walk with you !

Take care and have a good weekend!

?kind regards Carrie

Hi Anhaga,

I read your post with some dismay. The thought that you could get so low really threw me for a moment. You'll have gathered that I am not the most stable of people but I get strength and some comfort from helping people, much as do you. If you do have any more really low events, may I suggest that you think of all the friends that you have on this site, any of whom I am sure would be happy to listen or talk about anything and nothing if that's what it takes. I for one would really miss you were anything to happen. I tend to think of you as Gibraltar - The Rock and do rely to some extent on you keeping things on the straight and narrow when discussions are a bit wavy. You do usually keep all this very well hidden and it is something that I shall store away in my private place. My illumination usually comes from successfully helping someone who then tells me that they appreciate the help. It's better than a large malt whisky (which of course we can no longer have - alcohol verboten).

Take care, good wishes go with you..

Kindest Regards

Colin.

Hear hear I echo Colin's sentiments

Sorry Aristotle, I hope it didn't sound like this was recent.  It's long ago, water under the bridge and all that.  But thank you for your concern.  ?

Only sorry I couldn't be of any help to you.

Of course I wouldn't say that to anyone who is/was clinically depressed but there is such a thing as borderline depression - good days and bad days and sometimes if one is strong enough bad days CAN become good days.

I have seen at first hand all types of depression and sometimes, just sometimes,  mind over matter does work.

I wish you well.