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Suffering and fighting against osteoporosis and coxarthrosis

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irina49
irina49

I am 69 years old and I suffer of coxarthrosis (hip arthrosis with narrowing of the articular space at both hips, predominant on right side) and osteoporosis. From 65 to 68 years, I had osteopenia; my GP said that is no so grave and I didn’t take any medicine, but I was very active person, enjoying long walks, swimming, mountain trips. Suddenly, one year ago, in spring, after an effort, I had a very severe hip arthritic fit, almost invaliding me; the medical investigations, RMN, X ray, and DXA, shown the advancement of coxarthrosis and osteoporosis. The doctors decided for right hip replacement surgery and for Actonel (Risedronate) medication. For the moment, I refused the surgery, deciding to postpone it as much as will be possible, and I refused to take the drug indicated for osteoporosis due to the side effects.

I began to read NOF documents and a lot of other papers related to my diseases.

For coxarthrosis, I had two hip infiltrations with hyaluronic acid in the hip under echograph control, in April 2017 and in April 2018. I took two physiotherapy sessions (laser, ultrasound and electric currents) and a balneary treatment with sapropel mud and Sulphur mineral waters. I took also medical supplements for sustain my cartilage rebuilding.

For osteoporosis, I paid more attention to my diet and I took a lot of supplements (no strontium). I chose as basic supplements D3, Mg, Ca, K2-MK7 and I added alternatively a lot of other ones, indicated for both my affections. Related to exercises I chose several suitable for my hips, massage and vibrations.

In present, I can walk 2-4 km and I have less difficulties with the steps. The DXA scans performed on the same machine, same operator, show stationary situation or even low improvements, as follow:

BMD (g/cm3) - left femoral neck:    2013 - 0.810;   2017 - 0.690;   2018 - 0792

BMD (g/cm3) - right femoral neck:  2013 - 0.816;   2017 - 0.766;   2018 - 0.776

BMD(g/cm3) -  L1-L4:                     2013 – 1.179;   2017 - 1.110;   2018 - 1.125

I don’t know if these slightly improvements are real, or are artefacts given by the osteo-articular modifications.  I want your advice, how to continue, to avoid as much as possible the surgery, because I am afraid that my osteoporotic femur will be broken during, or after the hip replacement procedure.

On the other hand, I wonder if in time, so many supplements (20-30/daily), are not dangerous for other organs (liver, pancreas, kidney). Presently the results of my blood analyses are within normal limits.

Any advice how to better manage my health problems are very welcome. Thank you in advance. Irina

 

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • AlexandriaGizmo
    AlexandriaGizmo irina49

    Posted

    If you have hip replacement surgery then I think that your kneck of femure will be removed and an orthotic will be put in its place therefore it want fracture,also that's the area most effectived by osteoporosis, I'm in the same position and have a fractured hip.

    I'm just scared of the op, full stop 🤣

  • kathleen65757
    kathleen65757 irina49

    Posted

    Irina, very impressive what you have achieved and some of those improvements are not minor if you look at percentages.

    You can check your calcium and vitamin d levels in your blood tests and use that to inform you whether to top up with supplements or not. Vitamin K2 is fine to keep taking because we cannot get that in our diet. Your diet can take care of most things if you focus on each one that is needed. Magnesium is another important one that has found to be lacking in some people diagnosed with osteoporosis. You sound like you are doing a great job with your diet and exercise.

    I have arthritis as well. Building up muscle around your joints helps support them. I don’t take pain meds most of the time. 

    Hope you are able to manage your hip pain. Others will know more about the condition you are suffering in regard to your hips.

    All the best, Kathleen.

    • irina49
      irina49 kathleen65757

      Posted

      Thank you Kathleen, My blood calcium is OK, but the D vitamin in February was very low (17.5); I increased the dose of D, from 1000 IU to 4000 IU, and I intend to repeat my analyses in May, in order to establish a strategy for summer time. I manage the hip pain, using anti-inflammatory gels and massage, each evening.

      Kind regards, Irina

    • sirenetta
      sirenetta irina49

      Posted

      Hello Irina, I think you did the right thing in increasing your vitamn D dose. Do not worry as 4000iu is perfectly safe. It seems that as we age we become less efficient in absorbing vitamin D from the sun even in optimal conditions.
  • allison72169
    allison72169 irina49

    Posted

    Hi Irina. I had hip replacement a little over a year and a half ago. Like you, I was concerned about whether a hip prosthesis could be inserted successfully, given that I've been told I have osteoporosis of the hip. I had consults with several doctors, all of whom said it wouldn't be a problem. I've done fine, so far, with the replacement.

    That said, every patient's situation is different. There could be factors that need to be taken into account for your surgery that didn't pertain to mine. The surgeon should be able to give you an honest, straightforward answer about whether there's any risk that the osteoporotic femur would complicate your surgery. My guess is that the osteoporosis would have to be quite severe for it to have any effect on the hip surgery. Even in people who have severe hip osteoporosis, I'm not sure that it's a contraindication to the surgery.

    It sounds as though -- as you say yourself -- you're taking a lot of supplements. There seems to be a fair amount of controversy surrounding many supplements, in terms of both safety and their actual helpfulness. I think people tend to attach a positive connotation to supplements, but in reality, just like prescription drugs, supplements and other OTC medications have the potential to be harmful, and not much is known about the effects of many of them.

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