Why do I have ostepoerosis/ low bone mass ?

I had the signs but did not think I could have OP as I dont have any of the risk factors. So it was 13 years after my fracture that I discovered I had it. If I had known earlier, perhaps I could have turned it around. I stopped my periods at 57 so no early meno for me. I have improved my t-score greatly in 2 years taking risedronate and like you, no side effects. I would love to discover why I developed OP but no one knows. I also was 60 when it was confirmed.

Hi. I have had 2 dexa scans. 2 years apart with a good improvement on my second. Since the diagnosis, I have taken all the recommended suppliments and risedronate  I have exercised all my life and use the wrist monitor to check my steps. I average 15,000 a day but frequently reach over 20,000. I still run but made the mistake of going back to running 2 weeks after a lumbar fracture so it took longer to heal.

WOW!  Now I'm asking "why".  15,000 to 20,000 steps per day?  I feel happy if I reach 1,500 steps per day (but I have polyarthritis and PMR besides OP).

It seems to me the more people who have been very active in their lives are the ones that end up with OA, RA, OP.  I wonder if one can excercise too much?

Thats an interesting question Constance. Too much exercise? I have always been active and even my work involved walking. I clock up over 10,000 steps doing day to day stuff without walking or running or going to the gym. I joined a walking group and we do an hour to 2  hours twice a week. I have a gym in my house and use that twice a week and go to a class once a week. I never do more than one on the same day and both the class and walking group are aimed at the over 50s. I upped the exercise after my diagnosis but did not monitor it before. Cannot be certain but my guess would be that I have always done at least 10,000 steps per day.

I gave up my bike and horse riding after my diagnosis and I guess I will never do that parachute jump I always thought I might do. I was recommended by my specialist not to participate in contact sports and that makes sense but no one has ever suggested I do less. They suggested a minimum of 4 hours on your feet daily. Even standing

Heaven help all of us who can't manage 1 hour then!!😏

My mother in law lived until she was 96 and she hated excercise.  She was able to walk (with a stick) until the end.

In my (humble) opinion there is faaar too much nonesense written about excercise.  One of our best friends died at 42 - he was a gymnastics teacher.  A colleage only ever ran up the stairs (two floors) 2 or 3 steps at a time - he died when he was 46.  I have a cousin who is 80 and, although he is healthy, he is an absolute couch potatoe - and HAPPY.

The only thing I wish I hadn't given up was my car.  I panicked when I was diagnosed with PMR and Polyarthritis and got rid of the car.  Now I am able to move quite well.😏  No point in starting again at 78 though!!

 

When I started prednisone I bought a pedometer and ever since, nearly two years now, I've aimed for 10,000 steps a day.  This includes just puttering around the house, as well as walks.  I've found I really need this exercise, am now "addicted" to it!

I think if you look at a human body we appear to have evolved to be constantly active - long limbs that move easily over long distances.  Of course modern people don't live like that any more.  Nor do we eat foods we evolved to consume.  Hence modern diseases.  And I say, never too late.  Satrt small, go slow, but do it!

Amen Constance!

I'm generally very active with gardening etc. but regarding formal exercise I walk the dog for about 35 mins. daily and that's with lots of sotps for peeing

(the dog, that is), then I make myself do 3 sets of Pilates exercises (3 x 10 repetitions) and - that's it!  I haven't tried a Fitbit monitor to check my number of steps ie. WAY above Alison's but I'll hold off on it for a while (couldn't handle the disappointment!!!).

Seriously though, I think it's great if you can do what Alison does ie. meet with others for a 2 hour walk and gossip - you'd never feel the time going. I also have PMR and I know what you mean by the tiredness but there's no doubt that if you do SOMETHING you feel a lot better afterwards.

Keep it up (more of it!).

J

 

I suppose its like smoking. We all know people who live to a ripe old age and smoked since they were 12. Others can get lung cancer and never smoked. However, some of these people smoke because they enjoy it. I have always enjoyed exercise and have never found it a chore. We are all different and I am not saying anything against people who spend their time watching soaps. But I have difficuilty understanding why I have this condition when I have done everything recommended to prevented me having OP

Very true Anhaga. We can all push ourselves a little, within our limits and because exercise releases endorphins it makes us feel good too.

I think you have answered your own question.  Some people will get OP whatever they do (including excercise and dieting).  Even children can get OP and they are on the move all the time.

Please believe me - I am not mocking you!  It's great that you enjoy excercising.  It's just that so many of us CAN'T excercise and it makes people depressed that doctors, physios, friends, relations keep saying "move more, move more"!!  They haven't the pain.

I do understand. I fractured 2 vertebrae at different times and it was agony. I still did the physio exercises 5 times a day.My intention in saying this, is to encourage people not to give up on the exercise as even when it feels impossible, we can all improve and up our activity. It sometimes takes longer than we would like. Its the same as sticking to a diet for your bones. Sometimes, if we are finding it too much, we have to remember the good it will do. We are first and formost responsible for ourselves. Do what you can and be proud of even the tiniest of improvements Constance.

Perhaps you are right and I will never know why I have osteoperosis. But even with children who have this condition, there is a reason. I just wish I knew mine rather than accepting, its just one of those things