suzieuk45
11-08-2005, 04:23 PM
Hi - I have just a DEXA scan of the forearm which came out with a T count of -2.5 which puts me on the very edge of osteoporosis. Does anyone know how reliable a scan of the forearm is - is there likely to be more or less density in the hip or spine. I have no symptoms and am otherwise healthy and fit, I exercise, eat well and have already booked to go skiing at Xmas (maybe not such a good idea now ). I am 54. There is a family history of osteoporosis - my mother was crippled with it and it was too late to do anything by the time the diagnosis was made. I have been given extra strong calcium (calcium carbonate) plus vit D supplements by not offered anything else (I am from the UK and Fosomax is not licensed for treatment at this stage). I have also ordered some herbal medicine from India called Reosteo - has anyone heard of this? I am upset, but not surprised (it has taken me three years to pluck up courage to have a scan) by the diagnosis and am very keen to avoid any more bone less. Any information would be very welcome. Thanks
Sponsor
taape
11-08-2005, 09:57 PM
I'm sorry to hear that you have a minus T Score. It sounds like it's heredity in your case since your otherwise healthy. Since your mom had it also you might want to follow up with your doctor to get a dEXA scan. I'm not sure how accurate the forearm readings are. I would want to know about the hip and spine like you are asking about to judge whether you want to pursue other treatments. What medications are licensed in the UK for osteoporosois? I've never heard of the medication from India. Let us know if you decide to try it.
suzieuk45
11-09-2005, 06:03 PM
Thanks - it's actually a -2.1 score which is slightly better I suppose. I.m not sure yet what exactly is available in the UK other than Didronal, Fosamax and SERMS (?? receptor modulators or something like that). I will keep you posted about the supplements from India (they haven't arrived yet).
ZoeGirl
11-10-2005, 08:53 PM
I think at 54 to have -2.1 is pretty good for your family history. You are lucky and (scolding) you should have gone in sooner :) Nothing you can do about that now, but I have found results in taking calcium and doing weight bearing exercises. I did little of both, but in a year I saw an improvement. My sister has improved her hips back to normal range with just the same.
Bone growth is slow, so is bone loss. Hopefully the calcium, vit D and exercise will show an improvement for you by next year!
Bone growth is slow, so is bone loss. Hopefully the calcium, vit D and exercise will show an improvement for you by next year!
suzieuk45
11-12-2005, 01:04 PM
Hi Zoegirl- I know I should have gone earlier but I was terrified after watching what happened to my mother. Anyway better late than never. Hopefully, the calcium plus vit D and exercise (which I have done for years) will help. I have also just started a supplement called Reosteo which is a plant based supplement from India based on Ayurvedic medicine and has apparently had good results. I'm trying to find an Ayurvedic doctor here to consult but it's quite difficult to find. I am not in a bad enough state yet to be offered Fosamax or anything else here in the UK. Are you in the UK or the States? I am waiting to see if I will be referred to specialist. I've just looked at your profile and see that you were diagnosed at a much younger age - are you able to live a normal life? Have you tried Fosamax or anything like it.I started everything late in life and have a 14
year old daughter so need to be able to keep going for a while yet!! :bouncing:
year old daughter so need to be able to keep going for a while yet!! :bouncing:
suzieuk45
11-12-2005, 01:13 PM
Hi Taape - Thanks for reply You seem to be something of an expert in the field - I know, given my mother's terrible condition, that I should be too but I have chosen to ignore my risk factor until recently but with a bit of luck have caught it in time. The supplements (reosto)from India have arrived and I have just started them (so far so good) but need to find an Ayurvedic doctor to discuss because I am also taking extra calcium and vit d from doctor now. Hopefully, the density will improve (or not get worse!) in next 6 months or so. What treatment have you had. Are you able to do what you want to do in life? Do you have to pay for treatment in the US - I don't know if Forteo is available in the UK - will ask the doctor.
ZoeGirl
11-12-2005, 02:57 PM
Suzie,
Yes, I found out young because it runs in my family. One of my sisters had trouble getting them to scan her because insurance wouldn't pay due to her age! She finally got one; she, myself and my older sister all have Osteopenia.
My life is completely normal, all it means to me is that I know my bones are thinning. I know I can stop that now. I didn't take anything other than calcium and vitD and I started running (only 1-2 times a week!), and I improved. I also coach soccer and raise 3 kids (16, 13 and 6). My oldest sister (by 10 yrs) has brought her hips to -.5 which is normal range in only three years.
My oldest sister tried fosamax and had bad heartburn so quit.. and for that reason I'm not willing to try it. Especially since in my case cal, vitD and running is helping. Neither of our spines have gotten much better, but NOT worse. Not sure which exercise to do for THAT. Running works great on your hips, apparently :)
I am in the US. I'm hoping by the time I am 54 they will have something with no side effects that I can take so I don't have more bone loss. I'm afraid of compression fractures in my spine, I don't want to hunch!
Good luck with it all, try not to freak - I think we all do at first. Relax and let's see how your scan looks in a year :)
Yes, I found out young because it runs in my family. One of my sisters had trouble getting them to scan her because insurance wouldn't pay due to her age! She finally got one; she, myself and my older sister all have Osteopenia.
My life is completely normal, all it means to me is that I know my bones are thinning. I know I can stop that now. I didn't take anything other than calcium and vitD and I started running (only 1-2 times a week!), and I improved. I also coach soccer and raise 3 kids (16, 13 and 6). My oldest sister (by 10 yrs) has brought her hips to -.5 which is normal range in only three years.
My oldest sister tried fosamax and had bad heartburn so quit.. and for that reason I'm not willing to try it. Especially since in my case cal, vitD and running is helping. Neither of our spines have gotten much better, but NOT worse. Not sure which exercise to do for THAT. Running works great on your hips, apparently :)
I am in the US. I'm hoping by the time I am 54 they will have something with no side effects that I can take so I don't have more bone loss. I'm afraid of compression fractures in my spine, I don't want to hunch!
Good luck with it all, try not to freak - I think we all do at first. Relax and let's see how your scan looks in a year :)
zephyrqueen
11-30-2005, 11:07 AM
Hello, I'm new to this site. I've never heard of this all natural herbal remedy from India. I too suffer from Osteopenia. I was diagnosed with it after a total vaginal hysterectomy at age 26. I did not recieve another Dexascan until 36. I now have a T-score of -2.1 in my lumbar from the L1-L4. My hips are at -1.5. I also suffer from severe Degenerative Disk Disease. I am awaiting a total disk replacement of my L5 at present. The L-5 is completely desicated. It is extremely painful! I can't do much of anything. If I even move or step off on anything wrong it will rub my L5-S1 vertebra together. There is no cushion (disk) left between the vertebra. Also, because of the Osteo, my Neuro surgeon said that a fusion is out of the question. Also the DDD is not helping matters. I've have been through two General Practioners, both who have said NO to Fosomax. My GYN also said No. My new GP got together with my GYN and sent me to the Endocrenologist who also said NO!! I'm literally at a loss for words. They ALL really gave me no reall explanation other than my age. I'm a lot closer to 40 than 30! My GYN said to keep taking the Calcium and recheck DEXA in two years. TWO YEARS!! I was told the Premarin was a prevenative measure. If that were true, I wouldn't be sitting where I am now. ...is what I'm thinking and told them so. I'm also worried about how my artificial disk will take. My neurosurgeon told me it will be fine. So, I hope......
I have several risk factors. I'm thin, (103lbs), my mother has been diagnosed with Osteoporisis, I'm white and I'm post surgical Menopausal. I'm a Veteran who can not work due to my back, hips and many ongoing other health issues. So, I'm very limited on healthcare. Strictly VA! I was on Depo Lupron for 13 months prior to my TVH with a 4 month break in between. I never had any problems prior to taking this MED! It depletes the bone density by almost 35%. It's also used to treat severe case of prostate cancer. Which the Army neglected to tell me. Had I known, I definately would NOT have taken it. This is every day for the rest of my life now. They say once you are taken off it will resume it's normal levels. Well, I seriously doubt that!!! Is there anyone out there that thinks I should seek a second opinion?
Suzieuk45,
There is also a new once a month drug out on the market for Osteoporsis called Boniva. Not sure if you have access to that yet. You can also take Boron, which you can get from health food store. This will help absorb the Calcium as well as the Vitamin D. I am not sure what form of Calcium you are taking. Citrate is much better absorbed than Carbonate. I buy my calcium from the healthfood store. It comes in a liquid form and is flavored. I find it is much better at absorbing. It is also higher in mg's. It comes in 1,000mg. I only have to take one TBS in the morning and one at night. Also FYI , if anyone is lactose intolerant (like myself), your body does not absorb calcium as well as the average person. I also found a new liquid coral calcium I like. It has Vitamin D and trace minerals in it. Bluebonet has good liquid calcium,which comes in lemon, blueberry and orange :D . You can also find the liquid calcium I have, as well as the coral calcium at www.vitaminworld.com
Hope you girls find this helpful. :)
Best Reguards
zephyrqueen
I have several risk factors. I'm thin, (103lbs), my mother has been diagnosed with Osteoporisis, I'm white and I'm post surgical Menopausal. I'm a Veteran who can not work due to my back, hips and many ongoing other health issues. So, I'm very limited on healthcare. Strictly VA! I was on Depo Lupron for 13 months prior to my TVH with a 4 month break in between. I never had any problems prior to taking this MED! It depletes the bone density by almost 35%. It's also used to treat severe case of prostate cancer. Which the Army neglected to tell me. Had I known, I definately would NOT have taken it. This is every day for the rest of my life now. They say once you are taken off it will resume it's normal levels. Well, I seriously doubt that!!! Is there anyone out there that thinks I should seek a second opinion?
Suzieuk45,
There is also a new once a month drug out on the market for Osteoporsis called Boniva. Not sure if you have access to that yet. You can also take Boron, which you can get from health food store. This will help absorb the Calcium as well as the Vitamin D. I am not sure what form of Calcium you are taking. Citrate is much better absorbed than Carbonate. I buy my calcium from the healthfood store. It comes in a liquid form and is flavored. I find it is much better at absorbing. It is also higher in mg's. It comes in 1,000mg. I only have to take one TBS in the morning and one at night. Also FYI , if anyone is lactose intolerant (like myself), your body does not absorb calcium as well as the average person. I also found a new liquid coral calcium I like. It has Vitamin D and trace minerals in it. Bluebonet has good liquid calcium,which comes in lemon, blueberry and orange :D . You can also find the liquid calcium I have, as well as the coral calcium at www.vitaminworld.com
Hope you girls find this helpful. :)
Best Reguards
zephyrqueen
taape
11-30-2005, 11:30 PM
SizieUK45,
I'm just seeing your post with questions for me. The osteoporosis hasn't stopped me from living life. My insurance pays 100% for the Forteo because I have good coverage.
Zephyrqueen,
Did you say your surgeon said you can't get a fusion with bone problems but you can get an Artificial Disc? I thought it was the other way around but might be wrong.
I hope everyone's bone density improves soon.
I'm just seeing your post with questions for me. The osteoporosis hasn't stopped me from living life. My insurance pays 100% for the Forteo because I have good coverage.
Zephyrqueen,
Did you say your surgeon said you can't get a fusion with bone problems but you can get an Artificial Disc? I thought it was the other way around but might be wrong.
I hope everyone's bone density improves soon.
zephyrqueen
12-01-2005, 04:22 PM
My neuro told me there is more envolved with a fusion than with artificial disk replacement. I also have major Disk degeneration as well. I was told that with a fusion it would cause a lot of problems with the disks above the fusion at some point later on. It causes a lot of undo stress. Which would put my vertebra back in the same place it it now. With a fusion I would have loss of movement in the spine. With the artificial disk, I would not. It will allow movement.
I'm thinking of seaking a second opinion on the Fosomax. My therapist agrees with me wholeheartidly. She doesn't see what the fuss is all about. I have had Osteopenia since the age of 27! I'm not getting any younger and my Osteopenia is not getting any better. Neither is my DDD for that matter.
At any rate.........I will just keep taking my 2,000mg of Calcium with Vitamin D, along with my Boron. That's the only thing I can do at this point.
Thanks for the suport.
I'm thinking of seaking a second opinion on the Fosomax. My therapist agrees with me wholeheartidly. She doesn't see what the fuss is all about. I have had Osteopenia since the age of 27! I'm not getting any younger and my Osteopenia is not getting any better. Neither is my DDD for that matter.
At any rate.........I will just keep taking my 2,000mg of Calcium with Vitamin D, along with my Boron. That's the only thing I can do at this point.
Thanks for the suport.
suzieuk45
12-02-2005, 12:01 PM
Hi Zephyrqueen - Your situation sounds very complicated. I,m taking calcium carbonate which I thought was absorbed easily but will look into that. I am not waiting for a full body scan as my diagnosis is on the basis on -2.1 on the forearm so spine and so on could be better or worse. Until that is done I can't get any more treatment but have been told by the doctor that Fosomax or something like it would be appropriate. I don't know if Boniva is available here or not yet.At the moment it has not had any effect on my life (other than the fact that I will be too terrified to get on skis at Xmas so will have to do cross country) but I want to avoid my mother's terrible fate. I'm trying these supplements from India but obviously won't know what good they re doing for a while. They can be ordered on the Internet. Hope things improve for you.
zephyrqueen
12-02-2005, 05:28 PM
Thanks suzieuk. :angel: ....me too. That's why I have not been on anything as of yet. I'm an extremely complicated case, so I've been told. The bad thing is because of my back and other joint problems, I can NOT excerise which I used to. This isn't helping my situation. I'm at an impass and a catch 22. Take care and watch it on those skiis!!! :nono: