I've never broken a bone and I've fallen several times on ice and on pavement falling off my bike. I have had teeth that cracked so I don't know if everyone is counting that in this.
thanks for the response everyone
I see some people do break bones however many do not even after spectaular falls .......you have to question why is this so since we have all been diagnosed with osteoporosis (brittle bones) thanks to BMD test.
BMD is NOT an accurate indicator of osteoporosis , hopefully one day they can come up with a better test and better treatment for those that need it
and for all the thin boned people out there you just dont know if you will break a bone in future or not and neither do the experts and I for one do not intend to use pharmacuetical drugs as some kind of insurance for possible future breaks . healthy lifestyle ,supplements,exercise is my insurance for good health.
What we've also discovered is that the standard treatments for OP do not work as well as Big Pharma says they do. Why do some people improve on Fosamax, Forteo, Actonel etc and others do not see any improvement.
There are a lot more studies that need to be done regarding bone strength and "brittle bones". By documenting our struggles with OP here, we can, at the very least, pass on to another what has worked for us. There is strength in numbers. Love live this board!!!!
...Why do some people improve on Fosamax, Forteo, Actonel etc and others do not see any improvement...
The results from clinical studies reflect the average improvement. Some people are losing bone so rapidly that the drugs can only slow the rate of loss.
Thankfully none connected to osteoporosis, only sports injuries.
This last summer/fall I helped carry my 55 lb kayak lots of times without problems. First Dexa scan just showed a T-score is -4.5 on my back. Of course then, I had no idea, now I wonder.
My mom had compressed fractures before she knew what had osteoporosis.
I'm 33, have a VERY small frame, have scores around -2.4 and have never had a break, except from a dog attack last year. And trust me... that dog had some STRONG jaws! It was a small fracture (ulner styloid chipped off in my wrist). Honestly, I was surprised he didn't do more damage!
I haven't gone on medication yet, (except for Ca and D) but the doctor does want me to start on it soon. I haven't decided if I'm going to do it or not! It's a tough decision!!
Good luck to everyone, and thanks for all of your good advice so far! This is a great group to chat with!!
looking for answers here , as we all are but maybe we are asking the wrong questions....here is some info from an endocrinologist
'the BMD test is a crude way of measuring bone density,it is at best a guide only and does not measure bone quality'.....
which means it is normal for bones to thin as we age but that does not equate to brittle bones ....... because the BMD test says your bones are thin therefore you must have osteoporosis therefore you must be medicated because they have stats to say you will break a bone...........this information comes from pharmacuetical companies adept at fueling the sickness industry.
and some people have allowed their 'condition' to rule their lives
my question is just how many people on this board have actually broken a bone??????? since being diagnosed with osteoporosis
This is anecdotal second-hand evidence, but my good friend, age 71, had a spontaneous fracture of her hip in December and then last week had a spontaneous fracture of her pelvis. Living alone and with no surviving family, she now finds her independent function very compromised. She can barely get around her apartment with a walker (can't get out at all) and is in constant pain. Her struggle now is to stay in her own place and not go to a care facility. To me this is what fighting osteoporosis is about: maintaining independent function.
Hi Rosaflor: I agree with you completely. I've had spontaneous fx's, and I also have family members that had more than one fx apiece. I also have a neighbor who died from a blood clot due to inactivity from a fx'd hip. I've also talked to people around my town in labs, hospitals etc who had the same problem. One of those I spoke with fx'd her pelvis and both feet walking in her house. This lady also had cancer which contributed to the bone loss, and unfortunately can't take forteo due to radiation. She's finally back at work, but has to sit and do desk work, after years of rehab.
It's really hard to explain loss of independence to someone who hasn't personally experienced it. I wish I could say that I don't know what that's like but I do, since my life has changed dramatically since the first spinal fx. I hope no one ever has to go through this, but we all have to decide for ourselves what we'll do to prevent it. If you aren't in a high risk group for this you probably won't have this problem but for those of us who are, our independence is paramount. I found that having to rely on others for help is something I'm not good at. I have a really hard time if I can't do everything that I need for myself. Maybe that's a flaw in my character, but whatever it is, I find it almost paralyzing to ask someone to help me with the simple things I can't do.
Good luck to you, and let us know how the reclast goes... Even though I don't think I'll be using reclast, you never know what the future holds, so I would like to learn as much from you about this type of treatment. I hope you don't have any side effects and that it works to rebuild your bones so you can remain independent.
Last edited by DesertBloom; 02-05-2008 at 12:27 PM.
Desertbloom your words are correct. I've experienced not being able to take care of myself & hated asking others for help. The fear of those emotions hit me again when I saw my test results - I'm doing everything I can to stay independent. Thankfully there are many choices today.
RosaFlor -Thanks for posting about the independence issue. That and pain are two things that can put someone into a state of fear when they receive a diagnosis of osteoporosis. And, I do not really think that doctors address these issues. Perhaps it is not in their job description? So that leaves us to try to deal with it ourselves , some will seek an outlet to share/deal with their fears, and/or seek counseling.It is of course on thing to deal with the fear of dependency and then another thing to be living it. Everyone will deal with it differently and hopefully find their own way. It is really wonderful to have access to healthboards to share.I welcomed you on another thread where you talked about your reclast experience. But welcome again!
DesertBloom- I went back and saw that you indeed were not the one to first mention independence and thought I would correct the message . Thanks!
Last edited by osteoblast; 02-05-2008 at 04:57 PM.
DesertBloom, just meant I agreed with your words about loss of independence. I also hated asking for help more than I can say.
Rosaflor, I agree totally that maintaining independence is huge to me also. That keeps me busy trying to figure out my best options right now. Thanks for your post, it helped me clarify a current feeling - fear.
Re: how many people have actually broken bones? 
So that leaves us to try to deal with it ourselves , some will seek an outlet to share/deal with their fears, and/or seek counseling.It is of course on thing to deal with the fear of dependency and then another thing to be living it. Everyone will deal with it differently and hopefully find their own way. It is really wonderful to have access to healthboards to share.I welcomed you on another thread where you talked about your reclast experience. But welcome again!
