osteoporosis

A new study a chemical that has been banned from hand sanitizers may double the risk of developing a bone condition called osteoporosis in women.
Source - www.myhealthyclick.com/chemical-found-in-soaps-hand-sanitizers-may-increase-risk-of-osteoporosis-in-women/

Please keep in touch Maywalk and let us know when the little one arrives x

Many thanks Anya, Bellanonna and Jalima.
If I had been a bit younger I would most probably have had the op and taken the risk because I know there are others who are older than me who have had it but I can only assume that they had no other main health problems to consider.
Good luck everyone and God Bless.

I am just back from my GP with the positive news that although I have osteoporosis it is not severe and after assessing all the risks we have decided between us that I am only going to take calcium and Vit D for the time being. I am to have blood tests next week and a further DEXA scan in 2 years. My spine was in good nick for "an elderly woman" and my risk factor for a hip fracture in the next 10 years was considered low. I am very relieved but sympathize with those of you not so fortunate.

Maywalk I probably would have made the same decision.

So sorry to hear about your DH but hope the news of becoming a Great Grandmother has cheered you up and given you something to look forward to.

Goodness, what a lot you've been through Maywalk. I do wish you lots of joy with your future great grandson. xx

Maywalk you've been through some bad times in the last year. So sorry to hear that your DH died last spring.

You sound like a very brave and determined woman. And congratulations on the news about your first Great Grand Child

Thanks Jalima. I have asked and that was the reply, that is why they gave me 5 weeks to make my mind up because I also suffer from Epilepsy and I have a pacemaker. It has been a heck of a year since October 2015 because the day I broke my hip my son retired and as I was my husbands carer who was suffering with the rotten Dementia my son stopped with his Dad while I was in the hospital for 6 weeks. Once I got home I tried to do what I had been doing before the fall but it was impossible. My lovely hubby started going downhill fast and he died in April.It was after he had died I had the second fall. I found out then that I was to become a great grandmother for the first time.I would much prefer to be around as long as I can to see as much of my future grandson as I can than going through a 6 hour operation to perhaps find out after that I was no better off regarding the pain and walking.Thanks for getting back to me.

Maywalk you have been through a lot but I'm glad the treatment for your osteoporosis has worked over the years.

I think I too would be hesitant about an operation if there was no guarantee of improvement. When I broke a bone recently I was told I may need an operation which made me very nervous, but they then decided it wasn't necessary.

However, you could ask the Consultant about the chances of improvement if you had the operation and what the prognosis is when you go for your appointment this week. There's no harm in asking him for all the facts.

Good luck

12 years ago I fell and broke my right hip and my left arm. It was found then that I had Osteoporosis. I finished up with a pin in my hip. I was put on various medication and then about 7 years ago I was put on the Alendronic Acid. After I had been taking it for around six years I was taken off it because according to what I found out about it it was doing more harm than good.In 2015 I fell and broke my left hip in three places which was operated on and had to have a metal plate in my back with a pin going down the leg. Unfortunately it never healed and I had another fall that fractured the bone at the back of the metal plate and bent the pin down the leg. I have been offered a complete replacement hip and been told that I dont have Osteoporosis now because the treatment over the years has strengthened my bones but I have finished up with Cervical Spondylitis. After putting up with the pain from the hip that wont heal for well over a year and at the age of 86 I wont bother with the major operation that they tell me will be extremely complex due to having to remove all the metal first and there is no guarantee that I would be any better.I have an appointment this week with the consultant to give him my answer which as I said earlier will be NO. IF they had offered the replacement hip when I first broke it and before trying to put it together with metal plates and nails I would have said Yes but not now.

I see my GP tomorrow and will post with results.

All interesting.
The Gp has made an appointment for me to attend a clinic but the waiting time is 30 weeks, as the local main hospital is the only one around here and so deals with a very wide area. Due to this I have asked if there is possibly an earlier appontment in a hospital in the the bigger city that is in the next county.
Something I will say I miss not living in a city, where there were a vast amount of hospitals to chose from.

On the positive side, my bones must have got that much thinner last year as one foot, that used to hurt me when wearing my ankle boots, now fits without any trouble!

Cath

According to the physio today, I don't walk properly.
Which means that I have never walked properly since I was a child.
Trying hard, but it may be too late to learn now.

I have osteoporosis too. Also due to drugs taken for asthma. Yes bone density can improve. Mine did due to healthier eating and exercise. I have a real problem with my knees at the moment so have started doing exercises to strengthen muscles around the knees. I have been on alendronic acid and calcium for a while (due to stop alendronic acid after 5 years).

Please tell me that these exercises are making it better
Ouch!
I could never run anyway but it would be nice to be able to walk properly, well, as well as I could before anyway.

I was diagnosed with osteopenia following a nasty wrist break July 2015, I'm taking Calcium/Colecalciferol, I've been told various stories, they do work, they don't work! I'll carry on taking them, another dexa scan in 2018, then we'll see

After a minor wrist break and dexa scan I took risendronate sodium for 5 years - until last week! (I was diagnosed witb osteopenia.)
I now have a 2-year drug-free holiday but will continue with calcium + vit D tablets. 2 years from now I'll have a other dexa scan.
No problems meantime apart from gradual deterioration in right hip and left knee because of arthritis!

I know this Jalima as I had to give up running due to pain in my ankles. My GP sent me for X-Ray and it confirmed arthritis, but she also said there was evidence of bone thinning and sent me for a DEXA scan. This confirmed oesteoporosis and gave various readings of bone density.

The consultant said he couldn't see any sign of osteoporosis but I thought it needed a DEXA scan to be sure.

The break was just one of those things I suppose.
The arthritis is something else again and the main problem.

Thanks Anya

Yes Jalima bone problems such as arthritis and oesteoporosis will show up to some extent on an X-Ray but then you'd need a DEXA scan to quantify the level of osteoporosis.

Can it be detected from an ordinary X-ray?

Just been in to see GP for result of DEXA scan.

No longer have any readings that indicate oesteoporosis - it's now only osteopenia.

I came off Alendronic acid due to side effects and the evidence of thigh fractures, and soon took myself off strontium ranelate too. That was three years ago and my bone health has improved

I take the usual vitamins for bones plus K2.

I was diagnosed with secondary osteoporosis due to a gastrointestinal illness leading to poor diet.
I take calcium and vit D, have had Aldronic Acid in both tablet and yearly infusion which have not been effective and with worsening DX scores am now trying 6 monthly injections. I have good support which helps. I have had small annoying fractures of toes and ribs with minor scoliosis. I would encourage people to keep taking there meds although there are side effects as further bone loss can be prevented.

Grannyflower sorry your doctor is wrong your bone density does need monitoring, even if you are restricting your use of the drugs they could be overused and as has been previously said there is some evidence of fractures caused by long term use. If your bone density has improved (and mine has) you would be advised to take a 'drug holiday' and just carry on with calcium and exercise. (Suspect your doctor is saving money!)

Just a little remark about blue badge Cath9 I m not at all sure if this is down to individual councils or not but when my Dad became too infirm to get on and off buses and as a non driver he was given a blue badge so my daughter took him shopping AND he got vouchers for so many taxi journeys a year I think it came to something like £100 so not a huge amount over a year but helped him a lot with a little independence but as I say I m not sure if that was just our area that did that
I m having arthritis problems and taking extra strong cod liver oil and vit D calcium glucosamine as I don't want to take painkillers unless totally have to Losing weight. (I m not really overweight but aware I was heading to the upper side of normal ?) and keep walking and cycling as much as I can
Good luck