To think osteoporosis is shockingly sidelined by healthcare professionals in the UK

Another group of people (men and women) who are at high risk of osteoporosis are epileptics who take AEDs as they cause bone thinning. Epileptic people tend to break bones more easily anyway due to the way they fall as they start to have a seizure.

My brother was diagnosed with osteoporosis at 32 when he’d only been on AEDs for a decade. His dexa scan showed compound fractures in his spine and he was in constant pain but not enough for an operation apparently. He died of a seizure at 47 and his post mortem showed that he had lost SIX inches in height since he was 21.

Thank you! I shall try.

Mine just booked me in after I said I wanted one after an xray showed osteopenia. Tbf, they should have suggested it really but there were no complications in getting one. And then they arranged my follow up (I think 4 years later). It's worth asking but prepare some reasons as to why you think it's a good idea.

Does anyone know if it's worth getting a peripheral DEXA scan (pDEXA) as an indication of whether to pursue getting a hip + spine DEXA scan? Or is it better to just pay the higher cost for the hip + spine one straight off? This thread has got me freaked out!

My late mother had horribly severe osteoporosis. Most of the useful information /helpful advice that we got came from ROS [formerly NOS]. Their helpline is invaluable.

I'm 65 and hanging onto my HRT for grim death.

How easy is it to get GPs refer for a Dexa?

I had a stress reaction in my femur a few years ago after not that much running! And obviously the femur is a big bone…

I had treatment for breast cancer including tamoxifen and menopause a bit earlier than average..at 49.

Do a lot of weight training but still!

What makes you think she would know that?

OP: your thread title says "in the UK".
Which country manages the risks or condition after diagnosis hugely better, and what do they do differently that is so hugely better?

I have osteoarthritis in both knees my right being the worst . I basically got diagnosed and told to come back when in agony for pain relief . Said I was too young for knee replacements and they won’t don’t do it anyway till I’m immobile ! Really handy when you work full time as a nurse . And I have to use patients zimmers to pull myself if im
doing something kneeling down! Don’t know if I’ve got a really shit dr or if is just the way the treatment is?

Nor that it's good to severely calorie restrict and maintain a very low bmi which is a bigger risk for osteoporosis

The YouTube video had them. Scroll up for the link.
Vitamin D and calcium bring little
benefit without vitamin K2

Thanks i saw the recommended book!

Please can you tell us what the prevention exercises are? I also have osteopenia and cannot take hrt. I take supplements like calcium and vit d

The book also covers the health conditions that can cause bone loss and also the medications that are given for osteoporosis. They are covered in details to explain how they work and how they performed in trials. Plenty of tables comparing them.
It also covers which blood test panel to request to see bone cell turnover markers and which supplements might mask a vitamin D deficiency, such as biotin that will affect vitamin D blood test showing higher levels than one has.

It is a dense 600 pages book with a lot of info which a GP can’t know such as reducing salty foods because they increase calcium loss from bones. We eat so many crisps and chips in UK, crips are in every lunch deal, we even have baby crips and we add chips to Chinese takeaways. It is not just the waistline that will take a hit, it is your bones.

It is not a book one can read whilst watching dancing with the stars/

Hi Shedmistress, Is HRT the only medication you took? Did you reverse osteoporosis? I found out a year ago that I had it (aged 49). I did have low vit D at one stage but I think the reason I got it is that I also found out this year I had a congenital problem with my ureter so one kidney wasn't draining properly. Consultant said that could be a cause (some vague reason about calcium in urine). That's fixed now so I'm hoping it helps. Also started HRT and fosamax.

Thanks for your help!

Thanks @CandidOP Yes that's a good idea to try my GP. I say to my rheumatologist every appointment that I'm worried about this and I've told them my family history and they know I was put into menopause by cancer treatment, but I think they are just so under-resourced in general and just say I have to wait. The GP definitely could be a better route or I might see if there's somewhere I can go private. Definitely finding information on this thread very helpful (thank you to all who have provided info) and I'm also going to order the book mentioned upthread.

What with fizzy drinks and people ditching dairy this is all only going to get worse

Hi orbital12.
If you have RA it is a known risk factor - I would put pressure on your GP because of that and see if you can get an earlier referral.

Completely disagree with this. There is a lack of information and by the time many people are interested enough to take note they are probably of an age where it's already too late down the road to make really big differences.

Completely disagree with this. There is a lack of information and by the time many people are interested enough to take note they are probably of an age where it's already too late down the road to make really big differences.

My osteopenia was only picked up when sent for a shoulder X-ray about something else. Quite worrying to think I would still be oblivious if not for that. They are rolling out scanning for prostate cancer for men now including via MRI scanners. I absolutely think dexa scans should be routine from 45 ish onwards.

I’ve ordered the book, thanks!

Vitamin K was discovered in the late 1920s, however the differentiation between K1, K2 and K3 came early 2000s. And the importance of K2 for bones (that it directs the calcium in your bones instead of your arteries) is still recent and guidelines have not included it yet).
The highest food source of K2 is natto. You can find it in the freezer section of Japanese/Asian shops but it is an acquired taste.
Without K2, the combo vitamin D + Calcium doesn’t change your fracture risk in long term studies.

It is so weird how we managed to pass the message about skin cancer and everyone is so aware and even when there is a slight sunny day in April we are covered in PF50 yet when it comes to everything else, from bone health, to colon cancer, we are totally ignorant.
Bone is built before the age of 20. You have reached the peak between 20-30 and from 30 on, it goes down unless you do something.

Get a baseline private DEXA. It will cost you two takeaways but at least you know where you stand.

And for those who already have bone issues or want to prevent them , read
“ great bones” by Keith McCormick. It is THE book you need. It covers the nutrition, supplements, exercises including the LIFTMOR (which stands for Lifting Intervention for Training Muscle and Osteoporosis Rehabilitation) I mentioned earlier. Christmas is coming, put that book on your wish list.

Osteopenia and osteoporosis are serious medical issues that require serious intervention, and targeted action . For example, it is not just more proteins, it is specific amino acids, such as alanine and glycine .

We, older women, have an increased risk, and it is not just drink a glass of milk, take HRT, vitamin D and go to the gym.
We should dedicate an evening to learning about it and from good sources.

I was diagnosed with Osteopienia (sp?) about 15 years ago at the age of 45. I was in panic mode and did a lot of research myself.

I ended up going to a private "specialist" in Australia and I remember having read book upon book upon book about what supplements I should take (and vitamin K2 is rather important) asked her about that.

She laughed at me and said she would not be allowed to prescribe vitamin k. She did not know the difference.