Early onset osteoporosis

[Yodabrussel]

Hi everyone

Suffered a compression fracture of a vertebrae falling from my horse a few months ago and recently had a bone density scan. Turns out I have osteoporosis in my spine and osteopenia in my hips. I'm 40 and pre menopausal.

Anyone else with experience of osteoporosis and have any diet, exercise, medication experience ? Can the bone density improve ?

Thanks in advance.

You need to be referred to a rheumatologist asap.

Thankfully I have been, hoping to seem them next week.

Wondered if anyone had any experiences?

Hi, I have Ostepaenia and found the National Osteoporosis Society really helpful in terms of online advice and leaflets sent out to me.

nos.org.uk

Thanks @MrsNai that's great - can I ask, are you having any medication treatments?

I've got a feeling it might be something to do with my thyroid. Am on thyroid meds for under active thyroid but I've lost weight recently (am skinny already) and wondering if the dose is now too high.

If you already have an autoimmune disease then you should be tested for coeliac disease - it is one of the most underdiagnosed causes of osteopenia and osteoporosis due to intestinal damage causing malabsorption of vitamins and minerals.

I had osteopenia (I take both thyroxine and a Proton Pump Inhibitor) The PPI caused my osteopenia and I only found out through fracturing a lower vertebra. My doctor put me on a course of calcium and Vit D tablets (they were fucking massive and you had to chew them) and a osteoporosis tablet ( for the life of me I cannot remember the name).
I took these tablets for two years and had a rescan of my bone density. Luckily my bone density was back to normal perimeters.
I would go back to your doctors and ask to be referred to a specialist especially if you are not taking any medication that can cause bone density loss.

I am sure I read somewhere that thyroxine can cause leeching of calcium from the bones. Definitely a trip to doctor!

Thanks everyone, really appreciate all your responses.

My great aunt is a celiac so will definitely ask to get tested for that too.

@Bedofwool the 'fucking massive' comment made me really laugh. But also I'm very encouraged to hear that with investigation and treatment you were able to get bone density back!! Which vertebrae did you break? Mine was L2 and only ten weeks ago so still suffering with resultant muscle pain.

Hi OP, sorry to hear about your fracture. I'm also 40 and have recently found out that I have borderline osteoporosis. I've got Grave's disease which has relapsed after initially successful treatment and I also have parathyroid issues.

I have to say that I was totally freaked out when I got the results but unfortunately haven't been able to see a doctor yet to find out about any treatment. I know bisphosphonates are very effective but some of the side effects are a bit scary. Currently taking vitamin D and trying to improve the amount of weight bearing exercise I get. It's encouraging to hear that a pp managed to get their bone density back within normal range again.

@Yodabrussel
I think I broke the L3 (or L2 - it had a L in it and it was low down!)
Initially an ambulance was sent for me and they sent me home with no further action other than ‘you can walk that’s grand’. Luckily I have a fantastic doctor who sent me for xrays and scans and then subsequent medication. I believe it took at least 12 weeks before I could comfortably sleep in bed, roll over in bed and sit let alone bend over. Unfortunately I still get stiffness in my back. It doesn’t feel like my back will go but more that it has seized up a little.
No doubt I will probably have to another scan in two years time as I am still on thyroxine and PPI so it could happen again.

@reallybadidea sorry to hear about your diagnosis too and hope you get to see a doctor about it soon. Graves is an overactive thyroid condition isn't it? What sort of weight bearing exercises are you doing ? I'm a bit limited at the moment whilst my back recovers but doing as much walking as I can.

@Bedofwool so glad to hear your doctor persistent enough to get the xrays etc that you needed. Yep sleep is getting better in terms of comfort, but sitting up all day at work is pretty uncomfortable. Am doing everything my physio tells me and was starting to feel more positive, but this latest news (the osteoporosis) has really shocked me and that's made me feel more despondent about my back again.

@reallybadidea also meant to say, yes it really floored me too! Was not expecting that news at all. Did you get diagnosed recently ?

@Yodabrussel
I felt exactly the same. You can cope with a broken back as it will heal and most of the time will heal with no complications but throw into the mix a diagnosis of osteopenia and osteoporosis it really does bring you down and you think ‘oh bugger - that’s it for my back!!!’ However with the medication and rescans the osteoporosis and osteopenia can be managed.
Good luck with the rest of your prognosis - really hope your back heals quickly and that either your doctor or a specialist can help.

@Yodabrussel yes I got the results from my dexa scan just before Christmas. It makes me feel like an old lady to say that I have osteoporosis. It's just not something that I would ever have expected and to be honest, I feel a bit embarrassed about it too. It helps a lot to hear about somebody else the same age who is experiencing similar, although I'm really sorry about your fracture, it sounds so painful.

In terms of exercise, I've been doing walking mostly, but also some weights - only small ones at the moment. DH also has a weighted jacket thing that he uses for training so might start wearing that on walks too. Hopefully going to start running again, as I had to stop because of the overactive thyroid. Have you had to stop horse riding?

@reallybadidea yes I get exactly what you mean. When I was told yesterday I immediately felt 30 years older! Such a shock, it didn't really sink in yesterday but I've been really down today about it. So just talking to someone the same age and in the same position is really helpful!

I'm not sure about giving up riding. If I can get my bone density up then I might feel more confident to go back to it but I can't imagine that's a quick fix by any stretch. But the risk of falling and breaking something else does take the shine off it sadly. But I hear running is really good for osteoporosis which is a positive as that's something else I really enjoy. A weighted jacket is a great idea too.

Hope we both get some good advice and help from the docs. I'll certainly let you know what the consultant says when I see him, if you'd like ?

@Yodabrussel

I'd really appreciate that, thank you. I am under the endocrinology clinic and was supposed to have a follow-up appointment in the middle of December - I still don't even have an appointment despite hassling by phone.

It would be such a shame to give up hobby you enjoy, I hope that you are physically able and confident enough to get back to it soon.