Does anyone here have osteoporosis?

Barbara F · Grand Prix

Does anyone here have osteoporosis?

dbliron · Advanced

Hi, Barbara:

That's a tough diagnosis, but thankfully you are a relatively young woman, with time to turn things around to some degree. Do you know what the major causative factor is for you? Understanding that will help you fight it.

I work on preventing it on a daily basis, because I'm a small boned, small framed, middle-aged, Northern European woman, so I have a high risk of developing it. Working on preventing it means being very careful about my diet, ensuring that I have a consistent and relatively high intake of dietary calcium and Vitamin D, and that I engage in multiple sets of weight-bearing exercise every day.

You have a history in martial arts, so I'm almost wondering if you perhaps have some kind of endocrine imbalance which has contributed to this development?

At least now there are pharmaceutical approaches available, as well as an enhanced understanding of the mechanisms of osteoporosis, so hopefully you can get this turned around. I think it's also helpful that physicians are better educated about it, and many monitor bone health regularly, as opposed to our mothers' and grandmothers' times.

I hope the specialist is able to help you with this issue, Barbara, as I'm sure you plan to be healthy and productive into your later years!

Barbara F · Grand Prix

Thanks for your great advice and concern! I went to the specialist yesterday and he told me that with almost ALL women there is a period mid-life when we experience rapid bone loss (relatively speaking). It is then supposed to slow down dramatically. He doesn't want to put me on medication right now. Instead, I am going to increase my calcium intake, as mine has been too low. He will look at me again in April. I already take a lot of Vitamin D.

My bloodwork was perfect, but I am curious about the endocrine imbalance. I would assume one would have special blood tests for that. Also, what would one do to remedy the imbalance? I don't want to take hormone therapy.

Also, out of curiosity, I'm not sure how that would relate to training in martial arts.Was there something specific that had you make the connection?

Thanks!

dbliron · Advanced

Hi, Barbara:

Thank goodness for the positive information!

The martial arts reference has to do with weight-bearing exercise. While riding well is total-body exercise, and can be cardiovascularly challenging, it doesn't qualify as weight-bearing exercise. Weight-bearing exercise is strongly connected to our bodies' ability to re-model and strengthen bone. A sedentary lifestyle contributes to the development of osteoporosis. While riding isn't sedentary, it's also not weight-bearing.

Increasing dietary calcium intake and ensuring that you get sufficient weight-bearing exercise will assist in changing your personal picture. Participation in martial arts would definitely qualify!

The endocrine situation can be very interesting, and the only reason I know about that part of it is because my mother has endocrine issues which affect bone re-modelling. While I personally don't use HRT, and would prefer not to use HRT, estrogen plays a role in increasing bone density and strength, as do thyroid and para-thyroid hormones, and their function is also linked to estrogen levels. I only mentioned it in case that might be part of your issue; for most people it's not.

I'm very glad that this has been caught early for you, especially as it's early enough for you to reverse with diet and exercise!