Osteoporosis and your thoughts

[Mindi911]

So one thing that can face us ladies as we get older is the possibility of getting osteoporosis due to hormonal changes.

A couple of things thing that can affect the onset of Osteoporosis is Amenorrhea (loss of menstruation) as it does affect your hormonal balance. As well as diet, especially eating disorders.

Now the best way to prevent/counteract Osteoporosis is with weight bearing exercises as it stimulates Osteoblast production, which help build bones.

I guess what I am wondering is we know we are doing everything we can but do you ever think about it, worry about it. What you may have done in the past which you think may affect you later in life or how you are living your living your life right now?

[Eileen]

Something very much on my mind. I had a dexa scan recently which was perfectly normal, but I'm still paranoid about osteoporosis.

I do worry about the fact that I've lost a lot of weight as an adult and still restrict my calories to try to stay at my target weight. I know this is not good, so I try to eat the best diet I can, with lots of bone-friendly food (can't kick the coffee though), weight training and supplements. It doesn't help that my main exercise has always been cycling.

I make a point of getting plenty of cal/mag supplements, and take extra vitamin D and K, as well as fish oil.

[heidismommy]

I do worry about the future of my bone health as well as health in general. I was actually diagnosed with osteoporosis at the age of 16 after I had dropped to my lowest weight of 67 lbs. I had been in the hospital for several months before the DEXA scan was done and had already gained a substantial amount of weight. I had several more DEXA scans after that, each of them giving the same results of osteoporosis. I then went about 7 years between scans and my last one at age 25 revealed I had osteopenia, not osteoporosis. Having been on the pill for several years, along with getting to and maintaining at my body's "setpoint" weight helped.

Since my last scan I slowly dropped to 80 lbs, but I've bounced back having gained almost 20 lbs in primarily lean mass. I don't know if that has weakened my bone mass yet again, but I'm hoping by strength training I'm strengthening my bones as well as muscles. I'm eating much more in general and I really do try to get in enough calcium. I do wonder if there are lingering long-term health effects that I don't even know about, but I'm hoping that with having turned my life around that some of them will self-correct.

[freebirdmac]

Meh, I don't worry. I was a great calcium consumer all of my life, up until a few years ago when I had to give it up. I was plenty active up to my early thirties. There's no history of bone issues in my family. And I've been reading reports where these calcium meds aren't living up to their expectations. Every calcium supp I've tried upsets my stomach so all I can do is lift. Given the women in my family never lifted, or supplemented I think I'm fine. If not, nothing I can do about it. Bone loss is to be expected as we age and it's really only a dire issue for a few or for those who do not stay active. I think the pharmas have created more concern than needed as it's money in their pockets.

[Mindi911]

Originally Posted by heidismommy

I do worry about the future of my bone health as well as health in general. I was actually diagnosed with osteoporosis at the age of 16 after I had dropped to my lowest weight of 67 lbs. I had been in the hospital for several months before the DEXA scan was done and had already gained a substantial amount of weight. I had several more DEXA scans after that, each of them giving the same results of osteoporosis. I then went about 7 years between scans and my last one at age 25 revealed I had osteopenia, not osteoporosis. Having been on the pill for several years, along with getting to and maintaining at my body's "setpoint" weight helped.

Since my last scan I slowly dropped to 80 lbs, but I've bounced back having gained almost 20 lbs in primarily lean mass. I don't know if that has weakened my bone mass yet again, but I'm hoping by strength training I'm strengthening my bones as well as muscles. I'm eating much more in general and I really do try to get in enough calcium. I do wonder if there are lingering long-term health effects that I don't even know about, but I'm hoping that with having turned my life around that some of them will self-correct.

That's my understanding with it all, that you can actually help your body by doing weight bearing exercises that target those areas directly.

Are you due for another checkup?

Originally Posted by freebirdmac

Meh, I don't worry. I was a great calcium consumer all of my life, up until a few years ago when I had to give it up. I was plenty active up to my early thirties. There's no history of bone issues in my family. And I've been reading reports where these calcium meds aren't living up to their expectations. Every calcium supp I've tried upsets my stomach so all I can do is lift. Given the women in my family never lifted, or supplemented I think I'm fine. If not, nothing I can do about it. Bone loss is to be expected as we age and it's really only a dire issue for a few or for those who do not stay active. I think the pharmas have created more concern than needed as it's money in their pockets.

Well I can see what you mean about the pharma's but it's not highly advertised over here.

This is more out of curiosity than anything else I don't have any history of it in my family either as far as I am aware and I have never broken a bone in my body which is I am quite proud and surprised about.

I have started taking calcium supp's but that's only within the last year, I guess I just want to keep my bones as healthy and as strong as possible.

I see the little old people over here and feel for them because it's bitterly cold and they are all hunched over (I know that's got nothing to with it but it does get me thinking) and I never want to be that way. I guess I am doing everything I can do now to prevent it.

[filmchick]

Originally Posted by heidismommy

I do worry about the future of my bone health as well as health in general. I was actually diagnosed with osteoporosis at the age of 16 after I had dropped to my lowest weight of 67 lbs. I had been in the hospital for several months before the DEXA scan was done and had already gained a substantial amount of weight. I had several more DEXA scans after that, each of them giving the same results of osteoporosis. I then went about 7 years between scans and my last one at age 25 revealed I had osteopenia, not osteoporosis. Having been on the pill for several years, along with getting to and maintaining at my body's "setpoint" weight helped.

Since my last scan I slowly dropped to 80 lbs, but I've bounced back having gained almost 20 lbs in primarily lean mass. I don't know if that has weakened my bone mass yet again, but I'm hoping by strength training I'm strengthening my bones as well as muscles. I'm eating much more in general and I really do try to get in enough calcium. I do wonder if there are lingering long-term health effects that I don't even know about, but I'm hoping that with having turned my life around that some of them will self-correct.

Aww... I'm in a similar boat with you. Osteoporosis is a tough one. I was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis at 20 and lost at least an inch of my height to it. It was bad enough that my doctors picked it up straight from an x-ray because my bones were literally transluscent. The disease can be partially reversed, as "heidismommy" described. I've reversed a lot of the damage that it inflicted over the last five years with weight training, running, and a ton of yoga. I watch my diet very closely to avoid too much caffeine and other substances that leach calcium from your bones.

However, some of the damage cannot be reversed. I will never get my height back and the damage from the osteoporosis has served to exacerbate autoimmune issues that I have, including arthritic issues. Part of my supplements include 2000mg calcium, magnesium, glucosamine, and a special joint complex.

For everyone, please find a way to incorporate more calcium and joint supplements into your diet -you can find it in liquid form like Floradix or in soft chews.

[Elfie.]

Hi guys I'm new here and just thought I'd throw in my two cents. I think vitamin K and D are very important in preventing osteoperosis. Also, I don't believe the calcium hype because the countries with the highest rates of calcium consumption also have the highest rates of osteoperosis.

"To determine whether this study was an aberration, Diane Feskanich, D.Sc., and colleagues at Harvard Medical School, looked at all the trials in which calcium supplementation was compared to a placebo, as well as the longer studies, such as the Nurses' Health Study, in which women were asked about their diet, calcium supplement usage and other health habits while being followed for many years. The Harvard researchers concluded that the first category of trials, those that lasted only a few years, typically showed that calcium supplements reduced bone loss. But ?the longer observational studies did not generally find a lower risk of hip fracture with higher-calcium diets? (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2/03).

In a telephone interview, Dr. Feskanich was asked why women continue to be told to increase their calcium intake. ?Calcium's importance is overrated--?we have a strong milk industry [in this country], and the U.S. Department of Agriculture was started with the mission to promote the idea that certain foods, especially dairy foods, must be consumed,? she answered, adding the importance of the Dairy Council, which has had a major influence on doctors as well as the general public. Contradictions abound. ?We know from worldwide population studies that the high-calcium intake is associated with high hip fracture rates--Scandinavian countries, for example,? Dr. Feskanich continued, noting that Asian and Mediterranean countries with very low calcium intake have low fracture rates."
http://www.medicalconsumers.org/page...revention.html

Vitamin K article here:
http://www.naturalnews.com/020526.html

[Myshell87]

my mother has osteoporosis in her lower back and down her left leg she has had it since she was about 45 (youngest case her doctor ever had).

what doesnt help her is that shes lactose intolerant, shes overweight and has a back injury.

she was taking tablets, once a week for many years, but has recently stopped as her doctor said that it doesnt have seemed to help much.

every day is a battle, she has both good days and bad, it is really hard to see someone go through that pain everyday.

[Mindi911]

MyShell has your mum ever tried weight bearing exercises directly targeted to the problem areas?

[Mindi911]

Originally Posted by Elfie.

Hi guys I'm new here and just thought I'd throw in my two cents. I think vitamin K and D are very important in preventing osteoperosis. Also, I don't believe the calcium hype because the countries with the highest rates of calcium consumption also have the highest rates of osteoperosis.

"To determine whether this study was an aberration, Diane Feskanich, D.Sc., and colleagues at Harvard Medical School, looked at all the trials in which calcium supplementation was compared to a placebo, as well as the longer studies, such as the Nurses' Health Study, in which women were asked about their diet, calcium supplement usage and other health habits while being followed for many years. The Harvard researchers concluded that the first category of trials, those that lasted only a few years, typically showed that calcium supplements reduced bone loss. But ?the longer observational studies did not generally find a lower risk of hip fracture with higher-calcium diets? (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2/03).

In a telephone interview, Dr. Feskanich was asked why women continue to be told to increase their calcium intake. ?Calcium's importance is overrated--?we have a strong milk industry [in this country], and the U.S. Department of Agriculture was started with the mission to promote the idea that certain foods, especially dairy foods, must be consumed,? she answered, adding the importance of the Dairy Council, which has had a major influence on doctors as well as the general public. Contradictions abound. ?We know from worldwide population studies that the high-calcium intake is associated with high hip fracture rates--Scandinavian countries, for example,? Dr. Feskanich continued, noting that Asian and Mediterranean countries with very low calcium intake have low fracture rates."
http://www.medicalconsumers.org/page...revention.html

Vitamin K article here:
http://www.naturalnews.com/020526.html

I'm not so interested on which Supplements worked or didn't but this great information thanks.

I'm interested in the effects of weight bearing exercise and how that helps.

[imperfectly_lou]

I think one thing that needs to be mentioned in that there is still a possibility of developing osteoporosis despite weight training if your diet is not in order. I know of one particular case where a female in her 40s who trained extremely hard and heavy with weights still developed osteoporosis due to her obsessive, unhealthily clean diet. A lot of BBing style diets recommend cutting out dairy which can lead to issues down the track.

[Mindi911]

Originally Posted by imperfectly_lou

I think one thing that needs to be mentioned in that there is still a possibility of developing osteoporosis despite weight training if your diet is not in order. I know of one particular case where a female in her 40s who trained extremely hard and heavy with weights still developed osteoporosis due to her obsessive, unhealthily clean diet. A lot of BBing style diets recommend cutting out dairy which can lead to issues down the track.

This is great information thank Lou, this kind of thing is exactly what I am looking for.

I gave up diary myself, simply because I am so lactose intolerant I can't put myself through that anymore.

I have however started taking calcium and I eat a lot of dark green veg.

[Myshell87]

Originally Posted by Mindi911

MyShell has your mum ever tried weight bearing exercises directly targeted to the problem areas?

my mum also has soft tissue damage in her lower back and left leg, from an injury she recieved at work many years ago, she struggles to lift even a bag of potatoes. so weights are out of the question.

she wants to loose weight and to get healthy, but one of her doctors told her that weight is good for osteo suffers, its ridiculous, her doctor is a fool, i mean she doesnt have high blood pressure or chloestrol, but shes so unfit and very overweight for a women of her height, its really worrying and heart breaking.

[greyhair]

Ladies,

If you don't mind, I'll jump in here.
Mrs. G is now struggling with osteopenia, which is the stage just before osteoporosis.
She's always trained, some years harder than others.
After menopause, it is very much harder to fight the bone loss.
If I could go back 20 or so years, I'd tell my girl to lift heavier and increase bone density as an insurance for the future. what she thought was "good enough" wasn't.
As semi-senior citizens, it take a whole lot more work to pile on the plates. Old injuries makes it harder to do and according to the last sequences of tests, density is still slipping.

I wish there were more controlled studies on the interplay between diet/exercise/weight lifting in both pre and post menopausal women, but I've looked and found very little enlightenment.

Good luck and God Bless.

[heidismommy]

Originally Posted by Mindi911

That's my understanding with it all, that you can actually help your body by doing weight bearing exercises that target those areas directly.

Are you due for another checkup?

No, I need to schedule another one next time I visit with my OB/GYN. I'm actually longer overdue, I'm supposed to have one every year.

Originally Posted by imperfectly_lou

I think one thing that needs to be mentioned in that there is still a possibility of developing osteoporosis despite weight training if your diet is not in order. I know of one particular case where a female in her 40s who trained extremely hard and heavy with weights still developed osteoporosis due to her obsessive, unhealthily clean diet. A lot of BBing style diets recommend cutting out dairy which can lead to issues down the track.

Unfortunately even if your diet is perfect and you do strength training it is still possible to develop osteoporosis. Actually the biggest risk factors are genetics and menopause, but women who temporarily stop menstruating due to hormonal imbalances are also at great risk. A lot of anorexics as well as many elite athletes are at pretty high risk because of of an abrupt decrease in hormones. I've known of super strong amazon-looking women (with very low body fat) who have very weak bones.

[girl81]

I have read that BC does nothing to reduce osteo risk in amenhorrea sufferers.

[Mindi911]

Originally Posted by girl81

I have read that BC does nothing to reduce osteo risk in amenhorrea sufferers.

BC?

[heidismommy]

Originally Posted by girl81

I have read that BC does nothing to reduce osteo risk in amenhorrea sufferers.

It does, it worked for me. They frequently put amenhorreic women on the pill, it's pretty common. Just about everyone on the unit when I was IP was on bcp's.

[Mindi911]

Originally Posted by Myshell87

my mum also has soft tissue damage in her lower back and left leg, from an injury she recieved at work many years ago, she struggles to lift even a bag of potatoes. so weights are out of the question.

she wants to loose weight and to get healthy, but one of her doctors told her that weight is good for osteo suffers, its ridiculous, her doctor is a fool, i mean she doesnt have high blood pressure or chloestrol, but shes so unfit and very overweight for a women of her height, its really worrying and heart breaking.

yikes sorry to hear that Myshell, I hope that she gets well soon and gets healthy like she wants to be.

Originally Posted by greyhair

Ladies,

If you don't mind, I'll jump in here.
Mrs. G is now struggling with osteopenia, which is the stage just before osteoporosis.
She's always trained, some years harder than others.
After menopause, it is very much harder to fight the bone loss.
If I could go back 20 or so years, I'd tell my girl to lift heavier and increase bone density as an insurance for the future. what she thought was "good enough" wasn't.
As semi-senior citizens, it take a whole lot more work to pile on the plates. Old injuries makes it harder to do and according to the last sequences of tests, density is still slipping.

I wish there were more controlled studies on the interplay between diet/exercise/weight lifting in both pre and post menopausal women, but I've looked and found very little enlightenment.

Good luck and God Bless.

Jump in anytime you want Greyhair, thank you for your contribution.

So you're saying women should lift heavy while they can?

Originally Posted by heidismommy

No, I need to schedule another one next time I visit with my OB/GYN. I'm actually longer overdue, I'm supposed to have one every year.

I think then it might just be time to get to the dr's young lady.

how did you start noticing the problem or didn't you?

[heidismommy]

Originally Posted by Mindi911

I think then it might just be time to get to the dr's young lady.

how did you start noticing the problem or didn't you?

I actually didn't notice that anything was wrong, I've never fractured a bone or anything. My treatment team was concerned by the fact I hadn't had a period in about 2 years so they sent me to get a DEXA scan. I was shocked by the results, I didn't think at 16 I'd be told I had osteoporosis.

[Mindi911]

Originally Posted by heidismommy

I actually didn't notice that anything was wrong, I've never fractured a bone or anything. My treatment team was concerned by the fact I hadn't had a period in about 2 years so they sent me to get a DEXA scan. I was shocked by the results, I didn't think at 16 I'd be told I had osteoporosis.

Wow you were 16 that's scary.

Do you notice any problems now?

[greyhair]

Originally Posted by Mindi911

..clip..

Jump in anytime you want Greyhair, thank you for your contribution.

So you're saying women should lift heavy while they can?


..

Mindi, absolutely.
Mrs. G was shocked when she had her first bone scan.
She was lifting for a long time, but if we look back, she should have been doing more Deads and Squats and less machine work.
She's always been big on taking vitamin supplements and calcium supps, so I can't see how that could have been a factor.

The "cause" of the decline in density, if you can call it that was menopause. IMHO, more heavy lifts (DL/Squat) to stress the bones would have made a lot of sense.

[Mindi911]

Originally Posted by greyhair

Mindi, absolutely.
Mrs. G was shocked when she had her first bone scan.
She was lifting for a long time, but if we look back, she should have been doing more Deads and Squats and less machine work.
She's always been big on taking vitamin supplements and calcium supps, so I can't see how that could have been a factor.

The "cause" of the decline in density, if you can call it that was menopause. IMHO, more heavy lifts (DL/Squat) to stress the bones would have made a lot of sense.

You know if there's one more reason a lady needs to lift heavy this is it. I would love to know the results of a lady who's got osteoporosis and lifts as heavy as she can now to see exactly how much of a difference it does make.

Is your wife lifting heavy now or is that not possible?

[heidismommy]

Originally Posted by Mindi911

Wow you were 16 that's scary.

Do you notice any problems now?

I don't notice any problems now thankfully. I lift heavy--- free weights, not machines since I work out from home and I do a lot of compound exercise. I honestly don't think I'll ever have "normal" bone mass, unfortunately I think a lot of the damage has already been done. But I'm hoping that I won't lose any more bone mass and that lifting heavy will halt progression of osteo.

[Mindi911]

Originally Posted by heidismommy

I don't notice any problems now thankfully. I lift heavy--- free weights, not machines since I work out from home and I do a lot of compound exercise. I honestly don't think I'll ever have "normal" bone mass, unfortunately I think a lot of the damage has already been done. But I'm hoping that I won't lose any more bone mass and that lifting heavy will halt progression of osteo.

Good to hear you don't have any problems now. It would be great to hear that it's halted but it would also be awesome to hear it's improved.

Main thing now is that you are still feeling great and you are able to lift heavy.

[greyhair]

Originally Posted by Mindi911

You know if there's one more reason a lady needs to lift heavy this is it. I would love to know the results of a lady who's got osteoporosis and lifts as heavy as she can now to see exactly how much of a difference it does make.

Is your wife lifting heavy now or is that not possible?

Mindi,
So far, its not making too much of a difference.
Maybe its slowing the decline in density, maybe not.
The big problem with lifting heavy now, is all the back and joint problems people tend to have as they get older. It makes you want to avoid heavy lifts.

What I'd really like to see are some studies where HRT and heavy lifting along with something like DHEA and lifting affect bone density.

[Mindi911]

Originally Posted by greyhair

Mindi,
So far, its not making too much of a difference.
Maybe its slowing the decline in density, maybe not.
The big problem with lifting heavy now, is all the back and joint problems people tend to have as they get older. It makes you want to avoid heavy lifts.

What I'd really like to see are some studies where HRT and heavy lifting along with something like DHEA and lifting affect bone density.

That really sucks because it would be so encouraging to hear that it's been helping but I can see what you are saying that the older you get the less inclined you are to want to lift heavy.

That would be interesting, but why would you take a Hormone Replace Treatment along with a steroid and being a woman how would doing affect you. Even if you are in your menopause.

[greyhair]

Originally Posted by Mindi911

That really sucks because it would be so encouraging to hear that it's been helping but I can see what you are saying that the older you get the less inclined you are to want to lift heavy.

That would be interesting, but why would you take a Hormone Replace Treatment along with a steroid and being a woman how would doing affect you. Even if you are in your menopause.

either/or not together.

[Mindi911]

Originally Posted by greyhair

either/or not together.

sorry of course that makes more sense.

[Gracehbd]

I'm recovering from Anorexia, and am still "underweight" - the main health concern (now I'm probably not about to drop down dead with a heart attack or have any limbs drop off) is osteperosis, especially since I'm not (and never have been, even before loosing weight) having periods. I've recently gone on the pill (for my bones, obviously), and seem to be having minor monthly bleeds. What confuses me is that, while lifting is obviously great for my bones, it is probably also keeping my bf lower than it would be, and therefore furthere delaying my periods/production of hormones good for bones.
Regardless though I have absolutely no intention of stopping weight training - I owe it a lot of my progress over coming the ED.
So those are my thoughts!