 Posted 11/02/2010 11:42:11
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| I've just joined the forum and have already seen a couple of posts from women who've had fractures due to pregnancy, so I'm surprised not to see them in this section. I'm bucking the statistics here by saying I had two sets of fractures following childbirth. I took a risk with a second pregnancy due to the unlikelihood of a recurrence. Oops. Cue home helps, meal on wheels, bath lifts, a whole new glamorous world, with a new baby to look after too. He's seven now, and I still remember what a horribly frightening and depressing time it was. So if anyone out there is going through it right now and wants to offload, I'll share my gory details so you know you're not alone and you will get through it.
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Posted 17/02/2010 18:15:18
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| Hi I wonder why other pregnancy related osteoporosis women aren't posting here? I have this and got it with my first pregnancy 16 years ago. I fractured 5 vertebrae, (my second pregnancy 12 years ago went ok though). I still have back and neck pain and have just started my first teatment last week of Actonel. They want to try and build my bones up before the menopause. I would love to have balloon kyphoplasty but because I've had the fractures so long I'm not suitable appaerntly. Have to go , the computer hurts my back!!!
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Posted 18/02/2010 11:07:07
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| My first pregnancy was 16 years ago too. Must have been something in the air. I've moved around a fair bit in that time so I've been seen by several different consultants and the last one decided to prescribe me Alendronic Acid. Which was something of a surprise, as I'd been told for years there was no chance of any treatment other than calcium & vitamin D as I hadn't reached the menopause. I'm due a scan soon to see how things are progressing after three years on that. I still get a lot of pain and use dihydrocodeine for that, but at least I can get about at the moment, which I'm always thankful for.
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Posted 19/02/2010 11:03:24
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| I too have just joined this forum and think it'll prove to be a really good way to communicate about this distressing condition. For ages, I've been trying to get more info out there eg a story from sufferers to appear in a magazine so that at least others will know about it. When I had it - 11 years ago with my 4th child - my GP later said (after having had no idea at the time) that she thought she'd seen it in others patients but just not known what it was. I'm really interested in the whole picture relating to the condition and feel it's linked to nutrition and other health issues. For example, at the time I had little zinc and selenium in my system. I also have low thyroxide, had an early menopause about 42 and have just discovered I've got haematomachrosis (storing too much iron which is a genetic condition). They may be all unrelated but it makes you wonder. Finally, I've read Marilyn Glenville's Osteoporosis book (she's a nutrintionist) and Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis (Jonathan Wright - about 10 years old, but v interesting) which I found helpful. Must dash!
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Posted 19/02/2010 11:27:50
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| I'm sure that a lot of the time it does go undiagnosed. With my first fractures following childbirth I was convinced my back was being sliced in two, but nobody thought it was anything more than a temporary but extreme reaction to the epidural. The fractures weren't spotted until many months afterwards I insisted on further investigations to find out why I was still in pain.
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Posted 28/02/2010 21:25:11
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| Hi, its good to find some other mums who have unfortunately experinced the same problems. I had my first daughter in 2004 without any complications but then found myself in extreme pain, 2 weeks after having my second daughter in 2006. My GP diagnosed a pulled muscle, despite my continous visits to her over a period of 4-5 months. She also referred me to an osteopath who leant on me, twisted me and left me in complete agony! Anyway, I finally went to Bupa where they gave me an MRI straight away, which showed several vertebral fractures and a vertrebral collapse. Total shock at age 27 that I had osteoporosis but started treatment of Alendronic acid and calcium/vit D and was finally pain free within a couple of months, phew! Bone density has now increased each year since so all is looking much better than the bleak future I expected
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Posted 06/03/2010 21:35:32
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| Hello Mums, it is so good to find this forum - I have felt so isolated in the last few years.I developed pregnancy-related osteoporosis in my first pregnancy - started with crippling back problems 6 weeks after my little one was born, despite repeatedly trying to get help, my back got worse and worse - and finally 9 months later (and now with multiple back fractures) I finally got a diagnosis. How have you all coped with the loss of your childs babyhood? I was so full of pain killers I remember very little of my toddlers first 18 months? I have to be honest and say I have no confidence now being a mum ( I am happy to say I am now looking after my toddler on my own ) - but i think that being unable to do the most basic of things for my baby - and all ways having to have someone else around is very difficult to come to terms with. I would though, still love to have another child - my consultant has told me that the condition can occur again, and therefore am terrified of going through the same experience again. xx
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Posted 23/03/2010 14:17:47
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| I know exactly what you mean. Although I had fractures after both pregnancies, the second time round was much as you describe it, BB, and being unable to do normal things for my baby and even myself made it difficult to bond in the same way I had with the first child, where I was at least nearly mobile much more quickly. I have an elderly relative who now needs home assistance and aids around the house. It reminds me so much of that helplessness and hopelessness I felt during that time. What does your partner think of the idea of having another child?
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Posted 14/04/2010 20:36:12
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| Thanks so much for your reply - its such a relief to hear from someone who has been through the same experience. In answer to your question about a further pregnancy - I know my other half is ok with us just having our toddler - i am not sure he could cope with going through it all again - especially as nothing can be monitored during pregnancy, and some close family members refused to even try to understand what was happening to us at the time ( they even thought I was dragging out my rehabilitation .) I on the other hand am finding it very hard to come to terms with - and i worry about my little one being an only - it breaks my heart that he will not have brothers or sisters to share life with. X
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Posted 22/04/2010 14:22:22
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| I wasn't able to get treatment after my initial diagnosis, as I was still in my early thirties. We'd made the decision that our first child was going to be the last, but reaching my late thirties I found that having another child was a biological imperative and I was going to give it a go! Following the birth and that downward spiral for my bones, I was offered treatment (Alendronic acid, whole other thread), even though I was obviously not post-menopausal. I wonder whether my bone density would have deteriorated quite so spectacularly if I'd had treatment in the interim.
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