 Posted 10/01/2012 13:43:30
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| I was diagnosed with OP at 44yrs (I am now 53). I have had all the available medication and still ended up with very poor BM and I have a a spinal score of 3.4 and hips score of 3.1. I am back on Alondrate and Adcal. I have constant back and hip pain - does anyone else have this? I have had various pain relief (Gabapentin, Amytriptiline, patches) but have ended up back on Co-codamol because nothing really seems to actually give me any relief and my GP does not seem to take on board my pain and I feel that I am seen as wasting their time. My teeth seem to be falling to pieces but my dentist insists it is not related to my OP - does it affect your teeth? any one any opinion on this. Until last year I was a health visitor but the nature of the job and my constant pain saw me finish my career in May. My employers were wonderful - they really tried to redeploy me but there were no suitable jobs available sadly. I am now at home on benefits - facing a tribunal because the benefits bods have decided I am fit to work and not entitled to Employment and Support Allowance. I am busy gathering evidence to support my appeal. I do receive DLA and Motorbility. I feel totally down about everything at the moment. I feel I have lost my health, my career (for which I worked so hard to achieve) and my self esteem and that I am not believed by the benefit dept. Please don't get me wrong - I have a wonderful family and friends but at the moment it all seems a little hard going. Other than that hello lol!
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Posted 10/01/2012 23:39:45
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Jadak
What you are feeling is similar to how I felt when I was told I had OP. I just looked at my family and felt worthless and stupid and a 'bind' to everyone.
But I do not feel that anymore thanks to all the support that I have had from people on this site. I really do feel that I have got my life back together again and can be proud of who I am and what I have done over the last year.
But initially I just wanted to crawl into a hole and hide I felt so worthless.
One of the things that got me going again was a book by Dr Marilyn Glenville called Osteoporosis how to treat , prevent and reverse it. It is a great introduction on how your body works and how you can help yourself. I really do recommend it. AnneB on this site suggested that I read it, so glad she did, cos it really helped me get back on track.
Like you I also have dental problems caused through anti epileptic drugs (AEDs) and because of this I refused to take bisphosonates, as one of the side effects can be osteonecrosis of the jaw if you have invasive dental treatment.
I do hope you feel better in yourself soon.
Sarah
Tscore Lumbar spine -3.3, Femoral neck -2.6, Hip -2.2
Alkali diet (+ no caffeine/sugar/salt/rhubarb/spinach) and exercise and supplements of Vit D (2,000IUs daily), Vit K2 as MK7, vit K2 Menatetrenone, Cod liver oil.
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Posted 11/01/2012 10:25:46
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Hi Jadak,
It's good that your Dentist knows you have OP and that you are on medication as I understand they need to know. I did read somewhere that Dentists can sometimes tell you have OP from your teeth, maybe something to research?
I did a lot of research myself into Acid/ Alkaline diet. There are lots of books on this, that we ought to have 80% alkaline foods to 20% acid, though we do need both. I'm a bit naughty with enjoying a bar of chocolate.. so I hope to balance that with being careful with the rest of my diet.
I retired early, I think it is easy to lose your self esteem when you stop working, so I hope you can find something to do that can replace the dedication you put in at work. It's good to achieve something I feel. It takes time to find that certain something that works for you.
As for the pain, have you had xray to rule out any breaks? I'd see another Doc and get another opinion, you can also speak to one of the nurses on this site. I have a compressed fracture in my spine, I had a lot of pain and could only walk for 20 minutes before I had to sit down, I thought I'd have this for life. I even used to sit on the floor in the supermarket- feeling like a fool! But a 5 minute sit would improve it. Pilates saved me- one to one on equipment seemed to alleviate the pain, I found a class that was one to two - bit cheaper. Even if you can only afford a monthly session you may find it worth it.
Good Luck
Nik
Nik
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Posted 11/01/2012 19:21:17
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| Thank you I will definitely get my hands on this book and read it. Thank you for replying to me. x
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Posted 11/01/2012 20:16:52
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Hi Jadak - I am also new to this Forum but have been diagnosed with OP some 6 years ago (i am 59 in body but 21 in mind) What a big shock as I have always lived my life at 150 mph and never had anything but high stress, which I thrieved on.
Although I have had several fractures in my vertebra's over the 6 years, I am sitting here at the moment with 3 at the same time and the pain is awful. However, this time I had to stop and rest which has allowed me to do some serious research and found a lot of interesting and informative stuff right here on this Forum. Although my husband has been doing nearly everything, I have trouble sitting and watching. I do feel really useless and feeble and just hope this is just a phase in my life to look back on as a turning point.
I live in Spain and had a bit of a problem getting the right kind of medical support, but slowley I am becoming my own Doctor by using a common sense approach and just asking the Medics to give me what I feel I need.
Some of the painkillers I had been prescibed were 'leathal stuff', which really did my head in. I am staying clear of all of that now other than an occasional Paracetemol. I started 2 days ago on Protelos and hope that will have been a good choice. Besides that I have learned a lot here about alkaline/acid diets and will put that into my program (because it makes sense).
Good luck to you and don't feel downhearted and worthless - you might end up the teacher of tomorrow and will be able to help others.
Regards
Sieglinde
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