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[bombsh3ll]

I agree with Mary that the treatment of peri/menopausal women on the NHS is seldom optimal - there are resource issues but it would save so much money long term if significant numbers of osteoporotic fractures were prevented.

Sadly most women with osteoporosis only get a DEXA after sustaining a fragility fracture - by which time the diagnosis can be made clinically anyway!

Also the doses of estrogen used in routine clinical practice have decreased substantially since the era in which hormone therapy was found to protect bones, and this can no longer be universally assumed.

I think there are a lot of women feeling falsely reassured on homeopathic doses of estrogen, which is why this data is so important.

[joziel]

Totally agree bombshell and Mary.

The NHS is just woefully inadequate and struggling so much already. It can't cope with this very complex, individualised and nuanced use of hormones which is needed for optimal hormonal care. Women either have to educate themselves and persuade their doctors to co-operate (hmm) or go private... It really sucks.

I'm doing my taxes at the moment and I've spent about £2K in private healthcare this year. That excludes supplements, it's doctors' appointments, blood tests and medication. For private thyroid care and private menopause care. And I get my HRT on the NHS (excluding testosterone, which again the health service lets us down on).

By the way, there is research showing that testosterone is also protective for osteoporosis - and you can't get that in most places in the UK unless you go private.

[orrla]

Ha!
That's exactly what I was doing today!

£3200 spent since first back pain, in Feb 2022... after cut in half of my HRT by NHS Menopause Clinic... because I was 63 so 'you don't need it'..!

Now they say my collapsed spine is 'wear and tear' , because I am 69 by now so, really, fit for rubbish bin only..?

..never mind all consequences of it eg. prolapse, bladder issues rectal problems, loss of balance, inability to function...

You're old! ..they scream. Get on with it!

[bombsh3ll]

So sorry that's happened to you orrla.

Have you managed to get back on a therapeutic dose of estrogen privately?

Your spine shouldn't have collapsed at 69.

My dad's spine has collapsed in his early 80s and that shouldn't have happened either.

[joziel]

I often think more men should be on T replacement. Just because they have a more gradual decline, doesn't mean they don't need any...

[orrla]

So sorry that's happened to you orrla.

Have you managed to get back on a therapeutic dose of estrogen privately?

Your spine shouldn't have collapsed at 69.

My dad's spine has collapsed in his early 80s and that shouldn't have happened either.

Hi! Thanks!

On it, on an increased dose for 6 weeks now. Feeling touch better, more together but not there yet. Next appointment mid Sept. But worried as hell about my spine. My GP done nothing so far. Keeps saying he will but am not even referred anywhere..
Looking at taking private insurance now for, NHS really fails me.

[Jillyboo]

There was a lot of osteoporosis on my mother's side of the family. To my knowledge her father and her older sister both suffered with it as did she, and I believe one of her aunts.

There definitely appears to be a genetic component. They were all naturally slender and always on the go - working and doing chores rather than taking part in sports. Because of that my GP was happy for me to start HRT at 53 and I've remained on it for 15 years at what they call a 'bone sparing' dose. I do have good bone density. Whether this is down to the HRT or because I take more after my father's side of the family I really can't say!

My mother had spontaneous crush fractures of her spine in her late 60s. She took bisphosphonates which was the treatment of the time. Somehow this miraculously got her through several very nasty falls without sustaining fractures as the years went by.

[CLKD]

My Dad was part of an osteoporosis study: don't know how he was chosen or which company/NHS arranged it.  His mother had a Dowager's hump from late 60s. 

[sprush1]

https://www.osteoscanuk.com/
I was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2023 having had a bad trauma fracture to my wrist. There is an excellent FB page called Osteoporosis UK Friendly Support and Natural Options. A wealth of information and I’ve booked one of these REMS scans for early next year.

[bombsh3ll]

I would be very wary of commercial direct to consumer bone scanning service that may not be clinically validated or regulated.

How would you know these results were accurate? Also what if it shows osteoporosis, you would still need a DEXA as no clinician would treat based on this.

A DEXA scan is still the gold standard for assessment of bone density, and until there are multiple peer reviewed clinical studies in medical journals comparing this method to DEXA, I would avoid - it isn't too expensive to get a DEXA privately if you have to, however many of us have factors such that would qualify us for one free on the NHS.

[sprush1]

This scanning centre is run by an orthopaedic surgeon. It is a far more in depth way of scanning but I’m well aware that it may or may not say if I’ve got osteoporosis. I had a DEXA scan which told me I had. It’s to get a more detailed analysis with ways of managing the condition without being pressurised into taking the NHS recommended medication.

[Cassie]

I went for a Dexa Scan yesterday am waiting for my results.

[bombsh3ll]

Good luck Cassie, please pop back and share your results as well as your treatment as this is really helpful to others.

It concerns me that today's doses of estrogen are much lower than those shown to promote bone health so I am always interested to hear what people are taking and if it's been effective from a bone point of view.

[orrla]

Good luck Cassie, please pop back and share your results as well as your treatment as this is really helpful to others.

It concerns me that today's doses of estrogen are much lower than those shown to promote bone health so I am always interested to hear what people are taking and if it's been effective from a bone point of view.

What stunts me is that your average GP does not know all that!   After my DEXA, mine told me that HRT does not protect..
The chief reason I poisoned myself with HRT from age of 45 was to protect myself from any issues with my spine...! ..but no, they had to fiddle with
it, and at 63 cut it down.... because women at old age do not need hormones..

And here I am! ..with a collapsed spine!
Bravo, NHS Scotland! Yupee, you win!
..off to a wheelchair now!
Good luck to me!