Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: Tc on February 25, 2019, 09:16:37 PM
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I know it's an old fashioned expression. But I wondered if anyone else has experience of this. all but the very young women in my family have it to varying degrees and most developed it in their late 30s /early 40's.
My sister, cousin and I (50 , 51 and 53) were comparing ours recently. We each have it. Although it's not as pronounced as our mums'.
Top of spine where it meets neck. A rounded hard lump. Very visible in myself and sister.
Mine has definitely increased over the last couple years and even more since meno.
I saw a photo someone took of me the other day from the side and i could really see it.
It actually hurts sometimes and my aunt whose is considerable says hers is very painful.
I wonder if its hereditary.
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I have no experience of it but if poor posture is a contributing factor I wondered if a pressure shirt such as this https://activeposture.co.uk/men-and-women/4-women/ would help. It does sound as though it could be hereditary.
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I always understand that it was caused by osteoporosis. Is it present in your family?
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Thank you sheila.
Yea shady. Osteoporosis in every woman on my mums side. Mum and her 2 sisters had early surgical meno.with no hrt and have fractured like crazy since.. But their mum, my nan didn't have early meno but still fractured from her mid 40's onwards.
There must be a link I guess.
Thanks for your replies ladies. Best wishes to you
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Omg, is it?
I have a bump, top of spine, base of my neck....not very big, but when I've looked at other ladies, like in the summer when they've got thin strapped t.shirts on, some don't have it, some do....some bigger some smaller....
My old GP, said it was arthritis. Mine hurts sometimes too.
Used to ache, but it only does that occasionally now.
Never heard of it being called that before.....new one on me....
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My understanding is that it is a result of compression fractures to the vertebrae in your back/spine mostly as a result of osteoporosis, my mum had it, it developed in her 60's and she was put on Fosamax to try and prevent further fractures, having this in mid forties with no early menopause seems unusual unless there was an underlying condition that would cause this. Have you had a DEXA scan to check your bone density? especially given your family history, I know you say rounded hard lump at the top of your spine but your vertebrae do run to the top of your spine so you would feel a ‘lump' but that could just be a normal spine, one of the other major signs in this condition is you lose quite a considerable height.
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Jillydoll. It's an old fashioned expression. You know sometimes older ladies have it very pronounced. But past generations didn't have the medical advances we have
My mum and her sisters are all on medication (no tHRT) to reduce further risk of fractures. The youngest my mum is 80 so and the only thing holding her back at the moment is a torn ligament in her knee from falling down a bunker playing golf!!
BUT I think prevention is important. That's why I was asking whether there might be a hereditary link re osteoporosis and if lack of eastrogen might make it worse.
Xx
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Green. Thank you. My mum and sisters all had early meno and like your mum are all on the same drug to prevent further fractures.
I haven't had fractures yet TG. But I did wonder if theres a link with this "hump" to osteo.
I haven't had a bone scan but I have suffered from an eating disorder most of my adult life so it might be a good idea to get one. Although I'm on hrt so I don't think they would give me the other osteo meds on top.
X
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How fantastic to hear about your mum in her eighties! Good on her living her life to the full and not letting age get in the way 😀 and great to hear they are on medication to reduce further risk of fractures, I'm just about to start that myself, I was told that the fact my mum had had it did make me more at risk, but of course as we lose oestrogen in the menopause we do become more at risk anyway, I think diet is really important and exercise as well at this time in our lives, I don't think GP's feed this information out to menopausal women enough, in fact I'm sure I read something on the National Osteoporosis Society website that by the time women reach their 70's/80's 1 in 2 will have osteoporosis so it's a far from uncommon condition
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The HRT should help to protect you, and as you say I don't think it would be seen as necessary to take bone building drugs as well as the HRT , if I had been aware of these issues going in to menopause I would definitely have gone on HRT as there is good evidence that it protects you from osteoporosis amongst other things, unfortunately there was a lot of scaremongering with regards to HRT in the past which has now been disproved so a lot of GP's wouldn't recommend it, but thankfully up to date studies have now shown that it's perfectly safe unless you have some family genetic history that makes it more risky. Unfortunately my mum is no longer with me and I miss her every day but even though she had osteoporosis she also had COPD and that was what led to her passing
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I've read that too Green. I've also read that the earlier we lose eastrogen the risk of osteo increases. Interesting that your doc there is an increased risk with hereditary factor. My mum was told it cant be reversed but it can be stopped in its tracks with treatment. Prevention would seem to be key so im glad to hear you are starting treatment. My mum seems to have done very well on it touch wood and I hope you do too. . My mums torn ligament has put a hold on her golf she still plays bowls and is looking to get knee fixed so she can resume her golf.
So I hope you are able to do all the things you want now and future and the treatment will help preserve the bones.xxx
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Green our posts overlapped. So sorry for your loss. And here's me going on about my mum. If I'd known I wouldn't have ever been so insensitive.
X
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Hi Tc
Please don't worry you were not to know! Thanks for all the good wishes :thankyou:
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Yep. My paternal Gran had it from her mid-50s. She got smaller over the years by about 2". She died in her early 80s.
I noted that my Mum is bending over more each time we visit so I have asked the Staff to encourage her to stand upright. I note when seeing myself :o in shop windows that I too am beginning to lean a little. Also, when severely depressed, I curl into a ball whilst walking ....... mentally and physically.
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I saw a man bent from the waist recently in town, he had to keep stopping in order to see where he was :-\
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I had a bone density scan a couple years back, they said it was ok.
In fact, the lady that done it showed me my spine on her computer,
And she commented on how straight it was....
The scan came back fine...
All I know about it is, my doctor told me it was arthritis.
And to take anti inflammatory pills when it's playing up.....that's it....
Thanks for explaining TC......I've never heard of that before.....xx