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[Wrensong]

Yes osteopenia is the precursor to osteoporosis - the term indicates a milder degree of bone loss.  There is interesting info in the Oestrogen Matters book (Avrum Bluming & Carol Tavris) on bone health at/after menopause.  Suggests that with the decline in sex hormones, care to include sufficient calcium in the diet may increase bone density, but without the elasticity of collagen the bones remain brittle.  The distinction Bluming makes is between density & resilience, which he defines as the ability of bone to bend without breaking.  So despite apparently sufficient density, fractures can still occur.  Remember reading a study some years ago showing that because of their high boron content, prunes are very helpful for bone density if you can tolerate them  .  Think the research was funded by the Californian prune industry though!!

[Joaniepat]

Thanks Wrensong and Stellajane, interesting posts.

Stellajane, could be intervertebral discs? Made of cartilage I think.

JP x

[Katejo]

I think osteopena is pre-osteoporosis. i.e. showing signs but not fully blown.

Yes it is. My scan showed very mild osteopenia (still just within the normal range for my age).

[anais]

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis at 53 and HRT was the recommended treatment at this age. I had just been referred to the menopause clinic because of severe VA. I was diagnosed with major osteopenia at 51 and was offered nothing except Vitamin D. My consultant said at 53 I was too young for bisphosphonates (osteoporosis medication) because you could only take it for a limited time and is best put off until your 60s. There are lots of lifestyle things you can probably do (and I can't) such as weight bearing exercise etc. You can check out the Royal Osteoporosis Society website and phone the nurse helpline — they are really nice and helpful. I know it's a shock to be diagnosed quite young so you have my sympathies.

[anais]

I have no idea whether the HRT is helping because I haven't had a scan since I started HRT. I brought it up at my last appointment at the Menopause Clinic and the doctor said that I should have another scan in a couple of years time. He didn't think there was any need to for now.

My difficulty is that because I am severely affected by ME/CFS I can't follow the advice to do weight bearing exercise, so that is working against me. I also have hereditary haemochromatosis, as does my sister who has osteopenia. Haemochromatosis is also a risk factor as excess iron builds up in the bone marrow and somehow affects bone formation. That's something else that is working against my favour. TBH I'm not expecting to prevent more bone loss, just trying to make the situation “less worse”. I've always made sure I had an adequate calcium intake and as a child and young adult I was quite physically active until ME happened, so it was a bit of a shock to find out that I had full blown osteoporosis at 53. I'm also quite slight in build and always have been, so that's a risk factor too. I suppose everyone's risks are going to vary. All I can say is that if I could do the enough physical activity then I would. We can't change our DNA and we can't change our physical history, but there are things we can do that MIGHT help. For me it's HRT and vitamin D, but YMMV!

[Katejo]

I have no idea whether the HRT is helping because I haven't had a scan since I started HRT. I brought it up at my last appointment at the Menopause Clinic and the doctor said that I should have another scan in a couple of years time. He didn't think there was any need to for now.

My difficulty is that because I am severely affected by ME/CFS I can't follow the advice to do weight bearing exercise, so that is working against me. I also have hereditary haemochromatosis, as does my sister who has osteopenia. Haemochromatosis is also a risk factor as excess iron builds up in the bone marrow and somehow affects bone formation. That's something else that is working against my favour. TBH I'm not expecting to prevent more bone loss, just trying to make the situation “less worse”. I've always made sure I had an adequate calcium intake and as a child and young adult I was quite physically active until ME happened, so it was a bit of a shock to find out that I had full blown osteoporosis at 53. I'm also quite slight in build and always have been, so that's a risk factor too. I suppose everyone's risks are going to vary. All I can say is that if I could do the enough physical activity then I would. We can't change our DNA and we can't change our physical history, but there are things we can do that MIGHT help. For me it's HRT and vitamin D, but YMMV!

My GP has marked on my record that I should have another scan in 2 years. In the meantime I have  had a meno clinic appt. and have  just started Evorel Conti. I showed the meno clinic my recent scan results. I was also told at the previous urogynaecology appt. that it is possible to buy small weights from Amazon to wear around the ankles as a means of  strengthening bone. I haven't looked into it yet.

[Wrensong]

Katejo, I have cheap sets of 1kg & 2kg weights from Argos for upper body strengthening (osteopenia) which I keep in the kitchen & use in downtime while cooking. That way it feels less like having to make time for something that is frankly not very interesting!  Also use a resistance band & rowing machine for this.  The ankle weights sound interesting.

[TNM45689]

Hi I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis in January aged 46....I was 1 year post menopausal and had decided to go down the HRT route to try and avoid OP etc.  The Chelsea and Westminister Menopause Clinic have increased my HRT as I still have low estrogen levels - I have also being doing lots of research and am taking a high dose of Vitamin D, K2, Magensium and Boron.... likes=wise they have said I am too young for OP treatments so HRT is the best route..... I too was shocked and still am...but am also slight, only 5ft etc....

[Katymac]

Just over 2 years ago in October/November 2016 my Dexa was -1.6 & -1.7 & I'm pretty chubby

I have CFS/ME & Fibromyalgia

I had another scan last Oct/Nov after the removal of my ovaries & my Dexa was +3 for my spine and +1.5 & +1.7 for my hips

The only significant change in my lifestyle is that I bought and ride an electric bike.......the bike has given me a range I didn't have with the CFS/ME which really limited my walking - it has changed the way I shop, commute and socialise

[CLKD]

One needs weight bearing exercise to encourage density.  In the same way as the jaw requires teeth to interact, to keep bone density healthy.

I used to skip  .........

[Wrensong]

Exercise that strengthens muscle can also help CLKD - resistance bands etc 

[Sarai]

TMN45689 I have just replied to your private message re my Facebook Osteoporosis group.

[Countrygirl]

Can I just ask is the scan something you get called for at a certain age. It's just my mum was diagnosed in her 50's and now dad has been too. I'm not sure if that puts me at a higher risk or not x

[Joaniepat]

Can I just ask is the scan something you get called for at a certain age. It's just my mum was diagnosed in her 50's and now dad has been too. I'm not sure if that puts me at a higher risk or not x

No, there is no NHS screening for osteoporosis. As far as I am aware the NHS waits until you break something before they will do a scan, which IMO is too late. However, if you are at risk you could try asking your GP. I got my first DEXAscan done by telling the meno clinic my mother had osteoporosis. Also I am of slim build and had not had any oestrogen for some years. (The scan showed osteopaenia.)

JP x

[Katejo]

Can I just ask is the scan something you get called for at a certain age. It's just my mum was diagnosed in her 50's and now dad has been too. I'm not sure if that puts me at a higher risk or not x

I was first referred for a Dexa after fracturing my wrist in 2015 (age 52). I then requested another in 2018 as a precaution. I have slight osteopenia. GP wants me to have another scan in 2 years.