Who can be diagnosed with Osteoporosis?
By thehsmomof2
@thehsmomof2 (145)
United States
February 11, 2007 5:17pm CST
Anyone can! I was diagnosed at twenty-three years of age. Still, there are professors who tell their students that Osteoporosis is an "old persons" disease. I know this because that is what my sister professor told her class last year. It is a shame that more people are not aware that young people can have osteoporosis as well.
I just wanted to post this to ensure that people who have a family history of the disease, or who think there may be a family history, will know that it is time to be tested.
1 response
@Jenny40 (30)
•
2 Sep 08
Hi there - I had to have a radical hysterectomy when I was 30 yrs old and because of this immediately entered the menopause. I was put on HRT and told I would be on it until I was about 60. I was then sent for a Bone scan to do a base result to see what was happening to my bones as the years went on. However, when I got the scan results they told me I had osteoporosis in my left hip.
I was then asked if I wanted to go on a trial medication called Fosamax (Alendronate)which is specifically for osteoporosis. I tried the medicine and went for another scan and there had certainly been improvements, however, I stopped it for a while due to it irritating my stomach.
Last year my dentist referred me to the Dental hospital because I needed to get an Apisectomy procedure done but as soon as I told the dentist I had taken Fosamax (all be it several months before) they told me they were not happy to do the procedure because there was a strong risk of me developing necrosis in the jaw bone. Because of this, I am in a total dilemma now.
Because I have stopped taking the Fosamax, I know my bones are going to be suffering and the osteoporosis is going to progress. But, if I take it and need ANY dental treatment I have the risk of half my face being infected and eaten away - YIKES!!!
I'm getting quite worried now because in the last 8-10 months, I have noticed that I am experiencing sporadic pain in both my hips...Some days its fine and others it seems quite bad. I've also noticed that the base of my spine can become really quite sore and stiff which worries me in case the osteoporosis has spread to my spine.
I agree with you that Osteoporosis is usually referred to as an elderly persons disease but more and more younger people have it and unfortunately unless you get a bone scan done (which is not routinely given to younger women) there is no way of knowing you have it.
