Question:
I am 30 years old and in pain
What are early symptoms of osteoporosis? I am only 30 years old and NEVER drank milk as a child. For the first year of my post-op life I had a blockage and would vomit 20 times a day nearly every day until a second surgery finally corrected the problem. I have always been achy and suffering from back pain but last week I went to bed and woke up a different person. I am having such severe pain in hands, wrists, knees, shoulders, elbows, etc..the pain is only in my joints, not muscular pain. I went to my family doc and he is testing me for Rheumatoid arthritis because my Dad has RA but I don't have the classic swelling characteristic of RA so I find it hard to believe that it will be positive. I just was thinking that perhaps that year of malnutrition in conjunction with malabsorption and a lifetime of calcium deficiency could be causing me to develop osteoporosis. Anyone out there with this disorder remember how it started. I suppose that the aches and pains that I had been having, could have been the start but it seems as if it just happened overnight. My Dr. is going to send me for a Dexascan if all my tests come back negative. Thanks so much in advance for any help one might be able to offer...I'm very frightened....I have four kids and I couldn't even lift them up to put them in bed last night. Denise — denisel (posted on June 24, 2004)
June 24, 2004
I'm no expert by any means but I didn't think that osteoporosis caused
pain. My mother in law had very severe osteoporosis (never ate or drank
anything that had much calcium) but she never had any pain from it until
her vertebrae started to collapse and pinch nerves. I went thru about two
months of all my joints hurting at about 5 months out but that cleared up
and now I feel super so I just thought it was my body adjusting to the
difference in the weight. I did have a dexascan and all was well. Hope
you find the problem and feel better soon.
— scbabe
June 24, 2004
Have you had your thyroid checked? When I became hypothyroid, I had aching
in my joints, as well as fatigue and some other symptoms. It started in
weird places - my elbows hurt!My PCP started my on Vioxx (this was 2 years
before WLS). I hope you are taking calcium citrate now!
— koogy
June 24, 2004
My PCP orderd a bone density test to be done because osteo reuns in my
family. My pelvis area hurts like it needs to be popped. The density test
was positive. I have the 1st phases. The only thing the PCP ordered is
1500mg of calcium daily. Never take more than 500mg at once, because thats
all the body will actually absorb at once. Same thing as protein, not to
takein more than 30g at once because anything more is being wasted.
— smoore_911
June 25, 2004
What has been your vites regimen so far? The first thing that leaps at me
is rickets. I know, this is America. But in our population, it's not
rare. Most do not take extra dry form vit D and we need it. I have
osteoarthritis (hereditary, and forever) & osteoporosis. Unomfy to
miserable, but nothing like you're describing. Has anyone tested your D
level?
— vitalady
June 25, 2004
Thanks all for your responses. I had some of my blood levels come back and
I am low on my blood calcium level....which leads my Dr. to believe that I
will definately be high on my parathyroid hormone level ( the hormone that
helps to leach the calcium from your bones). I have not been taking a Vit
D supplement, apparently I was supposed to but didn't realize it. I have
only intermittently taken my calcium because they would always get stuck
and make me dry heave....I guess being 30 years old, I felt invincible. I
guess I did this to myself somewhat but I want to be honest and get the
word out there that it is soooooo important to take your vit. because I
know there are many who don't. I just hope it isn't too late for me and
that there isn't too much damage already. I will go have a Dexa scan but I
remember reading somewhere that Michelle stated not to have the ankle and
wrist one done...was wondering if there is a specific test I should ask
for....thanks so much all!!
— denisel
June 25, 2004
PS.....Michelle, I wanted to add that I don't think your crazy for thinking
rickets and after I hung up with my surgeon I also thought about
it....after reading your post, I checked on-line and although it is called
osteomalacia in adults...it seems with the tests that my doc is ordering
that osteomalacia is suspect and perhaps probable based on the symptoms
that I read. Did you say that you heard of someone post-op contracting
rickets? Just curious.
— denisel
June 25, 2004
Well, yes, there would be several clues. High PTH, too high serum CA, low
D and yes, I have known several, believe it or not. I was given a full set
of vites when I had my surgery, minus the right calcium, so the D levels
have always b een watched. I currently take about 5000 IU D, plus
whatever's in my multi and calciums (tons). Perhaps your calcium can be
fixed so you tolerate it more easily? The right D (dry) are teensy pills,
so you can swallow without spit, even. The ankle is misleading. Mine said
I was way too fine. Then I got the real thing, hip/spine and WHOA, I was
shot. Since, I've also gotten wrist and it is even worse! If I fall on my
living room carpet, I will snap my wrist. (radius) However, I tested a
scanner at the ASBS conf and I'm sure lots of docs will buy it. It said
...... you guessed it.... I am way too fine, do not have to give it a
thought. Yeah, like before. Except my hip can snap without any provocation.
I'm not quite there, but that is where I'm headed. Whatever it takes to
get your calcium citrate/D into you, it is OH SO CRITICAL.
— vitalady
June 25, 2004
Thanks Michelle and to everyone else who helped answer my questions. I
bought some liquid calcium citrate at GNC and started taking it immediately
along with my A & D vitamin. My iron was also a low 13 so I'm taking a
multi-vit with iron and an additional iron pill as well. Hopefully, I can
turn this thing around. I'll be sure to ask for the hip scan although, my
wrists are killing me so I imagine that the wrist scan might be a fairly
honest oppinion to the level of my destruction. I'll keep you posted and
thanks again.
— denisel
June 26, 2004
My DXA place does hip, spine & radius. I'm thinking you'll need to hit
the D MUCH harder than that. Like dry form only, D3, (which are 400IU ea)
and several per day, along with calcium citrate. But tests, tests &
more tests.
— vitalady
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