<p>Need brainstorming to help the drs.
I have osteoporosis- found out a few years ago. I also have severe osteoarthritis.
It has not been determined why I have osteoporosis as before the arthritis became so severe, I was active, ate well, was outside much of the time, dont drink colas or smoke & havent started menopause</p>
<p>Recently a urine test showed my 22 yr old D was leaching calcium, she then had a Dexa scan which shows bone loss in her spine. She is very, very active, in training for a marathon & eats better ( more veggies & protein) than I do.</p>
<p>She also is being treated for hypothyroid ( I am borderline) and we have genetic high cholesterol. ( which I dont think is connected)
Her rheumatologists ( which she just started seeing in her college town), think she has an auto immune disease - but I am not sure of what other symptoms she is having.</p>
<p>It is bad enough for me to have this in my mid 50’s but for her to have it is unbelievable.
:(</p>
<p>The only weight bearing exercise I can do now is walking, although I have started resistance exercise 4 times a week in my water aerobics class. ( before it became too painful, I did restoration horticulture & was out digging, planting & hiking almost every day).</p>
<p>EK, she needs to find an endocrinologist, if she’s not already seeing one. They will run a battery of tests and, presumably, determine the cause. Could be thyroid, parathyroid, or some other funky gland.</p>
<p>Seriously – when post-menopausal women develop osteoporosis, it’s one thing, but in a 22-year-old woman, it’s something else.</p>
<p>While running is weight bearing, it may not be as much weight bearing as weight lifting.</p>
<p>However, the more advanced the osteoporosis gets, the more limitations one has in doing weight bearing exercises (too much may cause fractures in weak bones), which makes it harder to stop the progression.</p>
<p>Some vegetables have much more calcium than others.</p>
<p>Also possibly check for celiac disease…unexplained osteoporosis or anemia are most common symptons after digestive issues that lead to check for celiac since body isn’t absorbing nutrients. It is an autoimmune disease so sometimes runs with other similar issues. You can have it and not have digestive symptoms.</p>
<p>Good point.
I quit eating gluten after I noticed that I was getting stomach aches every time I ate a sandwich. I did not test positive for celiac, but I decided to restrict gluten anyway because I felt better.
They still havent found out why I have osteoporosis though as I am also PRE Menopausal & having regular periods. According to my hormone levels, my eggs also still seem to be viable.
I did mention it to D & she stopped eating wheat for a while & she felt better, but then it became difficult to keep up and she started eating it again.
But it would be a good thing to check for.</p>
<p>It’s partly genetic.
My H was diagnosed with osteoporosis at age 61 after a fracture in the lower spine while running. This condition is quite uncommon in males his age. He has been a serious long distance runner since high school, ran at least 15 marathons and does some weight lifting. H was prescribed Forteo which he injected daily for two years and his condition has improved. He is leaving next month to go to Mt. Everest base camp and climb a smaller peak at 19,500 ft. This has been approved by his rheumatologist, so he said.
His rheumatologist never looked for a cause, just a treatment plan.
I am so glad that he didn’t injure himself because he has done Kilimanjaro and Mt. Aconcaqua.
My MIL had severe osteoporosis with kyphosis. My H has a slight curvature, though not noticeable unless one is looking hard.</p>
<p>I am going to ask my D to have a Dexa scan.</p>
<p>My rheumatologist wasnt interested in a cause either, but since D has it, I think it might be a good idea to look harder.
Ive never broken anything- probably because I have joint laxity ( double jointed/ loose ligaments). It has contributed to my arthritis though. :(</p>
<p>Thats interesting too, My oldest doesn’t have medical insurance right now, but as she has lived in Portland which doesn’t add fluoride to the water supply, since 2001, it would be interesting to see what her bones look like.</p>
<p>If you haven’t already, read The Myth of Osteoporosis - the author’s whole family, including her very young daughter had osteoporosis and osteopenia - I think the Drs. said her 15 year old daughter had the bones of an 80 year old. She ended up focusing on quality of bone, not just quantity. The Dexa just indicates quantity. Her daughter had an active life with no fractures.</p>
<p>Definitely rule out secondary causes - thyroid issues, celiac, and very low D can contribute. This is a great site - [National</a> Osteoporosis Foundation](<a href=“http://www.nof.org/]National”>http://www.nof.org/) The forums are super informative. </p>
<p>I have very low T scores and I have always done everything ‘right’ but it looks like I have extremely low D which I am remedying now. </p>
<p>Sorry to hear about your D - hope you figure this out soon.</p>
<p>Portland, OR has naturally occurring fluoride in water, although at levels lower than typical fluoridation to reduce tooth decay.</p>
<p>Some places have high levels of fluoride naturally occurring in their water supplies. Observation led to the link between fluoride and reduced tooth decay, although high levels have other effects which are undesirable.</p>
<p>My doc at Mayo says a person only has until the age of 30 to add calcium to their bones. She also asked me not to take a calcium pill. Says they now advise this because 3 legit studies have shown a correlation between calcium pills and heart issues. </p>
<p>I don’t know if this is true, but I have heard that sparkling water/beverages leach calcium out of your bones. </p>
<p>I have severe osteoarthritis in my neck and have been advised to keep my neck muscles strong and flexible. </p>
<p>I hope they can figure out what’s going on with your D. She is too young to have such worries.</p>
<p>emeraldkitty–Do you live in the Seattle area? If I were you I would try to get a referral to Dr. Susan Ott at University of Washington and have her look at your daughter’s records for a second opinion. Dr. Ott has an extremely informative and helpful website about bone physiology, osteoporosis, medications, how to make decisions about treatment etc. She does not take money from drug companies. If you click on the link called “Cases” you can read about actual patients she had and mistakes that were previously made in interpreting their bone scans. Here is the website: [Osteoporosis</a> and bone physiology](<a href=“http://courses.washington.edu/bonephys/]Osteoporosis”>Osteoporosis and bone physiology)</p>