Osteoporosis/body armor

[newfsmith]

This has not been a good year, as for the first time health problems have seriously affected my riding, I've only gotten 2500 miles in this year, my lowest total milage in 5 years. I took another fall just before my husband's surgery. The radiographs showed a slight, non-displaced fracture, but also that I had fractured my thumb on my PMC ride. (Yes, both the ER doctor and radiologist that reviewed the film then missed it.) Fortunately, I was very good (for me) about wearing my splint and it healed with pretty good alignment. While my Primary doc was looking at my results, she asked about my kidney stones & then just as I was leaving she asked about my bone density test. It seems that I have just crossed the line from osteopenic to osteoporotic in my hips, although my spine is still only osteopenic. Now I have my first experience of 2 health problems, with some contradictory indications for treatment. This does make me feel old.

I am considering getting some body armor or HipGuards for riding. Has anyone tried them? Do they shift much, can you ride in them for 6 or 8 hours? What are the best brands for women?

[Trek420]

Newfsmith,

Do you lift weights? Can you add that?

I'd be more concerned with getting some weight bearing excersise in there too than the body armor. Internal body armor you might say

[newfsmith]

Yes, I do lift weights daily at work, I also walk 8 to 10 K steps at work, and I have been taking Fosamax for 2.5 yrs. Prevention has failed, the horse is out of the barn, I now have full blown osteoporosis. I am really afraid I may break my hip at work when some big dog bounces me around the room. That would be the end of my career and possibly the end of cycling as well. If I'm to be proactive now, I have to be thinking about protecting my hips both at work and riding.

[wavedancer]

I have osteoporosis also. Luckily the only bone I have broken has been a minimally displaced rib fracture after a mountain-biking mishap. I have landed on my hips a LOT , and have come away with colorful bruises and hematomas. I definitely think about the fracture risks.

I am wearing some hip pads most of the time when mountain biking now. I got some liner shorts that have some 3/8 inch closed cell foam in them. The original shorts were by Six-Six-One, but the shorts did not fit right. So I took the foam pads out and sewed some fleece pockets on the inside of one of my older pairs of shorts and have been using the foam pads in them. They work pretty well and have cushioned a few direct hits. What I really need, though is some kind of flexible, breathable foam that I could dip my entire body into before heading out on the trails! As my BF says, I am one "technicolor Bay-Bee"

In addition to Fosamax and calcium (1200mg a day), I also try to get at least 1000 units of vitamin D daily. Research is showing that vitamin D may be more important than previously thought for preventing bone loss. I need to do more weight-bearing exercise, also. And of course, improve my riding skills so I spend less time on the ground!

[emily_in_nc]

At what age (or is it more based on bodyweight, family history, or ???) is it recommended to start being screened for bone density? I'm 45 and slender, but I still menstruate regularly. I also run (not long distances -- 2 miles or so at a time) on the treadmill and trails a couple of times a week, mountain bike (irregularly lately), do long hikes on weekends, and lift weights a couple of times a week (nothing too intense and more upper body than low). My primary-care doc hasn't mentioned bone screening yet, and I didn't think to ask at my last yearly physical (August). Is this something I should have done fairly soon -- or not until I reach menopause or age 50 or ???

Thanks!!
Emily

P.S. Only broken bone I've ever had was pelvic fractures from a road cycling accident in April 2005. I hit the pavement at a pretty high speed right on my ilium, though, and no mention was ever made by my orthopedic surgeon that my bone density may have had anything to do with causing the fractures.

[spokewench]

But, if you are 45 and a cyclist it probably would not be a bad time to start.

A year or so ago, there were articles out that endurance cyclists, including men, should be very careful about their bone density; apparently there were some studies where even though you are fit, you don't put enough pressure on the bones, not weight bearing enough, and you are depleting your body a lot with the endurance training - hence - low bone density.

It is also a good idea if you are a cyclist to help your bones by doing some weight lifting or weight bearing exercise so that you are building your bones, take calcium etc.

Also, I'm no expert, but I've heard that even if you have lower bone densities that you shouldn't give up on the weight bearing exercise, you can help your bones from degenerating as quickly and I've even heard you can stop the loss from increasing.

I'm 46 and had a bone density test at the age of 42. It wasn't because I'm good at having tests, but because my husband is an x-ray tech and he was using me as a guinea pig on his company's new bone density machine! Free tests! Yeah!

[newfsmith]

At what age (or is it more based on bodyweight, family history, or ???) is it recommended to start being screened for bone density? I'm 45 and slender, but I still menstruate regularly. I also run (not long distances -- 2 miles or so at a time) on the treadmill and trails a couple of times a week, mountain bike (irregularly lately), do long hikes on weekends, and lift weights a couple of times a week (nothing too intense and more upper body than low). My primary-care doc hasn't mentioned bone screening yet, and I didn't think to ask at my last yearly physical (August). Is this something I should have done fairly soon -- or not until I reach menopause or age 50 or ???

Thanks!!
Emily

Generally speaking, as long as you are menstruating you are probably producing enough estrogen to prevent serious calcium loss from your bones. You are still in the category where you may be able to keep adding with supplements and the exercise you are doing, although that is unlikely. Most women stop adding to their bones in their twentys, and start to have a mild loss of density in their thirties. The biggest loss is in the 2 or 3 years after menopause. You are small, which increases your risk, but you may have offset that with your active lifestyle. Still it would be worthwhile mentioning it at your next physical, especially if you are having any perimenepausal symptoms. It is good to see where you are starting from, and to have a baseline to compare to a couple years after menopause. Keep in mind that many health insurance companies only allow scans every 2 years.

[eclectic]

Thanks for the info everyone, I am not menopausal yet but definately peri. I need to check with my dr on something else so I will throw this in too.
Osteoporosis scares the living daylights out of me. It can totally change a persons quality of life as they age.

[emily_in_nc]

This is all great information - thanks! I do eat dairy, including a cup of yogurt daily, cheese, ice cream (not daily!), calcium-added oj, and leafy greens. I also take a calcium supplement. One of the main reasons I added running to my repertoire was for the bone-loss-prevention aspects. I don't ride on the road much at all anymore but mostly do higher impact activities, like hiking with a pack, etc. so hopefully I am okay for now, but at my next physical I will definitely bring this up with my doctor. She's a very progressive woman, and a slender athlete so is likely very well aware of this issue. I don't have a strong history of osteoporosis in my family, but I will get this checked out since I am in a higher-risk group due to being small. Thank goodness I don't smoke, at least!

Emily

[suzieqtwa]

I went to the doctor yesterday ,and she said it although I have every risk factor in the book ,its also how I treated my body when I was in my 20s ,and 30s. I didn't exercise ,or eat properly. Yes ,in the past 4 years I have been a picture of health,but the damage was done long time ago. Plus I'm skinny with no extra fat to hold on to estrogen. The fact I went into early menopause certainly didn't help things. She is doing more test on me ,then will probably put me on Fosamax. She said it was very common for women over 50. I'm going to try ,and hang on to the bone density I have now ,and hope I can prolong this awful diagnoses.

[mimitabby]

well, I'm rejuvenating this thread.
I have eaten healthy my whole life, but as they say you can't beat genetics and my mother and sister both have been diagnosed with Osteoporosis, now me too.
My spine isn't too bad but my hips are right on the border, still Osteopenia. Great news from the dr today! I have to take fosomax.
My mother says it hasn't helped her a bit.
any of you ever see ANY improvement?
So weight bearing exercise; on my walks, I'll carry a backpack now?
and more lifting of weights. and I have to get back on that trampoline!
I am bummed.

[DarcyInOregon]

Hi Mimi,

My mom had OS severely in the years before her death and she died within a few days of breaking her hip. My oldest sister was diagnosed with it last year. My understanding is taking Fosamax, along with supplements, and the right type of exercise may allow the body to regain bone density, and thus add more calcium and minerals back into the bone. It doesn't happen overnight; it is a process that requires dedication and daily commitment.

I had my first bone density test in November. I was really sweating it, because of the family history for getting the disease. So much of it depends on what you were doing in your teens and 20s while the body was building bone density, and if you were a female engaged in low calorie yo-yo dieting, then odds are OS will be a problem later in life. However, I guess I was good during those years, because my tests came back as being at the very highest range of calcium and mineral density for a female in my age range.

Anyway, read up on the supplements. There is not only calcium with the vitamin D and magnesium, but there are now additional supplements that are proven effective in helping the body to restore bone density. The supplements should be taken twice a day with a meal, for higher absorbtion. Also, you need to have the doctor check your homocysteine levels, because there is a proven link to high homocysteine levels (which is a factor in cardio disease) and OS. You can google some of the key words and start reading some of the articles in the online medical data bases.

Darcy