Osteopenia

[cylegoddess]

Yes Big pharma sucks, but since many more people now days drink soda, eat acidic foods, dont exercise( sedentary) - oesteo is rising and yes! I am a fitness instructor, so I work to change it without drugs.

[sarahspins]

Yes Big pharma sucks, but since many more people now days drink soda, eat acidic foods, dont exercise( sedentary)

I agree with this so much.. because the same can be said for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, etc. I've heard a lot of arguments that they're on the rise simply because doctors are more aggressive at looking for them.. and on one hand I can kind of see that (as diagnositc criteria change), but it doesn't address the underlying issue that Americans just plain sit around much more than we used to... the human body was designed to be used, not sit in a recliner watching TV. No one really puts much effort into taking care of themselves until there IS a problem.

Now, I say that, I don't mean to sound crass.. I am diabetic (type 1) and I also take an ACE inhibitor to protect my kidneys as a preventive measure (I do not have high BP, or rather, I did not before taking ACE inhibitors). I'm also hypothyroid and take synthroid for that, so I'm basically on 3 medications for the rest of my life. I'm only in my 20's.. so that sucks. I worry about long-term effects, but I also know that the immediate short term results of not taking them is so much worse

[Biciclista]

Thanks for the article. To add to the above information provided by Knott, I encourage you to work on balance exercises. (which includes cycling ) because most fractures are caused by falls and most falls are caused by poor balance.

[tctrek]

So when they say do weight bearing exercise, is any exercise using weights ok? Like circuit training, squats, lunges? I have osteopenia in my hips -- what sort of exercise is good for that? I do drink milk, eat yogurt and take Calcium/Vit D supplements and I do a somewhat standard strength routine a few times a week. Is that enough?

[Crankin]

Well, I have a somewhat skeptical attitude that osteopeinia is not real. I found out I had it over ten years ago. I've been taking calcium for 25 years, been exercising for longer, mostly impact for the majority of the time. I couldn't take Fosomax and was on Evista on and off for 3 years. I stopped taking it because of the side effects. I've lost 10% of my bone density in my spine in the last 3 years; no amount of calcium has helped. Both my mom and grandmother had this. I am thin and Caucasian, both apparently risk factors.
Right now I am waiting to discuss the results of some tests to make sure I am an OK candidate for Reclast. I am praying I can take this treatment without problems, because I don't want to be on my way to becoming my grandmother, who lost 3-4 inches in height and never was the same after she fractured her hip. I'm extremely conscious of what could happen when I am riding, x country skiing, or even just walking on the icy snow. It's not going to stop me from doing this stuff, but it's making me even more cautious than usual.

[KnottedYet]

Crankin, you would be a prime example of where the doctor should be talking about drugs for the first option: as a patient you have risk factors and a family history, so your test results would just add to the data. (treating the patient)

As opposed to quite a few women who have no history and low/nil risk factors, and the only data is the test result. (treating the test) These are the women I want to see get set up with exercise programs and nutritional guidance. I really like working with these women, often they've not been very active and have poor kinesthetic awareness. We have fun, I love opening up the world of activity to someone.

Good luck with the Reclast, and stay active!

[Trek420]

Knott and all, aren't cyclists more at risk (unless we cross train) because of a lack of weight bearing?