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Osteopenia/Osteoporosis and surgery

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  • Osteopenia/Osteoporosis and surgery

    Has anyone been told you did not "qualify" for surgery due to your osteopenia/osteporosis? If so, what was the t and z score level? I was told I have osteoporosis and may not be able to take Forteo; therefore may not be able to have the surgery.
    Pam, age 49
    Thoracolumbar curves 80 and 40 corrected to 20 degrees
    April 20, 2012 surgery with Dr. Lenke
    T-3 to sacrum

  • #2
    I have osteopenia but qualified for the surgery.

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    • #3
      haven't had surgery...yet...but was told osteopenia would not rule me out...

      jess

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      • #4
        I had osteopenia and was not ruled out. The only cravat is that my Doctor didn't want to straighten my spine out too much as he was afraid the pressure would pull the screws out. Basically he was able to give me proper lordosis and stabilized my spine.
        Sally
        Diagnosed with severe lumbar scoliosis at age 65.
        Posterior Fusion L2-S1 on 12/4/2007. age 67
        Anterior Fusion L3-L4,L4-L5,L5-S1 on 12/19/2007
        Additional bone removed to decompress right side of L3-L4 & L4-L5 on 4/19/2010
        New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA
        Dr. Frank F. Rands735.photobucket.com/albums/ww360/butterflyfive/

        "In God We Trust" Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.

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        • #5
          I was told my severe osteopenia and mild osteoperosis disqualified me until I got my bones strong again. At 44 I was shocked to learn I had any issues. I started taking supplements lots of them because I didnt want to take the medication which can cause bones to be more brittle. I have low blood pressure so I have normally had a higher salt intake to correct the tired feeling I can get and i cut almost all salt out 10 months later my dexia scan came back normal with only left hip being dangerously close to osteopenia but all came back in normal range. My family dr was shocked. I also got my hormone levels in line which also helped. I started doing weight bearing exercises. I have another appt with my surgeon in a couple of weeks to show him my improvement in my dexia scan. I will let you know if I can be considered now. I was told the weak state of my bones caused my curve increase which I'm still not sure I believe. I am proof that you can reverse that diagnosis even with a 73 degree curve.

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          • #6
            What meds did you take to strenghten your bones back to no osteo??? i didn't think anything would reverse it. I'm slightly older than you at 47, but curve is exactly what yours is.
            Pam, age 49
            Thoracolumbar curves 80 and 40 corrected to 20 degrees
            April 20, 2012 surgery with Dr. Lenke
            T-3 to sacrum

            Comment


            • #7
              I reversed my osteopenia as well. I take two different types of calcium daily.

              If you can afford it, I think Forteo is the drug of choice when the problem is more severe.

              --Linda
              Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
              ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
              Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

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              • #8
                I reversed my osteopenia too. I take Evista and also three 500 mg. of calcium with vitamin D a day, but am about to stop the Evista because I don't need it anymore. I tried Actonel for awhile, which is like Fosamax, but it made my bones ache-- it just doesn't work for everyone.

                At the time of my surgery I had osteopenia and my surgeon had no problem with doing the surgery the way I was.
                71 and plugging along... but having some problems
                2007 52° w/ severe lumbar stenosis & L2L3 lateral listhesis (side shift)
                5/4/07 posterior fusion T2-L4 w/ laminectomies and osteotomies @L2L3, L3L4
                Dr. Kim Hammerberg, Rush Univ. Medical Center in Chicago

                Corrected to 15°
                CMT (type 2) DX in 2014, progressing
                10/2018 x-rays - spondylolisthesis at L4/L5 - Dr. DeWald is monitoring

                Click to view my pics: pics of scoli x-rays digital x-rays, and pics of me

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                • #9
                  I discovered at my surgery pre-op that I have osteopenia (a t-score of -1, I believe, so I'm right on the edge between normal and osteopenia).

                  It is encouraging to read that others have been able to reverse their osteopenia!

                  Linda, what types of calcium do you take? I currently take Caltrate at about 1800 mg each day. I also take a separate vitamin D supplement as my D tested low pre-surgery as well. I have been taking about 3800 IU of D each day, but need to be re-tested to see if I can reduce that a bit.

                  Can I also ask those of you with osteopenia how often you have a dexia scan performed? Is that something that I should have done yearly?

                  TwinmomTN, I hope that you are able to reverse your osteopenia/osteoporosis. Best Wishes!
                  Kathy
                  46 yrs at surgery, now 50
                  71 degree thoracolumbar curve corrected to 34 degrees
                  8/2/2010 surgery with Dr. Lenke

                  posterior T9 to sacrum with pelvic fixation

                  4 osteotomies and 1 cage
                  http://s1066.photobucket.com/albums/...athK_08022010/

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                  • #10
                    i cannot take Actonel because i am having major dental implant work done...i already had 4 implants placed on top, i need another 5 on bottom, which will be started end of August...i was ordered to stop taking the meds at least 6 months prior to the start of dental work...because they can cause damage to the jaw, and are not good for anyone having major dental work done..this was told to me by my GP, my dental specialist, and the dental specialist in charge of the implant work...

                    i am taking calcium and vitamin D...but not a large amount of calcium...maybe i should think about increasing the calcium dose...i have an appt with my hormone specialist in CA August 18th...was flying out to see her, (and see some friends as well), but i am probably going to cancel the trip and do a phone consult...she has all my blood work results, other tests, etc...my pain is too bad to fly..especially when i couldn't get a direct flight to Long Beach and have 2 stop overs each direction!! 11 hour trip instead of 6 hours!

                    i know i should consider the surgery next spring...winter is not a possibility for surgery due to all the snow....last winter we couldn't walk outside because of excessive snow and cold!!!
                    my back is worse...i get sacroiliac joint injections next week..but i don't know whether the shots will help me enough to travel....i can't tell if it is the bottom curve that is worse or the discs...but my waist is getting much worse...
                    all in all, very upsetting situation!

                    jess

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