Scoliosis & Osteoporosis

[Lpowmacback]

Hi all! I am a 46 year old woman who has a not too severe case of scoliosis: a double major curve - 40 top, 35 bottom.

Although my curves are not as nearly bad as many of you here, I have had hip pain for over 15 years and it has been escalating to at first my lower back, but more recently my entire back as well as my ribs sometimes (costochondritis?).

I have another issue, however. Although I am premenopausal, I have severe osteoporosis. I have never fractured anything (knock wood!), but my hips are a -3.1 on a dexa scan.

I've been to 2 endocrinologists (one in NYC - Columbia U Hospital) who suspects I may have Celiacs Disease (although it is not confirmed - CD can be very difficult to diagnose - although 1 in 133 people have it) which is an intolerance to gluten - wheat, barley & rye, which causes the intestinal tract to not properly absorb nutrients - especially calcium in my case, perhaps. This is something I may have had since being weened.

Knowing that osteoporosis and scoliosis are thought to be somehow related, I'm wondering if anyone else here knows if they have osteoporosis without the typical reasons for having it (menopause, problems with menstruation, steroid use, etc.). I say "knows if they have osteo..." because unless one has taken a bone density test, or unless one has had fratured bones, one would not know they even had it as there are no symptoms other than fracture.


Sorry if this message is too long winded... basically just want to know if there are others out there with both scoliosis & osteoporosis (not due to the typical reasons).

Thanks!!

Lisa

[LuppieLinda]

I wish that I had answers for you! I also have both conditions, and am in a lot of pain!!!
I don't know where or who to turn to, I'm a bit dissapointed with this forum, not many answers or replys here :mad:

Have you found any help?
Hope to hear from you~~~
Linda

[JenniferG]

I've had scoliosis since age 13 and when I was 57 I had a bone density test and my results were deemed slightly better than would be expected at age 57. When I had my surgery, my surgeon told me my bones were "good". How good, I do not know. So it seems my scoliosis hasn't had a bad affect on my bones so far.

I need to keep a track of my bone density though because both my mother and grandmother had osteoporosis. My grandmother also had mild scoliosis. I take Calcium daily.

[LindaRacine]

Hi...

There's never been a definitive study showing any link between the two. There's some who contend that it's bracing in kids that causes many to suffer from low bone density. In adults, I think it's often the fact that low bone density is the cause of degenerative scoliosis.

Regards,
Linda

[jrnyc]

have had scoli since before teen years, though not diagnosed til age 31...have osteopenia now...but first bone density around age 40 showed none...i do not think my osteo & scoli are related...i am the "type" though...small, small boned, thin, etc...also i didnt eat well in my 20's on up, & didnt start taking calcium as early as i should have, so i am sure all that contributed! the gyn & G.P. always told me that osteoporosis is silent..doesnt cause pain, that is how so many can have it & not know it...everything else is causing me pain, tho...the scoli, degenerative discs, spinal stenosis & arthritis!

jess

[JenniferG]

One possible link I can think of is that scoliosis causes pain in a fair percentage of scoli patients which in turn, may make the patient more sedentary. Doing less weight bearing exercise is a contributor to osteoporosis.

[joyfull]

Hi. I have scoliosis and osteoporosis. I have a 90 degree thoracic curve with no pain. However, my osteoporosis is quite severe as well, as seen on a hip and wrist bone density scan. I recently went to an excellent doctor who did a urine test to see if I was still losing bone. The test confirmed that I was. She is treating me with a conbination of supplements and bioidentical hormones. Her name is Dr. Shahary and she is in Ridgewood, New Jersey. In three months, she is going to repeat all the tests to see if the regimen has been effective. My mom also had very severe osteoporsis, as does my sister, and neither has scoliosis. I am looking forward to finally fixing my curve this summer. All the best, Joy

[fandango]

hello, \i have kyphosis and osteopenia. I haven't yet had investigations but it seems those ladies most at risk of osteopenia/ osteoporosis are either skinny athletic types who have weight-loss dieted or inactive smokers with bad diets. I am neither of these and am thinking hyperparathyroidism or Cushings. I have started quite a rigorous weight bearing excercise regime and replaced cycling with walking to try to increase bone density/ or at least slow down loss of bone density! I believe lack of vitamin D can prevent proper uptake of calcium. And biphosphates are given to increase bone density?
apparently hyperparathyroidism is fairly common - with symptoms of exhaustion, tendency to depression, irritable, forgetfulness etc - which are pretty much symptoms of life aren't they!!! Have you been tested for this?