Osteoporosis - can any relief be found?

[Ann]

My 88 year old Mum had a fall last October and sustained a small fracture of the pelvis (pubis rami) which took several weeks to heal. Since January she has struggled with severe back pain and had an xray in February. Her GP rang her to tell her the xray result - it is a crushed 5th vertebrae in her spine and he told her she has osteoporosis caused by a Vitamin D deficiency, he prescribed Vit D tablets, Tramadol for the pain and Lanzoprazole to take with the pain killers. Nothing seems to take away her pain, she was a very active person until her fall in town, but she hardly wants to move out of her chair now. For the past week the lower back pain seems to have moved much higher up. She did have a bad hacking cough 4 weeks ago, could she have fractured a rib perhaps through coughing? Is there any other treatment she could have e.g physio or exercises to do at home? I wondered about a pelvic belt which is often advertised. Surely she won't have to be like this this for the rest of her days? I thought osteoporosis was brittle bone disease, she has never broken any other bone in her life and the one she did break was caused a her tripping on a kerb. Isn't the main symptom of osteoporosis a hunched back? She does not have that. Her GP is not all that helpful, he prefers to ring his patients rather than see them (do they even do home visits these days?) We have phoned him several times but he just advises taking these painkillers. I just wondered if I could find a way of helping her find some quality of life again. Please advise if you can............ many thanks.

[mandy22]

I cant help u Im sorry, but I would like to wish you and your mum well. My mum has health, pain and mobility probs at the mo, and its not easy watching her struggle, you just want to help and theres little you can do,
my mum is trying to be independant, but she can be so very stubborn, and we can see she is making things difficult for herself, when if she just accepted some help it would be easier. its so hard, i hope you find some help x

[bednobs]

my first question would be is she taking the painkillers? Quite often people find they get no relief from painkillers, then you find they are either not taking them, or not taking the full dose, or have taken 2 didn't think they worked and stopped!
I would also add 8 paracetamol in a day to the tramadol, as it's a very good painkiller. hunched back is not a sign of osteoporosis. op is thin or brittle bones and older women are more susceptible to it because of hormonal changes. is it just vit d doctor has prescribed?

[bednobs]

the other thing to check is if she's taking the full dose. Sometimes the tablets might say "take 1 or 2 4 times a day". She needs to take the maximum, and if tramadol isn't working, go back to the gp for something stronger like morphine

[Brinjal]

Shame poor mum. My elderly friend same age as your mum broke her hip and has had on going problems with other breaks when being lifted etc. I do hope she gets some pain relief. It is a serious thing for us girls to take note of and make sure we keep up our calcium supplements.

[boxtops]

ann, my mum broke her pelvis when she was in her late eighties, and she suffered severely too with osteoarthritis. She found that many of her joint symptoms were eased with taking Green Lipped Mussell capsules (available on line or from Holland & Barrett etc). I know some people scoff at complementary medicine but I could see the difference in Mum if she'd run out of the capsules (as she did sometimes). Give it a try.

[Ann]

Thanks, will try boxie - I have often wondered if they work, may be good for my poor old knees too ............ is it safe to take them with other prescribed medication?

[pastafreak]

I'd also recommend Glucosamine. It seems to help a lot of people with joint and pain problems.
I took it for a while-and noticed a difference if I stopped.
I just ordered this from Healthspan,as my knees are giving me grief again.
It comes in tablets also...

http://www.healthspan...detail-p279-c142.aspx

[Ann]

Thanks Pasta I already take Glucosamine and from HealthSpan to .......... they are a good company!

[pastafreak]

It's the first time I've ordered from them. I've heard good things. I was looking for vegetarian liquid Glucosamine-and they had it!

[Ann]

Back to my Mum again ...... this afternoon she is complaining of pains above her waist on both sides which is a sharp stabbing pain when she breathes in. No high temps etc so it can't be pneumonia. She is taking maximum dose Tramodol and paracetemols but they don't seem to be touching the pain she says. I'm sure its all to do with her original back pain, but she is concerned as the location of pain has moved further up. It sounds like a nerve pain to me ..... She is able to walk about and has got her dinner ok. I'm at a loss to do what to do, can't really call out an emergency doctor and also its Bank Hol tomorrow. If we take her to a walk-in centre 16 miles to our nearest one, she will have to wait several hours sitting on an uncomfortable chair. I have told her to ring NHS Direct and see what they advise.................

[boxtops]

Ann, she may not have to wait, we were seen within 20 minutes last time we went to MIU.

[mike11111]

It's the Lanzoprazole which intrigues me as I took that for acid reflux!

[Ann]

When she fell in October we took her to Grantham and finally got out 6 hours later(they having admitted her to a ward overnight), nothing to eat - no water or food machines in there!

[Ann]

Apparently Mike these strong painkillers can play havoc with intestines the nurses said, sometimes causing internal bleeding, so Lanzoprazole is given to counteract that ...........I think thats what they said .......

[wolf63]

I presume that the Lanzoprazole is to being prescribed to help prevent any stomach problems caused by the painkillers.

You say that the GP is not so helpful - I get the feeling that some of them put all the aches and pains in an older person down to 'old age' and nothing can be done. I hope that you manage to get something sorted out for your mum.

[Ann]

Thanks wolf - I get that impression too ..... I can't believe he just told her she had osteoporosis and a crumbling spine on 5th vertebrae over the phone with no further advice on what to expect re: pain etc in the future ....... I would ring him myself but won't get him until Tuesday.:( She doesn't know whether it's best to keep moving or to rest ........ it hurts her to move about though.

[arwyn]

Doctors are stupid amounts of money whether they do nothing or whether they care and pull out all the stops.. The Doctors that don't give a stuff just carry on getting away with. No body ever stands up to them or reports them..

[bookbinder]

My wife has osteoporosis. She was diagnosed with it when she was 44, and she is now 71. It was found by pure chance during a general body scan and blood test. She does not have a hunchback, and she has never had any pain caused by the ailment. She was advised to eat oily foods, so she eats plenty of fish, particularly sardines, but she is not taking any painkillers because of the osteoporosis. My wife's doctor said that the osteoporosis was caught in its early stages, which is why she had not really suffered because of it. So, not all sufferers have a hunchback. Unfortunately, it looks as if your mum's ailment has had time to get a good hold on her bones, which will probably render relief difficult. Apart from changing your mum's GP, it looks as if all she can do is carry on with the tablets.

[chrissa1]

So sorry to hear about your mum Ann. The treament she is getting from her doctor well and truly stinks. How can he prefer to ring his patients instead of seeing them? My doctor comes out if you are unable to get in to see him and it's absolutely no problem. Can she not change doctors?

I'm a good bit younger than your Mum but I'm on Alendronic Acid weekly which I think stops it progressing.

[tinkerbell23]

Just a massive guess ann but would one of thos tens machines work?

Im just clutching at straws to what might help...has she an old matress?

The doc will have to prescribe something stronger for her its not fair to live like that...if shes taking the highest meds regularly ....poor mum! And you! Xxx