Hi I was diagnosed with Osteopenia following 5 months of not really knowing what was going on with my body. I had a severe pain in my back along with pains around to my stomach and sides and along my rib cage. This lasted for 5 months until I was sent for an x-ray and they found I had fractures in my spine. They believe this was caused by no trauma other than pulling a child’s zip up at work. A few weeks later I was put in hospital with a slipped disc. I was feeling low and wondering why me?. This became worse when after going for a dexa scan I was told I had Osteopenia. The pain was extreme and I didn’t know what to do. I was on tablets for this, tablets for that as well as painkillers and pain patches. It was all too much to take in and I felt a self loathing for not being able to work and do the things I did before due to the pain I felt. In November of last year I finally had to admit defeat and give up my job as a nursery practitioner which I loved. After 23 years of doing this work I felt a sense of loss for what I no longer had in my life. Not just the work or money but the social interaction of not seeing friends and colleagues on a daily basis. I know longer felt like me, the single mum who had brought up 2 boys, who had earned her qualification to follow her career path. No longer was I able to shop for hours without having to stop so many times that i might as well not have gone, no more could I rock out to my heavy metal songs without worrying about another fracture. I became and still am scared of so many things I took for granted in my life. Walking up and down the stairs became a trial worthy of the Olympics as well as shower. Don’t get me wrong I still enjoy life and do things but I’m slower and the pain , at times can be so painful it leaves you feeling exhausted. I have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my right knee after a traumatic experience where I honestly believed I was paralysed. The fear that gripped me was beyond hysteria and have now been told I have arthritis behind my left knee as well. On top of this I’ve begun to notice that at times when I eat I have trouble afterwards in my tummy up to my ribcage. It’s like a feeling of being full up but it’s much more intense and I can feel pain in my back at the same time. It’s worrying but I feel like I’m constantly at the doctors for something so am holding off going about this. So if anyone can shed light on it I would be much grateful. Anyway it was my first time of writing and maybe it’s time to stop now. Thanks
I too get the feeling of being full it’s to do with the spine being shorter which squashes the insides so less room for food. It’s very common apparently. Smaller meals are required.
I too have pain which can be excruciating at times and going shopping to look around is a trial. It’s stop start which takes ages.
I feel as though my life is over at 71, I’ve been fit up to fracturing my spine.
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