Hi. I was diagnosed in July last year with OP in my spine (-2.9). A couple of weeks ago I experienced an extremely painful twinge in my back - took my breath away - so the GP sent me for an xray. This showed no fracture, thank goodness, but it did reveal that I have osteoarthritis in my spine. Does anyone have any experience of living with the 2 conditions. I am uncertain about exercising in particular. Thank you.
Welcome Unshaw, I have osteoporosis in my hips and spine and a few years ago I had a private MRI scan that showed mild osteoporosis in both hips.
I attend rheumatology for inflammatory arthritis that I take hydroxychloroquine for but I have never mentioned the osteoarthritis to them and in the ten years I’ve been seeing them they have never done any tests that would show it although I suspect it is getting worse. Moving is what helps me most though so I try to move as much as I can.
I just carry on and do my usual exercise although I no longer ride my bike because I used to fall off it every now and again - I do two x 1 hour Pilates sessions every week and I walk for about an hour every day although I no longer even try to do 10K steps every day as my hips were getting very achy if I did that too many days in a row although I can do if I really want to. I usually settle for between 6 and 7K a day now. I pace myself for housework and if I feel really achy I take a paracetamol.
Hope that helps a bit.
Thank you so much Lizzie. That is helpful. I guess keeping moving is the key, which I am able to do fairly easily at the moment. I was a runner, but I’m not sure this is the thing to do now with osteoarthritis, although it is supposed to be good for OP. I tried to get some advice from my GP but I was fobbed off with the promise of a ‘routine appointment when one becomes available’. Very disappointing.
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I was told I had osteoarthritis in my spine 30 years ago after a car accident, I have had Osteoporosis for 23 years which hasn’t given me majors problems. I was told the arthritis makes the DEXA scan look better that it actually is, but I have never checked up on that!
Thank you Rose. It’s very reassuring to hear that. What medication have you taken for the OP?
I had a couple of different bisphosphonates, always gave me indigestion, many years of Strontium Ranelate until at one stage it was withdrawn, then 6 years of Denosumab.
Hi Rose
I’ve been told my T score for my spine is most likely inaccurate. I wonder if I’m like you. I have back pain now and again for about 5 years. I’m fine sitting and standing but ache sometimes walking. I have never bothered to see a doctor. Now I’m wondering if I’ve done the right thing
Why is it inaccurate do you know ? What about a REMs scan?
The hospital told me when I received my diagnosis. Apparently such a large discrepancy is usually caused by something else going on in the spine. I have had a quick google and it could possibly be bone spurs or arthritis
I always go with the physio advice re exercise - you’ve probably seen posts on here, including mine - that we were fobbed off with ‘do cardiac exercise’. Its really clear we should be doing strength training. I envy the younger women in the gym who have started well. I joined the gym at 70. Bone health is important but the muscles that support all our activities are critical for ongoing support of our bones and joints.