Something to be aware of, Osteoporosis
Something to be aware of
Like many that visit this web page I too have had a stroke, mine now some 6 years ago. As with most folks the causes, impacts and life adjustments are varied.
My stroke actually happened whilst in the hospital as medical teams were saving my life from sepsis after picking up some mystery infection.
Long story short. I went from a reasonably fit and healthy 54 yo male to a rag doll. I had to learn most functions again like moving, eating, talking and so on. In those 6 years of recovery I reckon I’ve done alright.
I lost fine motor skills so playing musical instruments and other skills have been lost. Yet I can now do many tasks that I couldn’t, my trajectory was up.
This was until most recently, now at 61 yo I’ve have being diagnosed with osteoporosis and it’s quite bad. I have suffered vertebral compression fractures and it’s no fun people.
The point I want to make is at the time of writing I have 3 vertebral compression fractures, these types of fractures often come in succession, you get one and often another is not far away more so if your totally oblivious about osteoporosis, and that’s my point here.
Several months ago I had severe back pain it was bad enough for my partner to call an ambulance. I didn’t have a fall or impact, it happened just laying in bed one morning, I couldn’t move well and was in massive pain. The ambos checked my vitals and recommended not to go to hospital but see your GP.
I saw my GP and he didn’t have much concern, carry on as normal was his response. So about 6 weeks later I ‘m in pain again, not quite as bad but not feeling good. I had an X-ray confirming spinal fractures, a bone density scan is bad too, I have osteoporosis.
Hindsight is a marvellous thing, so maybe my GP could have been a bit more alert all these months ago and sent me for X-rays bone scans etc, we could of picked up what was coming and been more proactive!
Osteoporosis doesn't just happen out of the blue, there could be many reasons why for some folks women or men can be more prone to it. One of these reasons is lack of exercise that stimulates bone health. So a stroke sufferer like me who did mostly nothing for a few years due to the impacts of the stroke in regard to exercise that is positive for bone health should be on a GP’s radar.
I probably had osteoporosis for years and didn’t know it pre stroke. After researching into this subject a lot of late I tick several box’s. I was a smoker from 14 to 40, a small frail baby, grew tall but thin, always had a low BMI, didn’t eat that well most of my life etc.
Did the impacts of having a stroke have an effect on my osteoporosis issues? It’s worth while to think about it, be pro active with your GP, you don’t get severe back pain for nothing.
Cheers Luke