WHAT MY VERTEBRAL XRAYS LOOK LIKE

Here's what my vertebral xrays look like.  It's hard to read the xrays in this medium, but this picture gives a good idea!

 

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SPICE FOR BONES

 See Dr. Susan Brown's great article on Spices for Bones in Women's Health Network.

https://www.womenshealthnetwork.com/bone-health/best-spices-for-your-bone-health/

The spices she discusses are: Cinnamon, Cloves, Garlic, Ginger and Turmeric.

Well worth reading the article!

                                                               

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WHY I TRY TO KEEP ACTIVE DESPITE THE PAIN

The multiple vertebral fractures I suffered in connection with the medical mismanagement of the osteoporosis drug Prolia at the University of Chicago affects much more than my bones!

The pain I deal with each day makes it very hard -- and very painful -- to stay active!   

But active I must be, because what's left of my health -- especially my cardiovascular health -- demand it!

I was saddened to learn of the recent passing of one of my favorite writers, the great Stephen Sondheim, on November 26, 2021.    

https://youtu.be/gjNWFqWU5Co

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Dr. Gabe Mirkin, whose common-sense columns I've found helpful over the years, wrote this article, which I strongly suggest reading! 

https://www.drmirkin.com/histories-and-mysteries/stephen-sondheim-and-sudden-death-in-older-people.html

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Dr. Mirkin's recommendation: KEEP MOVING!

Here is the reason he gives:  

"A key to prolonging your life and preventing disease is to keep on moving. Lying in bed for many hours each day is a certain way eventually to kill yourself. Each day that you spend not moving your muscles weakens your heart until eventually you can die of heart failure."

And keeping moving -- despite the pain from the fractures -- is what I'm trying my best to do!

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REBOUNDING HELPS!

 GENTLE rebounding on my Bellicon Rebounder seems to help me keep up my strength and keep from coming too debilitated.  

Here is a link from Bellicon discussing some of the benefits.

https://www.bellicon.com/us_en/benefits/research

To copy!  

https://www.bellicon.com/us_en/benefits/research

A DIFFICULT DAY

Hallowe'en used to be fun!  Nothing is fun these days.   

I deal with the pain and the helplessness and anger -- and the loneliness -- as best I can.  

At least Mr. Jack O'Lantern understands!

     

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WHIPSAWED BETWEEN TWO SPECIALISTS!

This is about macular degeneration, a condition affecting the retina, the part of the eye that converts what comes into the eye into signals the brain can recognize.  

Elsewhere I've  discussed some the treatments -- AREDS vitamins for the "dry" macular degeneration I have in one eye, and SHOTS IN THE EYE of a drug, Eylea, administered by a retinal specialist for the more advanced "wet" macular degeneration in the other.   The latter I find quite scary!

This post is about the misinformation I received and what happened because of this!  

The misinformation came from the retina doctor who told me that I had this eye condition because I was on Prolia!    

This understandably left me with the impression that  continuing on Prolia could leave me blind!   

This in turn led me to believe that if I could cut back on Prolia I could still get some benefit to my bones, and also reduce the risk of blindness. 

So I delayed a Prolia shot, whereupon three vertebrae -- two thoracic and one lumbar - -fractured!  

The pain was unbelievable!  I could hardly walk for several weeks and even today over a year later, I am still in a good deal of pain.

So you can imagine how I felt when I learned that it was NOT the PROLIA. but the osteoporosis itself that was the risk factor for macular degeneration! 

I hope that the retina doctor who so casually told me that the macular degeneration was "because [I was] on Prolia" will rethink this advice for patients in the future.  

The flood of pain and disability I endure to this day (I am writing this in 2022) should not destroy the active life of anyone else. 

This will be something of a challenge because normally the retina doctors spend little or no time explaining anything and rarely if ever invite questions.  

But when  I asked this retina doctor why I had these eye condition requiring shots in the eye, the answer I received set off a series of actions that leave me disabled and in pain.  

I discuss this in more detail in another post:

http://www.joansbackbonedisaster.com/2021/08/are-drugs-for-my-bones-harming-my-eyes.html

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IF PAIN WERE ---

If Pain were a chef I’d be eating fabulously;

If Pain were a musician I’d enjoy the music;

If Pain were a dog we’d take a walk each day;

If Pain were a comedian I’d be doubled up in laughter;

If Pain were a job I’d get a nice paycheck each week;

So many IFs — but there is only the big “BUT,”  

Pain is just pain. 

JDL 10/29/21

ON MAYO CLINIC WEBSITE

 Here's my post on Mayo Clinic discussion website at: 

https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/osteoporosis-prolia-and-macular-degeneration/?pg=1#comment-630158

I post as Joan26

The article they mention I already have.  Which makes me think there may not be much more out there on this!

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