Just left my doctor’s office with a diagnosis of osteoporosis. I’ve fallen off twice in the last 3-4 years, no injuries, but going forward, I’m wondering if there are ways to lower the risks. Riding is probably the riskiest activity I do.
Others in this position, are there things that you do that you can share?
@staceyk I was diagnosed 7 years ago and have been on and off fosmax since then. I stopped riding for roughly 5 years, during that time lost my mother to a fall and congestive heart failure, and found myself just about as depressed as I’ve ever been. It took a couple of friends to convince me to hack out with them before I realized how much I’d given up in order to remain safe.
After convincing husband that horse=happy joliemom, I contacted my designated finder, aka my best friend, to go out and find a horse for me. Her search ended with a big ass, bay, 16.2, OTTB who hadn’t been ridden in probably 3-4 years. He’s been perfect. Not perfectly behaved, but perfect for me. We do a bit of jumping, lots of dressaging (first show this year, fingers crossed for more next spring), plus trails.
To assure my husband and those who love me, I bought a vest. I board where there’s plenty of activity because I don’t ride alone. I try to keep my phone with me. I try not to do anything stupid, like jump all the jumps…maybe one or two. That’s about it.
At this point, I’ve told all friends and family, should my horse toss me to heaven (hopefully, but you know, there was college…), I’ll have died happy.
Thanks. I can’t quite bring myself to read medical articles right now, was hoping for some man-on-the-street accounts. My horse is pretty safe, at least.
There are things you can do to mitigate risk and also to work on your bone density.
I would be very frank with your provider and tell him or her what kind of exercise you do. I would, when you can stomach it, read articles and get your absolute scores so that you know exactly what you are dealing with. You are likely no longer laying down bone, but it’s not a death sentence.
You are at more risk for fractures obviously, but honestly, you could take a wrong step off of a curb and suffer a similar injury.
Take some time to process, but then come up with a plan. Don’t ignore it, regardless of whether we’re not riding is your activity for the rest of your life. Medications are not without risk, so it’s all a risk benefit conversation. Get the research together, then have a meeting with your provider. If he or she doesn’t seem that interested, see a specialist.
I am on an appropriate medication, but I’m still riding. I am maybe a bit more cautious–longeing the pony if I have my doubts as to her trustworthiness. Most importantly, to me at least, I bought a Point 2 air vest and wear it almost every ride, unless way too hot (in which case my horse is generally too lazy to do something stupid.) Nothing is certain, but as has been pointed out, I could fall off of a curb, so why quit riding?
Have you asked about raloxifene? That’s what I take. Added bonus: it protects against breast cancer. Doesn’t give you heartburn like fosamax. Oh, and vitamin D supplement. And weight-bearing exercise. And then I talk to my dear friend who has had osteoporosis for decades now and still jumps. She’s a wellspring of joy and inspiration. Find someone like that if at all possible!
What an annoying diagnosis. I hope you can get some good answers.
From dealing with my elderly mom, I’d say there’s a lot of benefit in staying active. Yeah, you don’t want to fall. But I don’t know if it’s worse to have your first nasty accident coming off a horse than walking around in the shower.
Getting old sucks.
There is a cycle of bone break down and renewal. Use it to your advantage. I opted to go the build bone route versus take a drug. It worked out for me. I built back more bone, and my spine and hips are now osteopenia, not osteoporosis. What did I do? I lifted feed bags and stacked hay on my farmette. And had my minerals and vitamins analyzed, then fixed the lacks. During menopause is when most bones are weakened. No one tells us this. But the effect ends post menopause.
So I haven’t researched this, but isn’t the latest finding that weight bearing exercise doesn’t help, calcium doesn’t help, the only thing that truly restores bone is the injection? I thought I had heard that. Also, I am quite a ways post menopause, and my bones keep weakening.
That said, I quit worrying about it. I certainly do NOT want to come off, but I am not going to quit riding or living.
I think what I’ve read is that bone density is not the best predictor of fractures, but a combination of factors have to be considered – smoking, body weight (that’s a biggie, low body weight is bad news as far as fractures), and other things I don’t remember. I don’t know about weight-bearing exercise but most articles still recommend it. I agree with you that big gains after menopause are not that common. It is so helpful to hear from others. It seems that not only riding, but other physical activity (e.g., running) has to be monitored as well. What a drag.
Young women out there, get a dexascan. If you’re an elite athlete, you could be at risk, if you’re thin you’re at higher risk, if you’re prone to stress fractures and/or if you have ever had an eating disorder, get checked out!
I have osteopenia and now ride with a Hit Air vest every ride. I have come off 3 times in the past 18 months and ended up with fractures two of those times. Even in the hottest tropical months I wear it. The last time I came off, the vest went off, I got up & got back on. I did have a bruise on my wrist, but I think it could have been much worse as I seem to land the same way each time. The air vest is expensive, but I figured it is cheaper than a copay & deductible.
I have osteoporosis, tried the Reclast infusion two years ago, but was one of the few who had a reaction. My bone density test last year showed it did build bone. This week did a first injection of Prolia. I am mindful of what I do around horses and don’t take chances, just ride my own horse, and if she’s feeling fresh I longe first instead of riding it out.
It is good to know WHY you are losing bone mass. I went from being in the upper 2% of bone mass for my age, to being osteopenic. I had a workup and turned out to be peeing calcium out - and with a very small dose of a diuretic, that stopped and my bone scan results stabilized.
YES. In my case the problem is partly related to a parathyroid issue that was corrected ten years ago by surgery, and now apparently is needed again. At least I hope that this is causing it, and that it can be corrected. I did not gain back losses the first time…
In my case, it’s hereditary, my grandmother–>my mother–>me. With both beloved ladies, osteoporosis contributed to their deaths. Now that’s a happy thought. :ambivalence:
I am osteoporotic. I have a lovely horse that is as close to bombproof as a horse can be. That being said, he is still a horse, and I have come off twice (over 11 years). No breaks, luckily. I could stop riding–could stop breathing, too, and would feel about the same. Life is a risk.
On reading some of the posts, some of you shared meds you had been taking to deal with osteoporosis, could you share more about them please? Also, when you refer about a bone specialist, what kind of doctor would that be? I got diagnosed 2 years ago, due to a car accident that I was in. Due to my head injury and my back and neck pain, I was laid up for quite a while. Then immediately afterwards they were worried about some other major things going on with me, like they thought I had myastenia gravis, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer and possibly having strokes . needless to say, osteoporosis got put on the back burner while all the testing and everything was going on. My focus for the last 2 years has been to get better and get my life back. Fast forward to a month ago and my WHOLE world got turned upside down. Went to z Boston for a get away with hubby and 10 seconds after getting there I rolled my foot on their pavers, crashed to the ground and broke my foot. The break was bad enough that I had to have surgery, they needed to put a screw in and a plate. However, as they were putting the screw in, the bone started to disintegrate so they had to stop. They were able to finish that, but not the plate. I’m so freaked out on all of this it isn’t even funny. I had a bone density done a week ago, but they only did my hips. I don’t know why they wouldn’t do more areas of my body. Anyways, I’m freaking out, looking for insight and help. I would LOVE to start riding again, I used to do trail rides .I love horses and if it could help me to get my bone density back all the better. I used to play Camogie, but as that can be a contact sport I’m afraid to that I might get broke. Broken hip is a kiss of death. Any suggestions or recommendations you can give would be so truly appreciative. I want more to my life than feeling like I have to become the bubble girl.
Reading this post, some how I feel like I am missing something from my doctors. Nobody has given me a number or told me what level of osteoporosis I have. They don’t call the bone density machine a dexatron. In regards to the meds, I was originally prescribed the Fosamax, but with my GI problems, hx of ulcers, problems with my pancreatic duct, gallbladder and diverticulitis, it is not a good fit for me. I go see a Rheumatologist on the 6th and don’t even know where to begin to ask on questions. Any direction for reading or doing things or anything would be so great. I don’t have a lot of riding experience, but have always dreamt of more. I’ve raised 7 kids and oh by the way, having babies sucks some of the calcium out of your bones, who knew? Me being lactose intolerant, hating the taste of milk, having 2 sets of twins, thin build all counted against me with the osteoporosis. Now that my kids are grown, it’s time for me to concentrate on me. What can I do horse wise? What can I do safe wise?
I truly do hope someone sees this and responds
Thank you for listening
Horsewise… how do you feel about switching to a more secure saddle such as an ausie stock or western? Something that will lock you in a bit more. Full seat breeches provide more security too. What type of arena footing do you have at your barn? I would look at barns with hog fuel or GGT - anything that cushions a possible fall.
I would stay away from roads and hard surfaces while mounted.
Irishrose, you need an endocrinologist with a special interest in osteoporosis. Too bad you are no longer in Boston - I have a great one.
Somewhere in my 50’s, I was diagnosed with osteoporosis in my hips and osteopenia in my back. I was told to remove all carpets at home so I didn’t slip. My reaction was annoyance. I went home and lifted a couple 50 pound weights (aka hay bales) for evening feed, and went about my active life. Yes, I did change my nutrition, and kept active. Measured again after a few years, the bone density improved quite a bit. There was a fair amount of controversy about the bone drugs, so that went into my decision making, too. Ask your dentist what their view is.
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