Is HRT supposed to prevent osteoporosis?

I'm wondering if anyone here has any info on this subject. I know that we're at a greater risk of osteoporosis without our hormones, but I had NO IDEA my back would increasingly get worst after just having the Hyster last Oct 05.
It aches very deeply as if it's bending inside and I find myself gravitating forward rather than up straight. standing in an upright position hurts the hips and I say to myself, gosh, I'm only 46, what on earth am I going to feel like when I reach my late 50's?
so I went to the dr with the complaint of my spine hurting worst, he sent me for an x-ray and I jsut got the results back that I have "degenerative joint disease in the thoracic and lumbar spine.
he also sent me to a physcial therapist for advice. she told me my entire spine is twisting.
I am in pain everyday but with the moist heat and stretching excersises it stops the pain for a short while.
my gyno did mention before the hysterecotmy that she wanted me to get a bone density test and we totally forgot.
do any of you here have the same problem?
and what are you doing to help slow the progression down.
My physical therapist hasn't read the xray report yet due to the fact I had my visit with her before the report was sent out. I got it from my primary dr.
I don't see her till next wk when she gets back from vacation. I just had my evaluation there the other day.
Is this what I have to look forward to being in full blown surgical menopause? am I still in menopause technically even though I'm taking HRT?
I'm confused as to whether the HRT will protect further degeneration.
any answers anyone?

Linda

I have been complaining of lower back pain and into the hips down into my legs and muscles.

If I excercise, it only exacerbates the pain in my lower region. I wake up and my muscles are cramping and tight.

I went to one dr. his suggestion pilates, so I went somewhere else, phys. therapy. NO xray done.

Im concerned about the whole me now, I feel like crap...so Im done not doing anything, Im gonna go to an endocrinologist, and make sure everything is working right with my body.

All i know is I have not felt normal for over a full yr. now.

good luck to you.

Maria

Hi Maria,
there could be multiple reasons your lower back hurts.
I was told by the Physical therapist that abdominal surgery weakens our stomach muscles which in turn effects our spine. she made me do an excersise on the table to show her the extent of how much muscle I was able to use.
she said I have to excersise there and should strengthen our back muscles.
what happens too if you have mild scoliosis or other problems in the back, the muscles are attached to the bones, and the spine which winds up pullling your muscles out of kilter and they become inflammed which in turn makes spasms in the muscles which hurts us. does it hurt for you to stand up straight?
guess what? the PT also told me pilates or yoga would be GREAT for the body and would help stretch the stubborn muscles back. she put moist heat on it for 15 min before doing some stretching. I now have been using a heating pad and my b/f picked up one of those gels packs that you heat up in the micro wave and slip it into a sleeve so you don't burn yourself and I CAN"T believe how it takes my pain away.
it is amazing!!!!! heat, stretching, even though it hurts, but only do excersises if your dr says it's o.k. because IF you have a spinal problem, certain excersises can aggrivate the problem.

I had to go back to my dr 2x before he suggested the entire spine xray. YOU can ask for an xray. we have to be advocates for our own health I am learning. drs are flexible and they like when their patients work along with them, so don't feel funny sugggesting to your dr to write a script for an xray.
Insurance companies will only cover a certain amount of visits if it's warranted. it all depends on what's causing your lower pain.
You hired the dr and you can fire him or her if you so choose.
don't stop till you find a dr who really cares about what's afflicting you.
you might have a pinched nerve if it's running down your siatica.
your buttocks, your leg area. or it could be something totally unrelated, like your pelvic area. when was the last time you've had a gyno exam? everything is in such close proximity, organs, bones, tissue, muscle. it can be complicated.
just my opinion, find another dr if you have to .
good luck and I hope you find an answer to your pain.

Linda

Hi Linda, thanks for the reply.

Im gonna go ahead and spend the money and time for an MRI. Then go from there.

It hurts to sit, stand, or lay down. Im gonna just walk and not work out so hard.

I am gonna do pilates or yoga like the doc suggested.

Yes, my most recent gyno exam was surgery. I had more endo and a big cyst inside. My belly button has not healed properly either. The stitch will not dissolve and the surgery was in the end of march, so he may need to cut it open again FUN FUN FUN.

Im so tired of spending money, Im also wondering if Im taking too many vits. cause I always feel crappy. too much is not always good.

I am goin to take a good multi with my calcium and thats it. I think I have been taking too much B vits.

Nothing is better than eating healthy. You diet surely can help things can't it?? I believe that.

Well, we shall see.

take care

Maria

Maria,
the vitamins can be the cause of our cramping?
did the dr tell you this or did you hear this from another resource?

I am so curious myself as to why the cramping?

I understand how you can feel that no one is finding out the cause of your symtoms and I pray that are able to find out what's going on. you mentioned about the stitches not dissolving. I read somewhere that a woman kept having problems with her cervical cuff aftrer they removed her cervix and it was due to the fact that she was allergic to the material that the stitches are made of. that's why it never seemed to heal. it had gone on for a long time before they discovered that they had to get her back into surgery, and use another material that her body wouldn't react to.
pretty interesting. all these medical mysteries.
I wish you the best and keep in touch to let us know how you're doing.
sincerely,
Linda

I understand that officially, HRT is not the best thing for osteoporosis..there are now much better treatments available. However, they all seem to agree unofficially that oestrogen is bone friendly....

Hi Linda, I have many of the same questions that you do. I currently DO have osteoporosis in my spine & hip. My OB-GYN put me on Fosamax with Vitamin D. (70 mg) I take it once a week. I understand that it actually builds back bone loss. I had a hyster 7 weeks ago & am not taking any HRT (so far so good) BUT my Dr. said that he wants me to have frequent Bone Density tests to monitor whether the Osteo is getting better or worse. If it's getting worse, he said that he will refer me to an Endocrinologist who will be able to take the issue from there. At least my Doctor is very concerned about my bone health & will send me on, if necessary, to someone who specializes in bone disease. Good Luck to you!
Barbara

Hi, Linda.. well I chilled out on the vits. I am not bombarding myself with them, only take what I need.

As far as the stitch goes. Well thats another story I am gonna keep watching it.

I am scheduled for an MRI for my lower back tomorrow. If that comes back normal, then off to the endocrinologist in July, then Im done with Dr.s

I don't know if the stich could be causing any problems but then again you never know right?

ttyl

Maria

Barbara, Scriv and Maria,
thank you for your replies.
Barbara, you say that estrogen has nothing to do with the bones then?
I know hereditary has alot to do with it too, our genes, are we thin fair skinned woman, who drink alot of caffeine, smoke cigarettes, etc. this is what the medical teams say is the cause or risks of getting osteoparosis.
I didn't know that an endocronologist would know how to treat this. and what type of bone doctor?
all I know is that I'm suffering more and more everyday just by standing, or sitting and the only thing that really helps is heat, and rest. which is not a good thing considering I have to work full time. It's horrible to ache. I told this dr. a yr ago that something wasn't right. I am angry that I didn't pursue this further and a yr is wasted when I could have started some form of therapy for it.
but that's life, can't complain and can't blame others. only myself.
I'm not so sure physical therapy will help this now that we know what it is. the dr said the reason I was to have the physical therapy was for mild scoliosis but the x-ray now says different and the radioloigst mentions next step is an MRI.
that's probably what my family dr will do next.
meanwhile, I will take aspirin for anti inflammatory effects and grin and bear it.
oh the joys of getting older.
thanks ladies,
linda

Linda,
I'm 37 and my doc felt that it was imperative for me to have estrogen replacement because I'm in the bone building stage of life still and if I didn't, then I would definitely develop osteoporosis down the road. He felt that the risks of ERT with bioidentical estrogens were the same risks I would face if I kept my ovaries. Estrogen has been shown in many studies to be bone protective. After the Women's Health Initiative Study, it was felt that the risks with conjugated estrogen replacement for blood clot, stroke, heart attack, and estrogen fed cancers outweighed the benefits of using it for bone protection. There a risks with any medication that you take, including nutritional supplements and the osteoporosis drugs like Fosamax and Boniva. A frank assessment of all the risks vs. benefits of each drug should be made by you and your doctor together to decide what the best route for you should be. A healthy diet and weight bearing exercise (practice what I preach not necessarily what I do) also play a role in maintaining bone health. For all the women out there, I recommend a bone density test at baseline around your hyst and then periodic checkups based on your doctors advice. Best of luck on finding some relief and answers.
Rachel