My phys. therapy person said i was beginning to form a dowitchers hump. This is at the upper portion of the spine, before you get to the cervical portion at the neck.
I have a friend with Lyme that used to be six foot two, and is now five foot six, I wonder if this has anything to do with this dowitchers hump.
I know i am tired and dont sit up straight most of the time and maybe that is causing it.
Do any of you have this going on. I dont want to be any shorter than I am and weigh what I do, as i am already to short for my weight.
thanks, lemon
Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
I'm not an expert, but my mother had this, as did her German aunts. Hers was diagnosed as osteoporosis and sitting up straight has nothing to do with it, although she did tell me that when I was growing up, as I'm sure she had heard it when she was young, too.
Osteoporosis is more common among woman of northern European descent and slight build. While my mother was never slight until her 90's, she was half German.
There are a variety of meds used today to treat osteoporosis, as well as calcium supplements. the latest is being hawked by Sally Fields.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I hope you are on calcium?? I think that's Dowager's Hump.
Posted by trueblue (Member # 7348) on :
I was told I had the beginnings of a Dowager's hump by my chiropractor around 20 years ago. I don't think it's any worse than it was then.
I don't have ostoeporosis. I had my bone density checked this year for the first time and it's fine. (It can't hurt to have your bone density checked and see if you need to be on calcium.)
Any bone loss I have, elsewhere, seems to be TBD related.
I am no shorter than the 5' 3 1/2" that I was to begin with. I do have trouble sitting up straight, etc, my muscles don't want to hold me up. I have tried.
I have been told repeatedly that the curve in my spine is wrong. ^shrugs^
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Got a chuckle out of this subject line. Dowitcher is a small, cute shorebird. Dowager is an older lady, who may be cute too but is more likely to have a hump than a shorebird is.
Posted by lymemomtooo (Member # 5396) on :
My 20 year old lymie was diagnosed with osteoporosis when she was 16, so pretty sure it can be caused by bacteria and Lyme.
Our family does seem to have this with every generation but mine did not start until the 50's so other causes affected my daughter to have this so early.
I have never been diagnosed with osteroporosis nor had my mom. But think the Dr's office, heel test misses much of it.
Posted by tothepoorhouse (Member # 8595) on :
I understand it can be caused by a form of thyroid disease too....sorry, can't remember the name.
I have one...lucky me.
My husband insists it's from me recoiling from pain for so long, especially in my neck and lower back, that I'm constantly hunched over.
It's true. I think my spine is moving forward from doing it for so long. And I used to have perfect posture. Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :
My mother has this due to osteoporosis. Please get a bone density test so you can get on the right treatment.
Posted by trueblue (Member # 7348) on :
quote:Originally posted by lymemomtooo: My 20 year old lymie was diagnosed with osteoporosis when she was 16, so pretty sure it can be caused by bacteria and Lyme.
Our family does seem to have this with every generation but mine did not start until the 50's so other causes affected my daughter to have this so early.
I have never been diagnosed with osteoporosis nor had my mom. But think the Dr's office, heel test misses much of it.
Sorry to hear that LMT.
My bone density test was done on the pelvic bone. The gynecologist's office did it. My mom gets hers done at the rheumatologist.
I had had a full body bone scan done 13 years ago and that showed hot spots but density wasn't part of it. Damaged bone and joints did glow. Both confirmation and unsettling.
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