posted
I have lost at least 1 inch in height in the last 2+ years.
My right hip has bothered me for at least that long, and my left hip just started bothering me.
Bothering me = hurting constatly and unbearably at times.
I'm not sure when I contracted lyme, probably about 8 yrs ago.
About 2yrs ago I had meningitis and things haven't really quieted down yet.
At that time , I was more than 1" taller than I was yesterday at llmd's office.
Anybody else experience this? Is my skeleton shrinking?
Carly. Posts: 797 | From New York | Registered: Feb 2008
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glm1111
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 16556
posted
Hi Carly,
Soooo Sorry you are in so much pain. I have a compressed spinal cord from this disease and it didn't dawn on me until now that I probably have shrunk a little.
I am 1/4' shorter when I was measured at the docs office. I think that can happen with age as well. Sure hope you feel better.
Gael
-------------------- PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS* Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
Have you had a bone density test? I was just diagnosed with osteoporosis this year and am on one of the medications for it. I'm taking Fosteum, which has genistein in it, a product of soy. I've been on it about 3 months and am waiting for results of a test recently to see if it seems to be working.
There are lots of other drugs/supplements available which will actually help rebuild bone, and you should seriously consider starting treatment. I doubt it will help you regain your height, but it may help slow the rate of your shrinkage. You have to be aware that this probably means your/our bones are severely weakened, and be especially careful walking/going up and down stairs.
I do believe this is a result of Bb attacking our bones. I think it attacks every cell in our body in it's own stealthy, subversive manner.
Patti
Posts: 975 | From California | Registered: Apr 2007
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
patti,
have you read the horror stories of taking FOSAMAX where it affects the jaw bone and you need to have it replaced?
if you do a search, you'll find 3-6 members who have had this painful procedure done....
i've shrunk 1", don't know timeline of years of this one. hubby has shrunk 5-7"!!
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posted
First off, I am 38, so age shouldn't be an issue for another 20(?) yrs.
Betty, it's good to see you back.
Gael, so sweet of you to be so sympathetic. I thank you for your compassion.
But please don't take my complaining so seriously. I only wanted to clarify what I meant by "bothering me".
I tend to understate things. Then, in an effort to clarify, I overstate.
I am certainly no worse off than anyone else around here.
Patti, I did have a bone density test done, but it was in 2005, before my "sharp decline".
It was well within normal range for my age.
I guess I can have another one done and compare, but do I really need to?
It's funny you mention being careful ... I sometimes think of when my grandmother broke her hip and fell.
I learned that the weak hip breaks and then the fall occurs, not the other way around.
I need to write this down so I can have a discussion with my llmd next time I talk to him.
I just wish I thought of it Thursday when I was in his office!
Thanks for the replies
Curious: any other pre-menopausal women experience this?
Carly.
Posts: 797 | From New York | Registered: Feb 2008
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
I've had lyme for many decades. I shrunk several inches in my 30's. I didn't go into menopause until my early 40's. I'm in my early 50's and I'm a total of 2 1/4 inches shorter than I used to be. I had a bone density test after I shrunk and it was normal for my age.
All of my siblings and my mother are ill, probably infected at the same time that I was infected, many decades ago. One of my sisters stood up and the bone in her ankle crumbled. Her bone density is normal. She has had bone pain for a long time.
My mothers jaw bone was disolving according to her doctor. She falls all the time but has never broken a bone so I expect that she has normal bone density for her age.
As a child, probably 5-7 years after I was infected, I had 3 broken bones. I twisted my ankle and it broke. Next I stepped on a brick and the end flipped up and it broke. I fell on my wrist and it broke. It's a puzzle.
I suspect bartonella but I have no proof of that.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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I'm using Fosteum, not Fosamax. Fosteum is not a member of the biphosphonates category of drugs like Fosamax. It's a natural product made from soy beans. Biphophonates are the drugs that can cause the jaw necrosis.
I talked at length with my dentist before choosing to try Fosteum. He was totally against the biphosphonates, for good reason. I think that we w/Lyme are probably more susceptible to the jaw necrosis than others might be, because researchers have found "biofilm covered" bacteria in the necrotic jaws of those people who've suffered this problem, and blame that as the cause.
We already know we're loaded w/bacteria, which apparently is covered w/biofilm, so why increase your chances of having a serious problem in the future?
Thank you for the warning anyway.
Patti
Posts: 975 | From California | Registered: Apr 2007
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USC SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY RESEARCHERS UNCOVER LINK BETWEEN OSTEOPOROSIS DRUGS AND JAW INFECTION
Biofilms Behind Jaw Deterioration
A group of University of Southern California School of Dentistry researchers says it has identified the slimy culprits killing the jawbones of some people taking drugs that treat osteoporosis.
Microbial biofilms, a mix of bacteria and sticky extracellular material, are causing jaw tissue infections in patients taking bisphosphonate drugs, said Parish Sedghizadeh, lead researcher and assistant clinical professor at the USC School of Dentistry.
Sold under brand names such as Fosamax, Boniva and Actonel, bisphosphonates are prescribed to millions of patients to combat osteoporosis, a bone-wasting disease that increases the risk of fractures.
Sedghizadeh said there have been increasing reports of osteonecrosis (bone death) of the jaw in patients who have been taking the drugs for osteoporosis or for treatment from the bonewasting effects of cancer. He said he decided to investigate further after seeing patients in USC dentistry clinics who had the unusual jaw infection.
``This is the first study that identifies microbial biofilms in the bone of bisphosphonate patients who have osteonecrosis of the jaw,'' Sedghizadeh said.
Jaw osteonecrosis occurs when bacteria-laden biofilms infect the jaw after the bone is exposed, typically because of a tooth extraction or injury.
The USC research team includes renowned biofilm expert J. William Costerton, director of the Center for Biofilms at the USC School of Dentistry.
Pioneered by Costerton, biofilm theory has moved scientists beyond thinking of bacteria as free-floating organisms. Instead, bacteria build biofilm communities, attaching to surfaces and communicating and defending against antimicrobial invaders.
The team used powerful scanning electron microscopes to study patients' jawbone samples. The images revealed biofilm bacteria sprawling over pitted tissue.
The scientists are now trying to determine why bisphosphonate drugs seem to open the door for biofilm-associated infections of the jaw. ``Now that we've know biofilms are behind the infection of the jaw, we are studying ways to
effectively treat or prevent the osteonecrosis,'' Sedghizadeh said.
The study was funded by the USC School of Dentistry with the assistance of a USC Zumberge Research and Innovation Award. The results of the study are published in the April issue of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
posted
Since the other posts mentioned bone loss, I thought I'd toss this out here as another possible reason for height loss. I have lost an inch in the past few years as well, for this reason:
The loss of height can occur from loss of fluid in the spinal discs. These can dehydrate,leak, buldge or rupture at any time. Several damaged discs can add up to shrinkage.
Problems with the discs can lead to the facet joints rubbing or nerves being pinched. Lots of pain for sure.
I had a problem with my right hip for abt a yr, then it went to my left hip, so both were very painful. I could barely move, let alone walk .
I saw a pain specialist, who ran tests/Mri and found my sacroliliac was inflamed. This free floating joint ties the hips together, using the ligaments, etc. The links have lots of info , if your interested.
Perhaps consider seeing and Ortho or a pain specialist, to be sure theres not something more serious going on.
Hope you feel better soon.
-------------------- Take Care, DakotasMom01 Posts: 371 | From NJ | Registered: Dec 2007
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
The loss of bone density can start at an early age. My mom was diagnosed with pre-osteoporosis in her mid-40's (osteopenia), but who knows how long the bone loss had been going on at that point. All the women in my family seem to be shrinking.
Just keep up with the research involving things you can do to keep all that stuff under control...maybe look into things like balancing the calcium with whatever mineral it is supposed to be in proper proportion with (i think it was magnesium? not sure). Also, I suggested my mom look into a good brand of Vitamin D3 as a supplement.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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I just think it's gravity getting fatter.
Posts: 845 | From Eastern USA | Registered: Jul 2006
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Cass A
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11134
posted
Borrelia loves to eat connective tissue.
This includes discs and the tissue separators between other joints.
I just had an xray of my hand, and the MD said no break, but the joint areas were "smaller than he'd like to see them." I KNOW I have at least one disc that is just about completely gone (by XRay).
These would cause height to decrease, eh?
Best,
Cass A
Posts: 1245 | From Thousand Oaks, CA | Registered: Feb 2007
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Betty, I edited the post.
Posts: 975 | From California | Registered: Apr 2007
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ajisuun
Unregistered
posted
You mention hip pain. Have you seen a chiropractor? I was having severe pelvis/lower back/hip pain and saw a chiropractor. He tugged on my legs for a few visits to get the hips and pelvis in alignment. It had gotten so bad that one leg was measurably shorter than the other. Just an idea.
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