THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 1, 1995 TAG: 9509270061
SECTION: REAL LIFE PAGE: K4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ALEXANDRIA BERGER
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
REMEMBER the song that goes, ``them bones, them bones, them dry bones. . . the . . . ''?
If you can't remember this song, you're probably too young to remember Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour, and the skeleton-like guy who sang it, while clanging six spoons on his hip. You probably haven't begun to experience the pain of osteoporosis, either.
I've tried playing the spoons, but like so many Americans, I have painfully severe osteoporosis. Simply put, osteoporosis is a reduction in bone density, which falls below the level needed for mechanical support of your main frame. Your hips ache, your lower back feels as if you're being jabbed by a poker, your shoulders hurt, and getting out of bed feels like being twisted by a pretzel machine.
Our bones start disintegrating at around age 30. This process increases dramatically after menopause in women, and as testosterone declines, in aging men. This disease leaves millions of women and men critically disabled and crippled.
Among contributing factors: overuse of thyroid medications, cortisone drugs, certain gastrointestinal and bone diseases, inactivity, extensive bed rest, lack of sex hormones, quadriplegia (like Christopher Reeve), chronic lung disease, smoking, heavy alcohol use, being white, having a slight build.
By old age, one-third of women and one-sixth of men will have had a hip fracture, a disaster that can be fatal.
So, several weeks ago, when the media announced a new treatment breakthrough using ``sodium fluoride and calcium citrate,'' proven to increase bone density and decrease fracture rates, I was elated.
Immediately, I asked John T. O'Brian, professor of medicine, and endocrinologist at The Diabetes Institutes and Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders, Eastern Virginia Medical School, if the new treatment was for me.
The answer: ``Sorry, you're not a candidate. This new treatment, will work for millions of people with osteoporosis in the spine, but not for people with osteoporosis in long bones, like the femur (thigh bone). It could actually increase your chance of fracture.''
Not to worry. This new drug is only one of other advances. Donald W. Richardson, associate professor of medicine and endocrinologist at the Institute, elaborates.
``Studies now prove estrogen replacement does not increase bone density, but either decreases greatly or stops bone loss and thus reduces fracture rate by about 80 percent. Calcitonin, a hormone made in the thyroid gland, can be injected like insulin, several times a day, to relieve pain and prevent bone breakdown.''
While these injections are annoying and expensive (I inject myself four times a day), and, initially, there is some nausea, my pain is gone. Approved by the FDA, Calcitonin will soon be available in a nasal spray.
Expecting FDA approval before Christmas, another oral drug to increase bone minerals will be marketed by Merck & Co. as Fosamax.
``Taken daily, this breakthrough is supposed to have less side effects than Didronel, a drug which can only be taken two weeks every three months,'' says Richardson.
``Elemental calcium intake should be at least 1,500 milligrams a day in kids, 800 milligrams a day in young adults, and at least 1,000 milligrams a day in postmenopausal women. Women with osteoporosis, if possible, should be taking 1,500 milligrams.''
Instead of cracking up, think about ``them bones'' and how to make them stronger. Otherwise, your hip bone might be disconnected from your thigh bone. MEMO: Write to Alexandria Berger in care of Real Life, The Virginian-Pilot,
150 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, Va. 23510. by CNB