Accident, result, brittle bones?

[JennyGiggle]

Well I have had a bit of a disaster the last few days. It got icy and snowy here again and I slipped. It wasn't a bad slip (I have had much worse) but I ended up with worse injuries than I have had from slipping before. I have a cracked jaw and a couple of broken ribs and some severe bruising. It wasn't really discussed at A&E mainly because I hadn't thought of it but I was wondering if its maybe brittle bones. I have heard that high phos can cause brittle bones. I think my levels have been reasonable - at least its never been mentioned and I always remember to take my binders. I was wondering how quickly it takes to develop brittle bones because of this (could it have happened in the period before I was diagnosed?) or is a more long term process. Also does anyone bruise easily. I don't usually bruise much but my hip, leg and side are black, blue and purple and wonder if this is caused by anything renal associated? I will ask about this on Thurs but I would appreciate some input if anyone knows about this stuff.

Jenny

[MooseMom]

Oh my goodness, are you OK?  To the best of my knowledge, renal osteoporosis doesn't happen overnight.  It is not an uncommon condition amongst renal patients, but if you were at any real risk, your labs would have alerted your doctors by now.  Your labs would have shown high phos over a long time along with imbalances in calcium and PTH.  Your bruising, though, makes me wonder if that is more a result of bloodthinners you get during dialysis?

[jbeany]

You might want to push for a bone scan, just to make sure it's not a bone problem.  If you have a genetic predisposition to osteo, then dialysis is going to make it worse.  Best to be informed asap if you do have a problem. 

The bruising goes along with the lovely combo of heparin, blood pressure meds, and anemia treatments.  If you are on epo of any kind, it makes you bruise much easier.  The running joke around my friends was I would bruise if you pointed at me. . .  it went away with the transplant, so yes, it's dialysis related!

   All those broken bones sound miserable!

[Rerun]

OOOuch!  I hope you heal fast. 

         

[KICKSTART]

Poor you ! I bet you are sore ! Hard to say if its dialysis related , unless you get hubby/partner to re- enact the same fall as see what they break  . I think sometimes things will just break if you land hard enough and it sound like you did ! Also you bruises are dialysis related just as the others said . Im not going to say anything to make you laugh especially with that cracked jaw , gawd i bet that hurts ? How are you going on for eating ..knowing our fluid restrictions its not like you can drink lots to cover it .

[JennyGiggle]

Thanks for the advice. Its not too bad, my mum and sister are happy because I can't talk much lol, and I am not working at the moment so it doesn't affect me at work or anything. Thats good to know about the bruising as well. I will ask about getting me bones checked out, fingers crossed that I was just unlucky and that its not osteoperosis. It just made me worry that such a small slip could do so much damage, I am probably just over-reacting. Here's hoping I don't get a cold lol. The last time I broke a rib I caught the cold straight after - I had nightmares about coughing and sneezing lmao. Kickstart: Yeh eating is a bitch (trying not to chew my food and avoid choking eeeck) I look like a hamster as well cause the swelling hasn't went down yet lol. My friend came round to visit and bless her, she couldn't contain her laughter at the sight of me.

Jenny

[sullidog]

I agree, I'd think if there was an issue they would of told you. Is your PTH been fine as well?
Troy

[JennyGiggle]

They were really high when I was first diagnosed (it was quite a all of a sudden thing so levels were probably high for quite a while) but since starting dialysis and meds I don't think they have went above 500. I don't know what is considered high but mine was a lot higher than that to start off with and I have heard of other people who have really high PTH. As I said, I am probably just over-reacting.

Jenny

[galvo]

Sorry to hear your news, Jenny. I trust you'll bounce back really soon.

[JennyGiggle]

im already bouncing hehe....just not as high as before lol...i have a date on saturday hamster face or not im still gonna go - i think ill avoid dancing though haha

Jenny

[KICKSTART]

Some expert shading with cosmetics should sort that or ...you could always make a feature of it with blusher   

[-Lady Noir-]

Hi JennyGiggle

Sorry to hear of your fall! Glad to read your bouncing back 

My partner had a fall too, [actually, didn't realise that he could no longer run] he merely ran a few meters and his hips dislocated and as they popped back in the pelvic bones chipped. They knew he had high phosphate & high PTH, but to that extent they had no idea. This was all before dialysis too. Anyway, he ended up having a parathyroidectomy, and even so, he still doesn't like the idea of running!

[RightSide]

I have heard that high phos can cause brittle bones. I think my levels have been reasonable - at least its never been mentioned and I always remember to take my binders.
Jenny

High parathyroid hormone (hyperparathyroidism) is common with kidney patients, and that can also suck the calcium out of your bones.  Find out what your PTH level is.

I'm sorry to hear you were so badly injured.