noflyingfan
03-07-2008, 01:04 AM
I had a really weird wakeup call at the doctor today.
For a few weeks now, my left foot has been hurting. I don't remember doing anything; I didn't fall, I didn't twist anything. But it hurts so bad that sometimes I can hardly walk.
Long story short, after an x-ray, the doctor still isn't positive what the problem is, but he said he thinks it's something to do with the fact that I have flat feet and wear improper footwear, which I totally believe.
But the really interesting and scary thing was that when he looked at the x-ray, he asked me if there's a history of osteoporosis in my family. There is; in my dad's family, it runs rampant. I knew I had to be concerned about it because of that, plus since I don't eat dairy anymore, I have that going against me. But I didn't think it would become a problem so soon. The doctor told me though that from the look of the x-ray, my bone density is not where it should be for someone my age. I have to go get a bone density test to be sure, but he pretty much told me that this is a big warning sign that I'm at risk for osteoporosis.
I was really surprised, because I'm young, in reasonably good shape and physically active, and even though I don't eat dairy, I try to get my calcium and vitamin D from other sources. I've never smoked, and I hardly ever drink.
The good news is that, should the bone density scan come up with bad results, there's still time to do something about it. But this was a real wake up call for me. I've always been really healthy, and this is the first time a doctor has ever told me anything like this. Even at my age, I really have to start paying serious attention to my health, because there aren't too many more years when I'll be able to say "I have time to take care of this before it becomes a problem."
For a few weeks now, my left foot has been hurting. I don't remember doing anything; I didn't fall, I didn't twist anything. But it hurts so bad that sometimes I can hardly walk.
Long story short, after an x-ray, the doctor still isn't positive what the problem is, but he said he thinks it's something to do with the fact that I have flat feet and wear improper footwear, which I totally believe.
But the really interesting and scary thing was that when he looked at the x-ray, he asked me if there's a history of osteoporosis in my family. There is; in my dad's family, it runs rampant. I knew I had to be concerned about it because of that, plus since I don't eat dairy anymore, I have that going against me. But I didn't think it would become a problem so soon. The doctor told me though that from the look of the x-ray, my bone density is not where it should be for someone my age. I have to go get a bone density test to be sure, but he pretty much told me that this is a big warning sign that I'm at risk for osteoporosis.
I was really surprised, because I'm young, in reasonably good shape and physically active, and even though I don't eat dairy, I try to get my calcium and vitamin D from other sources. I've never smoked, and I hardly ever drink.
The good news is that, should the bone density scan come up with bad results, there's still time to do something about it. But this was a real wake up call for me. I've always been really healthy, and this is the first time a doctor has ever told me anything like this. Even at my age, I really have to start paying serious attention to my health, because there aren't too many more years when I'll be able to say "I have time to take care of this before it becomes a problem."