Symptoms of osteoporosis

Posted by snowmass @snowmass, Oct 7 9:47am

Hello
Just wondered what symptoms were experienced before bone density test in general for osteoporosis and if anyone had joint pain in all joints that came suddenly ?
Thank you

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@shexy

I too have no symptoms of osteoporosis yet I have a -4.0 DEXA score on my lumbar spine. I was recently told that I have no visible compression or fractures either. I eat very well and exercise regularly with a trainer in Pilates and strength training.
Doctors have responded by strongly, encouraging that I take Pharmaceuticals due to my DEXA score. It’s frustrating. I did receive a much lower score on my echo light Rams test from the summer of -2.6. I recently visited Dr. Keith McCormick to learn what lab test would be important for me to take to find out any underlying reasons why I have osteoporosis.

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Correction - I received a higher not lower score on my recent REMS Echolite test (-2.6).

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@windyshores

@shexy I believe that those of us past menopause are going to lose bone density, naturally. We are living so much longer! McCormick will suggest a very complex set of factors that contribute to progression or to healing, but he will also say that at a certain point, meds are needed because more natural approaches are not enough. At least that is what I heard from him.

Osteoporosis has no symptoms. That is a real problem because we can feel strong and healthy-until we fracture. For me, my life changed in a matter of seconds when an unwise bending motion fractured three lumbar vertebrae. I was at -3.7 in spine. The pain and disability that result are life-altering and I stay on this forum to share that experience.

I am not especially "pro-medication" for milder cases. But for lower scores, I do hope people take meds. Tymlos got me from -3.7 to -2.5 in 18 months and I handled it by starting at a lower dose and moving up, so my body adjusted.

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What did you take after Tymlos & for how long?

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@rgibson123

What did you take after Tymlos & for how long?

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Evenity 4 months and now two doses Reclast (low dose).

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@windyshores

@shexy I believe that those of us past menopause are going to lose bone density, naturally. We are living so much longer! McCormick will suggest a very complex set of factors that contribute to progression or to healing, but he will also say that at a certain point, meds are needed because more natural approaches are not enough. At least that is what I heard from him.

Osteoporosis has no symptoms. That is a real problem because we can feel strong and healthy-until we fracture. For me, my life changed in a matter of seconds when an unwise bending motion fractured three lumbar vertebrae. I was at -3.7 in spine. The pain and disability that result are life-altering and I stay on this forum to share that experience.

I am not especially "pro-medication" for milder cases. But for lower scores, I do hope people take meds. Tymlos got me from -3.7 to -2.5 in 18 months and I handled it by starting at a lower dose and moving up, so my body adjusted.

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Thanks for sharing your story. I’m exploring all options now and may consider pharmaceutical intervention at a future time.

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@shexy

Thanks for sharing your story. I’m exploring all options now and may consider pharmaceutical intervention at a future time.

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@shexy I am surprised if McCormick did not strongly suggest meds for -4.0. He took Forteo and Fosmax himself to "get out of a hole." He did not even discuss supplements or other approaches for me at -3.7, though I had, at the time, traumatic fractures (as opposed to non-traumatic which are more easily traced to osteoporosis).

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The focus of my visit was to have a better understanding and investigating the root causes through lab tests. He was quite supportive and informative, and I will be pursuing this in the next few months.

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@shexy

I too have no symptoms of osteoporosis yet I have a -4.0 DEXA score on my lumbar spine. I was recently told that I have no visible compression or fractures either. I eat very well and exercise regularly with a trainer in Pilates and strength training.
Doctors have responded by strongly, encouraging that I take Pharmaceuticals due to my DEXA score. It’s frustrating. I did receive a much lower score on my echo light Rams test from the summer of -2.6. I recently visited Dr. Keith McCormick to learn what lab test would be important for me to take to find out any underlying reasons why I have osteoporosis.

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Out of curiosity, are you small boned to begin with? I weigh 102 at almost 5’4” and believe that DEXA scores are less accurate for people like me, often suggesting we are worse off than we are. But breaking is no joke. It’s a hard road to navigate. 💗

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@mlwh

Out of curiosity, are you small boned to begin with? I weigh 102 at almost 5’4” and believe that DEXA scores are less accurate for people like me, often suggesting we are worse off than we are. But breaking is no joke. It’s a hard road to navigate. 💗

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Yes, I am small boned 5’2” tall, weigh 137 pounds. On my recent echo light rem’s test, there was a big Difference of scores Showing -2.8 in the lumbar area. This is a huge contrast with -4 on my DEXA. My trabecular Bone score indicated an 18% chance of a fracture in a 10 year period.

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@shexy

I too have no symptoms of osteoporosis yet I have a -4.0 DEXA score on my lumbar spine. I was recently told that I have no visible compression or fractures either. I eat very well and exercise regularly with a trainer in Pilates and strength training.
Doctors have responded by strongly, encouraging that I take Pharmaceuticals due to my DEXA score. It’s frustrating. I did receive a much lower score on my echo light Rams test from the summer of -2.6. I recently visited Dr. Keith McCormick to learn what lab test would be important for me to take to find out any underlying reasons why I have osteoporosis.

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REMS score was -2.8, not -2.6 Lumbar as I indicated. Wishful thinking!

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@shexy

The focus of my visit was to have a better understanding and investigating the root causes through lab tests. He was quite supportive and informative, and I will be pursuing this in the next few months.

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@shexy Would you mind sharing which lab tests Keith McCormick recommended outside of a CTX and P1NP thanks. I am a similar size to you at 5 ft. 1.5, 130 lbs, DEXA spine -3.5, REMS spine -3.0 with no fractures yet.

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