1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

Anyone progress from osteoporosis to osteopenia?

Posted by debbik @debbik, Nov 17 6:58am

Being new to this site, I’m enjoying all the info out there on your experiences with osteoporosis. Has anyone been diagnosed with osteoporosis and been able to gain bone density to the point of osteopenia, or better. I’m 65, have osteoporosis, and each bone density it gets worse. I’ll admit I need to step up with exercise, and make changes to diet. But would love to hear from anyone who has positive changes and specifically what you did to achieve them. Thank you!

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oopsiedaisy | @oopsiedaisy | 5 days ago
In reply to @rgibson123 "Did you experience the t8 fracture when you were osteopenic?" + (show)
@rgibson123

Did you experience the t8 fracture when you were osteopenic?

Jump to this post

Yes. My latest lumbar T-score in June was -2.0.

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Mentor
Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | 4 days ago

I had very good news.

I had a bone density test on November 18 (two days ago). In comparison to two previous exams in 2021 and 2023 I gained 6.1% in the hip and 4.0% in the spine. My hip score places me in the osteopenia range whereas previously in 2023 I was in the osteoporosis range. My spine score places me in the normal range whereas previously I was in the osteoporosis range.

I experienced a sacral fracture in late 2022 likely due to pelvic radiation therapy. Because of the fracture and my bone density scores my endocrinologist recommended Evenity. I did 12 months of Evenity as prescribed and finished in October, 2024. Just look at these results which are significant and remarkable. In addition to Evenity I kept up with strength training and balance exercise, getting adequate calcium through diet and taking 400mg of calcium citrate with an evening meal if I did not get enough dietary calcium during the day.

I see my endocrinologist on November 25 and will discuss these results. He will likely recommend a follow-up medication to « lock in » these gains.

I had no side effects while on Evenity other than soreness for about 12 hours at the site of the injections.

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1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | 4 days ago
In reply to @naturegirl5 "I had very good news. I had a bone density test on November 18 (two days..." + (show)
@naturegirl5

I had very good news.

I had a bone density test on November 18 (two days ago). In comparison to two previous exams in 2021 and 2023 I gained 6.1% in the hip and 4.0% in the spine. My hip score places me in the osteopenia range whereas previously in 2023 I was in the osteoporosis range. My spine score places me in the normal range whereas previously I was in the osteoporosis range.

I experienced a sacral fracture in late 2022 likely due to pelvic radiation therapy. Because of the fracture and my bone density scores my endocrinologist recommended Evenity. I did 12 months of Evenity as prescribed and finished in October, 2024. Just look at these results which are significant and remarkable. In addition to Evenity I kept up with strength training and balance exercise, getting adequate calcium through diet and taking 400mg of calcium citrate with an evening meal if I did not get enough dietary calcium during the day.

I see my endocrinologist on November 25 and will discuss these results. He will likely recommend a follow-up medication to « lock in » these gains.

I had no side effects while on Evenity other than soreness for about 12 hours at the site of the injections.

Jump to this post

That’s great news Helen!

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1 reply
debbik | @debbik | 4 days ago
In reply to @johnbishop "That’s great news Helen!" + (show)
@johnbishop

That’s great news Helen!

Jump to this post

I’m so happy for you!!! Im going to check out evenity for sure. Thanks for sharing!

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awfultruth | @awfultruth | 4 days ago

@debbik My scans were getting markedly worse each year. I did Evenity and gained 30% in my LS. I went from a worst in my spine of -4.1 to a worst of -2.2 and an L2-L4 average of -1.8. Those are unusually large gains but good improvement are the norm with Evenity. The other anabolic meds are effective also.
I did lots of exercise including following a modified LIFTMOR study / Onero protocol (heavy free weight exercises). And I improved my diet and supplements which has been greatly restricted due to food sensitivities. But it was the Evenity that made those gains happen so dramatically.
Best of luck to you

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marceen | @marceen | 4 days ago

My endo doc sat by while my bone density went down for 4 years......why would he watch and wait so long???
Finally I decided to get the errant parathyroid out myself............yes, the score went up and is now "level". The errant parathyroid was found by a scan at the Norman clinic (florida) and they even sent a picture and they were careful not to remove any of the functioning ones (we have 4). So check your PTH blood test and CA levels.....the PTH test is abit more expensive and maybe docs don't like to do it because of this????? Regardless, this is the first thing to check since the parathyroid dials up the osteoclasts an sucks the calcium out................yes, exercise and putting some stress. "too much" calcium can cause problems (I did that too before and got into trouble with a kidney stone. Basic carbonate doesn't dissolve in water and just plugs things up and I guess I was too ambitious. Labcorp can do blood tests without a referral, but it costs???? Marceen in Oregon

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1 reply
debbik | @debbik | 4 days ago
In reply to @willow5 "It does vary, but before I work with the trainer he has me do the abbductor/adductor..." + (show)
@willow5

It does vary, but before I work with the trainer he has me do the abbductor/adductor machine, leg press (I’m up to 160 after starting with 100,) low row machine with the handle that keeps my hands apart, it almost looks like an old-fashioned steering wheel on a toy metal car, two back machines (there’s so many kinds) then stuff with him, three sets of 10. Always. That takes about 20 minutes or so. Sometimes squats and lunges (depending on how my back is doing)

With him for about 50 minutes: bridge type exercises with weights on my stomach, chest press with dumbbells, biceps and triceps, step-ups. I think nothing out of the ordinary. But main thing is the minute I say oh, that’s feeling kind of easy, he ups the weights so that by the end of the third set (and sometimes the second set) I am pushing pretty hard to complete that rep. We do core, or I do that at home.

I really don’t know if it’s body part specific or the amount of weight. I think it’s the continual increase of weight and also doing all body parts. My doc says weights won’t really help the hip bones, but my trainer doesn’t believe that and throws in some stuff that strengthens the hip more 😂. Hope this helps. Oh, consistency.

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Such great news. Sounds like you found an educated trainer that has come along side you on this journey! Thank you for the exercises… some of these I do. My trainer is new to osteoporosis but I gave him a print out of what I can and can’t do. You’ve been very inspirational… thank you!!

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1 reply
debbik | @debbik | 4 days ago
In reply to @marceen "My endo doc sat by while my bone density went down for 4 years......why would he..." + (show)
@marceen

My endo doc sat by while my bone density went down for 4 years......why would he watch and wait so long???
Finally I decided to get the errant parathyroid out myself............yes, the score went up and is now "level". The errant parathyroid was found by a scan at the Norman clinic (florida) and they even sent a picture and they were careful not to remove any of the functioning ones (we have 4). So check your PTH blood test and CA levels.....the PTH test is abit more expensive and maybe docs don't like to do it because of this????? Regardless, this is the first thing to check since the parathyroid dials up the osteoclasts an sucks the calcium out................yes, exercise and putting some stress. "too much" calcium can cause problems (I did that too before and got into trouble with a kidney stone. Basic carbonate doesn't dissolve in water and just plugs things up and I guess I was too ambitious. Labcorp can do blood tests without a referral, but it costs???? Marceen in Oregon

Jump to this post

Thank you Marceen! First thing I’m doing is finding a new Dr. your information was very helpful- thank you for sharing with me… I will look into that test, and like I said I need a Dr that does more than more drugs. I’m excited about this. Plus I’m reading the book ‘Great Bones’ that was suggested and am finding it so informative.

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marceen | @marceen | 4 days ago

There is soooo many books and opinions out there.....................but do make sure your Parathyroid glands are not going wild..........PTH and calcium levels.....There are 4 parathyroids and even though the name is the same these guys have a different function than the thyroid................You might check out the norman thyroid clinic's web site.....

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willow5 | @willow5 | 3 days ago
In reply to @debbik "Such great news. Sounds like you found an educated trainer that has come along side you..." + (show)
@debbik

Such great news. Sounds like you found an educated trainer that has come along side you on this journey! Thank you for the exercises… some of these I do. My trainer is new to osteoporosis but I gave him a print out of what I can and can’t do. You’ve been very inspirational… thank you!!

Jump to this post

Thanks, Deb. I’m glad I can pass on what is helpful for me, and I do have an educated trainer. When I told him I was going on Evenity, he went and researched it. It’s too bad the weights don’t seem to be helping the hips, which is why I’ll go on the Evenity.

I have such an understanding now of aging isn’t for wimps! I find this forum to be helpful to stay positive as things go wonky here and there with every passing year.

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