61 years old, very healthy and active, past competitive runner

Hello, At 63, I suffered 3 spinal compression fractures. I was a competitive distance runner too who had amenorrhea until I suffered a stress fracture at the neck of the femur ( overuse). As it healed, my periods returned. I slowly returned to distance running, but the lack of adequate nutrition for the intense training probably started my bone loss. I reluctantly began Evenity, followed by Reclast. My spinal T-scores went from -3.7 to -2.9 on Evenity. My femur necks showed little change on the medication. The right was -2.6 (slightly improved to -2.5) and the left ( the previous stress fracture, was -1.8 (slightly improved to -1.6). I had very few issues with either medication. The next bone scan will be in about 2 years. Currently, I still work out, lift light weights, walk, and bike….but I don’t lift the little grandchildren. I don’t know what the future holds in terms of other medications after Reclast, but I guess I’ll have to prepare to cross that bridge ‘before’ I come to it.

@shamrock24 I have been told that fractures make my DEXA look better than it really is for the vertebrae I fractures. Is that why your left femur neck looks good?

I am most nervous about fracturing my femur neck. Did you require surgery?

Thank you for sharing. It is helpful beyond measure. Feels lonely until you hear of others going through similar or even worse. What a journey you have been on. I know not being able to run is a grief in itself. I hope your next scan show improvements!

I’m not sure, but my thoughts were that it had healed well in college! I also was fitted for orthotics after the fracture because I had had an avulsion of the hamstring ( right one) in high school. I thought they were structural issues, not bone. The stress fracture of the neck of the femur was not painful at all, but my gait (walking) was awful until they put me on crutches. No surgery, but they told me if it happened again I would need surgery.

I feel the same as you, I'm a healthy 62 year old and I am not a big fan of any type of medication if I can avoid it. I'm particularly nervous about medication that hasn't been used for a long time (as in over a decade) or if there is even a remote possibility of cancer. I just started Tymlos though because I want to remain active for as long as possible. Hoping I am making the right decision!

Interesting enough, a second course of Forteo has been approved by Blue Cross, and Evenity is still in holding pattern for review if they will cover it. Likely a 3 month wait. I think I will just go ahead with Forteo and see what happens. Can't afford to wait as my spine is spasmed twice now, and that is an indicator for me of compression fracture risk. My endocrinologist said I was beyond her scope of practice and referred me to someone in Vancouver who is hard to reach and does not follow up with pharmacy or request for bone density testing, resulting a year delay from when I was told I would start breaking again. Very upsetting. After 13 fractures, one tends to have medical PTSD. and little faith.

I’m 63 and have been an active exerciser my entire life except for brief periods. I lift weights three times a week, jog, and do cardio. I had a compression fracture at T8 a year ago and it’s taken a year to recover, partially because I didn’t seek treatment immediately.

Avoid flexion of your spine under load - that is what I did to cause the fracture.

My spinal T-score has never been osteoporotic; my last DEXA was -2.0 for my lumbar spine.

I did the non-drug route for four years but my scores kept dropping. I’ve been on HRT since age 51. did five years of Fosamax (alendronate) and am now on Tymlos (switching to the generic version of Forteo shortly due to insurance pulling my pre-authorization for Tymlos).

I’ve learned that bisphosphanates like Fosamax don’t improve bone quality because they suppress bone remodeling. The microfractures that occur in bone over time are not repaired. If I was starting again, I would take an anabolic med first or if that wasn’t possible, I wouldn’t stay on the Fosamax for as long. I saw the most gains with it during the first two years.

I am still very active and have worked hard on strengthening my back. I plan to continue to do what I can to avoid refracturing. I learned a lot about what not to do with my back. The book “Back Mechanic” by Dr. Stuart McGill was very helpful to me in this.

I am hopeful the anabolic therapy will give me better bone quality in the future and replace some of the old bone that’s been compromised.

Anyone reading/using the info from Stuart McGill's book, Back Mechanic? My back pain is in my mid to upper back. Hoping his info and exercises will help me. Anyone's experience is much appreciated!

Yes, I have read his book and do his “big three” exercises every day. I bought his book earlier this year when I was convinced I’d injured my back. Turned out to be a compression fracture at T8.

His book was very helpful to me in explaining how to move correctly to prevent exacerbating my back pain.

I am actually glad now, that I had early negative reactions to both bisphosphomates and the one shot of Prolia. Two years of Forteo 8 years ago, was very helpful. I am 66 and very grateful to Forteo to have made recovery possible after 13 compression fractures in my spine, which can no longer be read for bone density, but my hip is now -3.5, so I have started the Generic version of Forteo and on my second month in. Was originally to do Evenity, but have so far been unable to get that approved through Pharma care. I think you are correct in concluding anabolic therapy is the cleanest and best way to go. Best of luck to you!