Bone meds vs. Natural options / weight bearing

I am on fosamax only but hate it

Hi I am new here. I just saw your statement and I am on my 2nd week of Fosamax and feel the same way. I started with Prolia last year and had a bad rash , so they took me off that. I am starting to feel down. I exercise and and 72 y.o. I had a -4.0 no . on my hip so the drs. are telling me I shouldnt think of stopping! I hope we find the right thing to do!!!

After a broken ankle, I discovered that I had wretched bone density. I took 5 years of risedronate (a bisphosphonate); no problems whatsoever. It DID increase my density, but no match for my labradoodle. While on the usual "drug holiday", I broke my pelvis and wrist (he pulled me backwards). I just finished one year of Eventity, with no problems and great increases in density, but missing a curb still gave me a broken ankle and broken bones in the other foot. I really believe it could have been worse without my efforts to increase bone density! In addition to the medications, I have been working on balance training and strength training, taking vitamin D3, calcium, and vitamin K2. Happily, I'm now cleared from the recent injuries and can resume exercise again. I really like the Brick House Bones series for the balance training, as well as her strength training. I also work with a personal trainer to make sure I increase strength safely, and to be able to safely resist pulling while walking (again, the labradoodle factor). I also occasionally search youtube videos for any tips about not falling. One of the best is to scan ahead 15 to 20 feet as you walk (your brain is excellent at registering a map of this immediate area) and this has made me much more aware of potential hazards while walking that same labradoodle. I'm just trying to stack the deck in my favor; there are no guarantees we'll outwit this nasty disease. Never give up!

@dukemayo and @hmbglr do you have an endocrinologist? Primary care doctors tend to prescribe Fosamax or maybe Prolia first but endocrinologists often prescribe Forteo, Tymlos or Evenity first, especially for more serious osteoporosis. @hmbglr with a -4.0 it would seem that you might talk to an endocrinologist about starting with an anabolic, one of the three I just listed.

For more info, Keith McCormick's book "Great Bones" or Dr. Ben Leder's video "Combining and Sequential Approaches to Osteoporosis" on YouTube are my favorite resources. Leder has another video on there too. He is an endo at MGH in Boston and does a lot of research.

Bisphosphonates like Fosamax should only be taken 3-5 years, I have been told. It is good to save them to "lock in gains" after the bone builders, according to my doctor. Even now, after Tymlos and Evenity, I am thinking about how to stretch that 3-5 years over 20 years! Though with bisphosphonates at the end of treatment, we can take some drug holidays.

I hope you find a good path!

Hi im new also. My doctor says I have to stay on it too.
I'm on 10 mg dose suppose to do once a week but I do it now every other week. I feel better I drink lots of water I get very dry. Leg cramps started and I keep bananas and I am.going to ask him to check my electrolytes on labs . It drops calcium I don't take that I eat cheese and drink milk.

I see a rheumatologist and he suggested other ls but I declined because I do t want to give myself daily injections or have another infusion because of my reaction to Prolia. I figured I would go this route and see ?! Idk what to do. It’s overwhelming at times. I also started Atorvistatin for cholesterol and I am feeling lousy with all the meds and vitamins and IBS.

@hmbrglr glad you have a good doctor! I'll leave you to your decision but just want to say the daily injections of Tymlos are very easy, tiny needle, like brushing your teeth. But good luck with your treatment, whatever you choose!

After a broken ankle, I discovered that I had wretched bone density. I took 5 years of risedronate (a bisphosphonate); no problems whatsoever. It DID increase my density, but no match for my labradoodle. While on the usual "drug holiday", I broke my pelvis and wrist (he pulled me backwards). I just finished one year of Eventity, with no problems and great increases in density, but missing a curb still gave me a broken ankle and broken bones in the other foot. I really believe it could have been worse without my efforts to increase bone density! In addition to the medications, I have been working on balance training and strength training, taking vitamin D3, calcium, and vitamin K2. Happily, I'm now cleared from the recent injuries and can resume exercise again. I really like the Brick House Bones series for the balance training, as well as her strength training. I also work with a personal trainer to make sure I increase strength safely, and to be able to safely resist pulling while walking (again, the labradoodle factor). I also occasionally search youtube videos for any tips about not falling. One of the best is to scan ahead 15 to 20 feet as you walk (your brain is excellent at registering a map of this immediate area) and this has made me much more aware of potential hazards while walking that same labradoodle. I'm just trying to stack the deck in my favor; there are no guarantees we'll outwit this nasty disease. Never give up!