Osteoporosis quite severe if I started hrt now will it help . I am 74

What scares you about the Osteoporosis meds? Do you have a history of sensitivity to meds? What are your dexa scores.

I am very sensitive to meds and don’t currently take anything except the odd mild painkiller occasionally if I have to. My dexa score is not bad on hip -2.9 but total spine score -3.7 with a very low L 3 score a -4.7 this seems to have escalated madly in last three years.

Seventy five years old with osteoporosis and also concerned about the medications available such at the various bisphosphonates. The first thing the dental offices ask those presenting with a dental issue and on their form is if your on the medication. I inquired and was told they have seen the side effects these medications have caused. My understanding is that the medications can also be related to dementia not a direct cause but if your genetically prone it can trigger the disease and acceleration.

Have osteoporosis many years now (ugh). I tripped over a repair man’s baggage and went flying across the room and down on to the hard tile of my kitchen floor. Bruised badly but nothing ended up being broken thank heavens. Frequent flyer at dental specialists with undiagnosed dental pain so the choice to go on bone meds was a bit simpler “no thank you” for me. The choice seems to be do you take the chance of a rock or a hard place. Quite individual decision and not an easy one.

@tiny28
It’s good you are asking questions. None of us are doctors, we can only tell you what we experienced, and everyone is different, so what one experiences with a certain treatment, another will experience something else. That said-
Your scores are low, and I think you might want to look into a bone building/anabolic drug like Forteo or Tymlos.
Here’s the thing, I am 65, and just started HRT, realistically I don’t expect to grow a ton of bone, my hope is to stabilize what I have. My scores are not as low as yours. However, since 2018, I have been on 5 different osteoporosis drugs, and while they “worked”, I had serious reactions to them all. But that’s me.
At your age and with your scores, I don’t think HRT is going to do the job.
Talk to your doctor about starting an anabolic so that you can grow some bone and improve your scores quickly.
You will need to follow up with another drug like a bisphosphonate to hold the gains.
You should at least try an osteoporosis drug.
Fractures are no joke, I had 6 pelvic fractures back in 2022, they were fragility fractures. You don’t want to have to deal with that.
Try the meds, see how you do. However, I will tell you that if you are sensitive to meds, like I am, DO NOT take Prolia. If you have to stop it like I did, rebound fractures are a real thing! Keep researching and find a good endocrinologist to help you. Educate yourself so you can advocate for yourself.
Best of luck

Side effects with no improvements on Dexa scans.
In addition, dental work can not be done while on an Osteo drug. You have to wait 3 months for it to clear your system.
The need to “bookend” your Osteo drug, when you go off one you must begin another. If not progress gained is lost.

Are you saying that you are just beginning meds for Osteoporosis? What are your dexa scores and why a bisphosphonate first in your drug sequencing. Sequencing with these meds is very important.

Hi. Actually I already know all about each of the osteoporosis drugs but that’s why I don’t really want to take them yet. My question is about HRT and maybe Raloxifene . I have a vast knowledge of all things medical but am very sensitive to meds.

How severe is your Osteoporosis?

Raloxifene was the most recent Osteo med I took before the side effects became intolerable.
When you first start, the hot flashes are really bad. After a few months that stops. But for me intense nausea followed. Also very lightheaded.
It held me stable according to my dexa.
After that my doctor decided I should take Evenity. I laughed out loud at that suggestion.
I decided to try HRT, like I said earlier, I don’t believe this will grow a lot of bone. But stable and no more more fractures would be a win.
I suggested an anabolic because that would allow you to grow bone, improve your scores. Yes you have to follow it with something to hold the gains. I’ve heard anecdotally on another site that people have held the gains by using strontium citrate. However, that supplement skews the dexa by about 10%.
Have you researched Strontium?