nannygoat5,
I had my first dxa at 50 because my mom and her doctor made me. I knew then, 23 years ago, that I would have osteoporosis. All three of us had been watching the research and waiting for the FDA to approve Forteo. Shortly after my Dxa in 2002, Forteo was approved. It was wonderful for mom; she never had another fracture. She was able to continue after two years because her doctor already knew about the genetically-flawed Fischer rats. Two plus years ago with my dxa and the same physician warning me, I looked carefully at all the choices and easily chose Forteo. I even ventured away from this revered physician to be encouraged by younger fellows to use the new pharmaceuticals. I injected the first time without trepidation. And repeated those injections for two years without side effect. My first year dxa only revealed changes in fracture risk. The second year dxa moved my lowest lumbar score from -3,3 to -2.6. I'm into my third year of Forteo without experiencing a single side effect. I've had such luck; and incredibly wonderful mother, an excellent endocrinologist and a miracle drug.
Forteo was the first medication to address the osteoblast--increasing their number to build new bone. The osteoporosis medications before Forteo stopped the building of new bone by stopping the osteoclasts, and interrupting the normal process of bone building. (is this negative???) Thank goodness for those medications they've prevented a lot of fractures ( does that fix the negativity?}
Thanks to John Parsons pharmaceutical research scientist who simply would not give up on the idea of using pth to increase bone density. Cheers to all researchers everywhere.