Any non fracture members?

Hi I am 82 going on 83 in August and I appreciate all the sharing. I was diagnosed OP twenty plus years ago. I took actonel for five years and tried other meds with some reactions. I too walk every day for 40 minutes, have a healthy diet and try to eat everything listed for people with OP. My Endo doc wants me to start Evenity since my OP is at the point of needing something stronger. I want to build strong bones. I have read everyone’s comments and am taking them into consideration. I can be depressing since they are about all the side effects, but I have to keep in mind all the comments out there that have not been shared about how the meds have worked and they are doing great. I have not had any fractures to date . I just have to my part based on all the research and doc recommends, then trust God for the rest,

I’m 70 and have been watching my declining T-scores for 20 years. My lumbar score has been in the -3.0 and below range for over 10 of those years, most recently -3.7, but that isn’t really what predicts a fracture. Overall health, level of activity, genetics, nutrition….so many factors determine your bone strength. Density is only one of those factors, but it prompts doctors to emphasize medication, sometimes even before investigating causes or questioning patients about fitness, diet, balance issues, previous falls.

I have not taken any osteoporosis medications, yet, but I have made a tremendous effort to do everything in my control to be as strong and healthy as I possibly can and to stay on top of all research. I have taken a few nasty falls, surprisingly without fracturing, yet!

You are as healthy now as you were in January before this diagnosis. This is not an emergency, and you have time to read, reflect and relax. Find a good personal trainer to make sure you have good form, and work on balance as well as strength. Find solid sources of information (many wise people here), read everything, address any nutrition deficits. Explore all your options before making a decision, and then make the one that is right for you. For some of us here, that is medication, for others it is not. Both paths are reasonable. This is not a one size fits all situation.

That age trap is paralyzing. My daughter is struggling with turning 50 and I told her I wish I had never wasted one moment being sad about turning 50, or 60, cause here I am now, 70 and definitely not wasting any more moments.You are as young as you feel! Hang in there. You are in good company!

@rudysmom I can completely relate to how you feel about your new diagnosis - it was really hard for me, too, to realize that my body wouldn't be able to continue doing the things I loved: golfing, skiing, etc. After being unaware that I had hyperparathyroidism for probably 5 or 10 years before a doctor actually looked at my blood test results, my spine was at -3.8. My endocrinologist called it "scary." A year after having three of the parathyroids removed (along with my entire thyroid, when they discovered it was cancerous), my spine was at -3.4. After fighting the idea of taking drugs to resolve it, I gave in and took oral alendronate, which I didn't tolerate. A year or two later, I gave in to the recommendation for Evenity. A full year of monthly infusions later, my spine was at -2.6. I couldn't have been happier! Yes, still in the osteoporosis range, but maybe not quite as scary anymore. Ironically, a month after I finished the treatment, I stubbed my fourth toe on the end of the bed and suffered a spiral fracture - the first fracture of my entire life at the age of 67! Jeesh!

I would strongly encourage you to get the book Great Bones by R. Keith McCormick. One of the most important takeaways from the book (for me) is that just because we have osteoporosis doesn't mean we don't have strong bones, per se. Exercise, eating lots of nuts and seeds, getting out into the sunshine as much as you can, and paying attention to our bone health can go a long way to keeping your bones strong. If you aren't already taking Vitamin K2, Vitamins C and D, and a safe level of calcium, I would encourage you to start. Also consider adding canned fish (with the bones) to your diet. I prefer Trader Joe's unsalted sardines prepared with lemon juice, olive oil and celery on crackers - delicious, as canned fish goes... lol!

Don't let yourself stay stuck in grief. Choose to be proactive, learn as much as you can about the disease, and then take good care of yourself and your bones. Good luck!

@frog100 I had no side effects from the Evenity - thank goodness! I'm now on Reclast once each year to maintain the gains I got from the Evenity.

@frog100

Evenity gave me the best gains with no noticeable side effects.

@frog100

Evenity gave me the best gains with no noticeable side effects.

@gravity3
February this year I was diagnosed. Spine is -2.7 and hips -2.0. Yes I’ve been to 2 Endocrinologists and the one I liked has recommended Evenity. My BCBS denied it and Dr office has resubmitted it. I work out 6 days a week with a mix of walking and Dr Lisa Moore videos. Also track my calcium and protein on Cronometer app. My cause is menopause, small boned, hyperthyroidism and genetics. My mom’s hip broke when she was 84 and she passed a couple months after that. She also had other health issues it was just the last straw. Actually I don’t think she was treated for it. Dr said her bones were like Swiss cheese.

I think part of my problem is what happened to my mom and the realization that I’m aging. But keep reminding myself I’d rather be aging than the alternative.