Any non fracture members?

Hi Rudysmom, I’ve been on Prolia for a little over a year. Knock on wood, no fractures in that time. I tripped while packing my car to go on a lakefront vacation. My right hip really hurt but I was sure it was only a bad muscle bruise so I hobbled around on it for 12 days before finally getting an X-ray which didn’t show a fx, but a few days later an MRI did show a small fx. I had an ORIF done and recovered quickly. I was 60 at the time. I’m 77 now I did have a compression fx in my L3and had Kyphoplasty to repair that, with minimal relief.
Just be careful how you walk and move, get rid of obstacles that could cause you to trip and fall. I’m always hyper aware of my risk of fx and after all these years, being vigilant is a way of life, which is not to say I haven’t had some close calls.
I also have severe chronic back pain due to a severe scoliosis so it’s hard to exercise. Have to find a new PT that doesn’t make things worse like the last one. But don’t let yourself get down about it. We’re all getting older and with aging comes a fair amount of new and unpleasant things to deal with. But your OP is treatable and it sounds like you’re doing what you should.
Good luck.

I broke my hip in 2023 and when I saw the "osteoporisis" disagnosis on the report, I asked how thew knew that. (It had only been osteopenia before.)

Turns out they didn't - they assumed because I was 75 and broke my hip. BUT, I broke my hip because I missed a rung on the ladder and I had an 18 pounds box in my hand with an antique in it that I clung to so it wouldn't break. It became the hammer to my hip area. It was a clean break and only required pins. I have seen much younger shatter their hip with much less. I graduated from the walker and PT early and have had no trouble. A blessing!

Of course, a DEXA was ordered and of course it was osteoporosis. I am on no drugs (grateful) and have refused one for Osteo - my GP has made it very clear I should be on one.

After that diagnosis - I faithfully took quality supplements and did Dr. Lauren Fishman's 12 poses/Wellen on alternating days for the next two years.

The next DEXA happened on the same machine with the same technician (😊) and all remained the same. IDK...but what I am doing is good for a lot of things - right?

Hi Rudy. I know exactly how you feel. I was diagnosed with OP when I was 50 years old. I was in shock and couldn't deal with it for a while. I did weight bearing exercises for a number of years that didn't help at all. I realize now it's because I didn't increase the weights. I'm 66 years old and have not had a fracture. My T-Score is -3.8 spine and -2.7 hip. I've been on several medications but they have hardly moved the needle. I go in and out of exercising and now am in, which I'm really happy about. I eat well, am petite and thin. This is my first time on this group. Sounds like there's lots of support here. I also go to OsteoBoston monthly to hear expert speakers and chat with members who have OP. You're doing great work with your exercising and food. Applaude yourself for what you're doing well. I can awfulize this condition. I try to bring myself back to the present, which helps. Take care. You're going to be ok.

I’ve had osteoporosis for 17 yers due to having had breast cancer and taking hormone suppressants (arimidex) for 7 years. I am 79 yo. I take exercises classes at the gym 3 times a week and stay very active. I am not on any osteoporosis meds, although I take collagen, a supplement called Bone Maximizer, magnesium and D with K2. I took evenity a few years ago, but choose not to take any medication right now. I choose not to live in fear. Be active, eat well, do balance work and live your life. If your fear is interfering with your quality of life, then maybe you should look in to taking medication. Best of luck

I’ve OP for about 5 years with no fractures. I also walk a lot and do exercise at home. The more limber I am the better I feel.

I too have not had any fractures at almost 83. My T scores have been the same -.3 in the hip even after taking 5 years of actonel, 2 months of Forteo and 3 years of Reclast. My current doctor wants me on Evenity then go to Prolia. From my understanding I would be taking some kind of drugs for the rest of my life with some holidays. My former retired doctor, well know specialist in Osteoporosis, wanted me to get CTx (C telopeptide) lab test every 6 mo to check for the rate of bones being broken down. It’s 250 and below is where I need to be. He did not suggest any meds at this time. I liked the suggestion about getting collagen with Fortibone. I so appreciate what others have shared that has worked for them. Oh I do walk on the treadmill 40 minutes 7 days a week, am unable to do upper body exercises. And I keep checking on foods that are good for bone growth. At this time for me, I will stay on holiday and no other drugs and continue to take vitamin D3 - K2 and calcium and pray for no bone fractures. My advantage is I was older when I first developed osteoporosis.

@joyboudreau
I hear you. I was 60 when I fell on the edge of a wooden ramp and cracked three ribs (I'm 66 now). For Heaven's sake, I think anyone at any age would have broken something with that fall. Of course, I was immediately sent for DEXA scan and of course it showed osteopenia. I was immediately told I had to start on medication. The nurse practitioner in charge of the Fracture Prevention Clinic gave me a brochure so I could choose which medication I wanted. My husband was already on Forteo, but he has rheumatoid arthritis, and definitely had weak bones. I had my choice of Forteo (don't remember why I didn't choose that one), Tymlos (caused cancer in rats, though at notably higher doses than ever given to humans), bisphosphonates (had watched a friend of my Mom's go through jaw necrosis on that one - no thanks), Prolia (once you start you can't ever stop or you will lose any and all progress made) and probably more meds I'm not remembering. I weighed my options and chose the Tymlos, knowing that I had a strong family history of kidney stones, and that was a potential side effect. I told the NP about it, but she just kind of blew it off. Sure enough, over a year in I started getting very bad abdominal pain. It wasn't in the area where kidney stones typically cause pain, so it took 9 months for me to be diagnosed (I stopped the Tymlos on my own). I even saw a urologist who announced that my pain was not typical kidney stone pain, but he would send me for pelvic floor therapy, because he hadn't known anyone who didn't benefit from pelvic floor therapy! That night I ended up in the ER with terrible pain. The proper scans were done, and I had a very large kidney stone stuck in my right kidney. No way was it coming out on it's own. Had to have a procedure to have it removed - miserable experience. I decided right then that there was no way I should have gone on any of those meds, and unless I had obvious severe signs of osteoporosis (not just a bit of osteopenia), I would not go on any of the drugs again. I don't really think I ever needed to go on the medication to start with, and I am angry that I wasn't smart enough to just say no. Obviously there are a lot of people with severe osteoporosis who must have these medications, but I do not believe that everyone who has osteopenia, or has a fracture caused by something that would likely give anyone a fracture, automatically needs to be put on these drugs. It took me awhile to get past the anger I felt from my experience (maybe I'm still not over it). Live your life, don't let numbers on a dexa scan report scare you to the point that you are afraid to live. PS, a week ago, I stepped backward and tripped on our small dog and took a hard fall right on my rear end, trying to avoid crushing the pup. Yep, I broke my tail bone. Of course I was immediately sent for a dexa scan - results were basically the same as one from two years ago - osteopenia. Am I going to go back on meds? Heck no. I know my post will probably make a lot of people angry, and I'm sorry - I'm just telling my story and my opinion.

@njx58 thank you for your words of encouragement I was just diagnosed with OP -2.7 in my heaps and -2.10 spine. Started on Tymlos and is been some side effects but dealing with them. My family has not been too supportive stating that I will damaged my kidney and liver. I'm trying to maintain a positive attitude about everything. Thanks for your words of encouragement

@lylii You might be interested in the discussion under this topic: "Study: 2/3rd of All Fractures Are Not Attributable to Osteoporosis"

@lylii I sure hope that it is not true that your "... post will probably make a lot of people angry ..." as people are here to learn and compare what we have learned and concluded for ourselves. My situation is a little like yours in some ways, and I am going with HRT, LIFTMOR type exercise, and some supplements for now. Avoiding OP medications, at least for some time, appears to be a frequently chosen path by people on this site.

Here is the link to the discussion that @daisy17 is referring to.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/study-two-thirds-of-all-fractures-are-not-attributable-to-osteoporosi/
Original paper here:
https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/104/8/3514/5427152