why does everything have to be so hard???

@oknowwhatpixie
Michael Lavacot's videos are the best for simply explaining what your options are. Watch them. Watch them twice (once on the treadmill, once taking notes).

I agree! I am going crazy trying to figure out what to do. The side effects on all the meds they want me to take are horrible! There has to be a better way.

@oknowwhatpixie Same.

@bmblsad better to off to get off the advantage plan and get supplemental drug if it’s in your budget. WellCare is zero premium cost for me. That’s a drug plan and idk y it costs me nothing!

@candaceb

As with any prescription, just reading about the possible side effects can be scary. It is more common here to read about the reports of those who develop side effects. It is less common to hear from those who have no noticeable side effects. My experiences have not been negative. No noticeable side effects with alendronate, forteo, evenity and Prolia. I am not trying to influence you one way or another. Each of us is an individual with a unique medical history. You are not alone trying to find the best path for you. Keep us posted . Your experiences will help us all

I've been treated for various things over the past few years, and there is no question that osteoporosis is the most poorly-covered illness of anything I've experienced. Doctors who don't know what they're doing... recommending Fosamax all the time because that's what they learned about 20 years ago... no knowledge of bone markers... not knowing the standard protocols. And, just finding a doctor who knows *anything* about it is a nightmare. Think about it: there are people on this board who know far more about osteoporosis than many doctors.

You found functional medicine doctors that are covered by your insurance? I saw a functional medicine doctor who was also a cardiologist that was willing to submit for the cardiology and I paid for the functional medicine side of things. I just tried to see if my insurance was covering it no but interestingly they have taken the find a provider page down…not sur what is up with that!

@njx58 No kidding! It has been eye opening how poorly osteoporosis is understood and treated. Ideas all over the place. Supplements and how much, exercise and what, osteo PT (none I can find with that specialty where I live), DEXA accurate or not (gold standard??), REMS, TBS, bone markers useful or not (I had to ask for CTX after one year of fosamax, now my doc runs them regularly, why not earlier in the game?). Add to the mess is the fact that there is not an osteoporosis-ist (like cardiologist, gynecologist, etc.) speciality - yet. Drugs are available (a good thing!) but which? Which work and why? I read on this site about how many people get very little or no gains on so called powerful meds - what's the point of the meds then? To not get worse? Maybe that's the best we can hope for. Sheeeesh!

@jozer

I totally agree with you both. Our medical system is struggling here in the u.s
Not to mention the historic lack of funding for women's healthcare research.
Check out. .... . patientrevolution.org

@gravity3 Try finding research on *male* osteoporosis treatment. There isn't much. My orthopedist didn't even mention OP to me, even though I presented as a 63-year-old male with a compression fracture not caused by trauma or fall. Not a word!