Has anyone not used medication after First Dexa scan spine -2.8?

@osteopatient2026
The TBS value is an additional score that your dr has to ask the radiologist to provide. They dont provide this with your DEXA results. My t score for spine is still -2.8 but the TBS score came back normal. The analogy would be an M&M candy. The dexa scores measures the candy shell of the candy while the TBS score measures the strength inside. It's just another value thats useful when calculating the FRAX score and it allowed me to relax and not be pressured by starting medication this year.

in other words you are overwhelmed and you want us to suggest what to do? DO THE MEDICINE. My bones fell apart in spine surgery 3 years ago! I was only in Osteopenia to normal! I learned that the DEXA, etc were only approximations. (you are never better than the tests, only worse in reality!). I just finished one year of Reclast and two on Tymlos and I came to make a POSITIVE post about my scores!!! Do it and get on with your life. I never want to have a repeat of my spine surgery and wished I would have known and corrected what no one did. But alas, I can prepare for my future now that I know what could happen if I don't make my bones stronger. I've eaten well and exercised my entire life. I went into menopause early and even with BHRT I wasn't good enough. Life after hormones: no way you can rebuild your bones without the meds. I am okay with the risks (which are nothing compared to having soft bones as I age!)

Yes, I was 54 when I have my 1st DEXA was -2.8 in Spine and -1.5 in hip (I am 56, 5' 1/4" and about 124 lbs now..was 5'2" & ~115 lbs in my 20s before 3 babies born at age 28,31 & 34 and 3rd baby weighed also 9 lbs which caused pelvic floor prolapse and Hysterectomy at 50 also). I have severe degenertive disc disease in neck and spine, Sciatica issues from Spondylolythesis Grade 1 spillage of L5 over Sacrum. Was Super scared, overwhelmed and confused about it all too...got the same scripted "inside the box" current medical treatment plan push too...can't do any oral bisphosanates like Fosomax to due severe IBS issues and many allergies/sensitives so they recommended Reclast infusions right away for the next 2-5 years. After much research online and on YouTube with my husband I learned a lot about what the drugs do or try to do and the adverse side effects that can be worse in the long term than risk of having a clean break or fracture (maybe) in future. So I refused. My husband found educational videos about Bone Health research and alternatives to just bone drugs as path to improve bone health after a diagnosis of Osteoporosis on YouTube Channel with Dr. Doug Lucas (The Dr. Doug Show). He had & ran a practice that offered a full Whole-body Integrative Health Bone Program, but outside of any insurance..Sadly wanted to do but way to expensive...but he talked about and had also just started another program/practice just focused on balancing hormones...start your bone health journey with diet, exercise and bloodwork to see what our individual bodies needed or were lacking to balance our hormones 1st to improve body's own bone maintenance system...I did join his program 2 yrs ago just to help me start there...balancing my hormones...it has been great and feel 98% better and bloodwork revealed many things I didn't even know were causing a lot of issues for me too (auto-immune inflammation issues, joint pain, no energy, IBS, hot flashes)...thru supplements and started Hormone therapy (creams of estrogen and testosterone and progesterone)...my bloodwork bone marker % indicator P1N1 is trending in a good direction now, but was sad my 2nd DEXA came back worse (but at different practice and machine and person doing scan)...there again was a big push from Primary Care Dr. to go back to same Osteoporosis Clinic and take something...there are new drugs like Tymocol (spelling???) but can only take for 12-18 months once and never again...if it helps, but then when not on it goes back to bad what would I do for the next 30+ years ( have a healthy 91 yr old Mom!!)...I have been encouraged by Dr. Lucas's HRT practice to give this path more time and get a REMS scan (like DEXA but should the quality of your bone...strong & plyable or weak and brittle...then I can make a better decision about the urgency or not to start on a bone drug or if I can wait longer...still have not decided or researched these new options enough...I recommend you explore this path 1st ...get a baseline ...are your hormones balanced 1st....
Hope we all get help answers and the best path to take...Thanks for sharing too! It all helps to know we are NOT ALONE in this!

@wiseage

May I ask what your dexa scores are?

@osteopatient2026 In 1 year I went from 2.9 to 2.4 spine. I contribute it to HRT and heavy weight training.

@dvargo

I hope the weight training works for me. Too late for HRT

@rose140

Why do you say it is too late for hrt Rose?

Thinking has changed on this recently. I started bhrt last year at 77 and it has been great. I had spontaneous menopause at 38. Check out this doctor's YouTube videos:

Dr. Susan Hardwick-Smith
https://youtube.com/@drsusan

I understand your concerns as I feel the same. I am 73, Yoga Instructor and Therapeutic Recreation Therapist and still working full time. I am 5' 3" and weigh 103, pescatarian and now eating eggs to add to a high protein diet. I was diagnosed as severe osteoporosis and was shocked. After weeks of study I have chosen not to take any of the medications recommended due to a long list of women who had tried medication and even after a year were breaking bones. So I have chosen a path of collagen with fortibone and fortigel as well as increasing my protein intake and adding more weight bearing exercises to my yoga practice. This is just my choice that might not be the best choice for others but at my age I want to LIVE my life and take precautions rather than taking the risks of the side effects. I am also on no medications or have any other conditions that require medical attention. I wish you the best of luck in your decision.

@fidget53

The majority of us who take osteoporosis medications do not have severe side effects. Most of the folks who are using sites like this are experiencing side effects and some severe.
Unlike myself, most who have very mild side effects or none are are off living their lives. Broken bones are a rare side effect.
My experience over the course of 12 years and taking fosomax, forteo, evenity and Prolia is no noticeable side effects.
Please do your own research into this.
Perhaps your plan will work well for you. Are you going to track you progress with bone markers or with more frequent dexa scans? Have you been tested for causes other than loss of hormones due to menopause? Do you take hrt/bhrt?