My Experience on Evenity for Treating Osteoporosis

Hello @californiakaren! Thank you so much for sharing. It's much appreciated. Thanks also for sharing your exercise routine and about Dr. Fishman's 12 poses for osteoporosis.
I'm 60 and my T-scores are really unchanged from 2018. Currently:
PA LUMBAR SPINE(L1 - L4): -3.4
LEFT TOTAL HIP: -2.5
LEFT FEMORAL NECK: -2.6
LEFT 1/3 DISTAL RADIUS: -4.9

In 2018 my PCP prescribed one Reclast infusion and after she retired, my new PCP preferred to have Rheumatology manage treatment. I haven't asked but I'm guessing that the low bone density is related to a small body frame and a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis over 35 years ago (when I was 26). I have never broken a bone and feel that my bones are quite strong, despite the T-scores. I do think there are other, better measures of bone density that are not yet standard for osteoporosis diagnosis. And from reading previous comments, it seems that bones can break with better scores than mine.

I was initially in agreement about treatment with Evenity, until my insurer (GEHA (Government Employee Health Association), which is administered by Aetna), declined it and tried to push Tymlos (which was my doctor's second choice). Apparently, Evenity is not on their formulary, though the costs are similar. I wasn't happy with my health insurer trying to be my doctor.

Then I began reading and researching about the pros and cons of these meds and the bisphosphonates (and HRT) and, the possibility that I could run out of options before I'm 70 (after dealing with whatever side effects arise during treatment) was not ideal. As my doc said, "We can treat with anabolic meds for 1-2 years, then use bisphosphonates for a few years afterwards to maintain the improvements, and then we'll wait and see." Hmmm!

I really appreciate having this site to mull over others' experiences before making a decision about following this course of treatment and when to begin. Thanks again for sharing. I hope you will continue to post updates as you progress through treatment.

Wow! How neat to see Dr. McCormick's name here. I flew from Texas to Massachusetts to have a consultation with him in August. I am following all his recommendations and reading his book a 2nd time. It is The Whole Body Approach to Osteoporosis. The first thing he said to me was I had no choice but to go on medication, because of a T-score of -5.1. I was persuaded and pick up a prescription for Tymlos tomorrow. I was diagnosed in 2000 and chose not to go on medication. There is so much I did not know as I made changes to my lifestyle, diet and supplements over the years. I am well-informed now, but it's a bit late, so I'll try to medication.

Good luck.

Hello, Barbiea,
When I went for my injections, I didn't realize these centers also performed chemotherapy infusions. If it's difficult for you to return to the same site, you can talk to your doctor to see if there is,another site where you can receive the injections. You have to sit for 15 minutes to make sure there are no serious allergic reactions. After that they gave the shots and I could leave right away.
You are a real warrior!

The side effect is the same I felt doing Chemotherapy for a year. Ugh not looking forward to that feeling. We'll see. I afraid about the jaw pain, cause I do have some issues there, but have been seeing a Dentist for issues, just need to stay on top of it. Thanks.

I have been taking Forteo( no side effects) for 1 year 1 month I was healthy before my T-12 fractured . I was in the jim before 5 days a week yoga 3 days weight training 3 days biking 3 days now I am in a lot of pain for 2 years from the fracture and arthritis and the degenerative spine and just tried perm mat and lazer mat it has helped with the pain I was told it helps osteoporosis is this TRUE ? can we ever overcome Osteoporosis?

I am in the process of trying to decide whether or not to go on medication and have an appt with an endocrinologist at the end of January. These comments from you all are very helpful indeed. Thank you all.

I spent months researching the various drugs. Especially, helpful we’re the video presentations found online by university experts. I settled on Evenity with my first shot last Friday. I was a little sore at the injection sites, on the back of my arms. I feel good and was surprised to have less pain in my lower back by Saturday morning. I was approved the drug by Medicare in less than a week. My T-score in my lower back is -3.4.

Good to know. My T score of my lumbar spine is -2.8 and a little less than that in my left hip/femoral neck still in the osteopenia range. I watched the recent hip conference that was show via GBMC. It was fantastic. I am hoping that when I see the doctor associated with the one featured in the webinar (I think her name as Ruth Horowitz) we will come out with a good plan.

I highly recommend the YouTube videos with Dr. Janet Rubin and Margaret Marin P.T. I was going to choose no medications. I changed my mind after listening to these women. They have decades of experience treating women with osteoporosis.