68 yr. man with -4.9 in L4!

I did not have an injury from a sword doing tai chi! I practiced that form of tai chi, which requires a lot of strength.I was just saying that I felt strong and powerful at the time. No symptoms of osteoporosis.

I had 4 thoracic fractures in 2006 from a horrible fall, causing my upper back to hit the corner of a concrete (icy) step. That was before I had actual osteoporosis.

In 2021 I had three lumbar fractures from an unwise movement (similar to pulling a bathing suit on while seated in the car). My scores at the time were between -3.4 and -3.7 for lumbar spine.

I know. I even had my insurance ok the Forteo. They don't pay for Tymlos. My coinsurance for Forteo would be $7,000.00 a year!

windyshores, could you share your osteoporosis/med/T Score journey briefly?

Here's my progression. My PCP wants to put me on Prolia. I've scheduled a second opinion with an endocrinologist. I'm debating whether to try a natural approach. The reason is I've been holding at -3.3 on spine and my NTX test shows I'm not breaking down bone quickly. I've noticed a huge deficit in my diet in all essential bone vitamins and minerals. All this will be discussed the endocrinologist. I'm guessing she will be concerned with hip, femoral, forearm numbers.

2014 - spine -3.5, hip -1.7, femoral neck n/a - started Alendronate
2016 - spine -3.3, hip -1.5, femoral neck -2.0 - Alendronate
2018 - spine -3.3, hip -1.9, femoral neck -2.6 - Alendronate
2019 - 2022 - Alendronate holiday
2022 - spine -3.3, hip -2.2, femoral neck -2.7, forearm -2.4

Are you skeptical about switching to the bone-building drugs? Your scores-history with Alendronate is why I am hoping to jump to the anaerobic treatments first. I feel as if my -4.9 lumbar score is a sword of Damocles hanging over me. Until I get to the endocrinologist, I am trying to get the nutrients (including Vitamin K2 (mk7) and walking (worried about lifting weights with my numbers).

@pami did you check on financial assistance for Tymlos (call Together with Tymlos) or Forteo?

My insurance said they would check to see if they could get me a lower rate so I might have the doctor write me a prescription so the insurance could go ahead.

@leeosteo my NTX looked normal too, but I had serious bone loss. I think those tests are used comparatively to see if meds are working, but I am not sure.

Interesting that you have sort of held steady. But maybe you could do an anabolic, get your scores up, and then hold steady!

My endo won't use Prolia because of the drop off in bone density when it ends. But that's him.

My lumbar spine and femur neck were beginning osteoporosis way back in 2006- 17 years ago! I went on cancer meds 2015-2020 that removed any remaining post-menopausal estrogen and bones dropped 5% first year, then less for the next 4.

Before cancer treatment my spine was -2.7, in 2014, then -3.1 in 2016, -3.4 in 2018, and -3.7 in 2021.

Left femur was -2.8, then -3.9, -3.1, -3.3. (Note the -3.0 which does not fit the pattern. I look for trends over the years and don't freak out about one value anymore!)

I tried Fosamax years ago and could not tolerate it (GERD). I tried really hard to get on Forteo in 2007 or so, and even went to an immunologist to try to desensitize.

During cancer meds for 5 years, my oncologist wanted me on Reclast but endocrinologist was afraid of setting off afib.

I tried to get into study for the Tymlos patch thinking that Tymlos injections would set off similar reactions as Forto. I actually blamed the solution, not the med. Who knows. I am referring to immediate reactions, not side effects.

Net result of all my efforts was that I was still unmedicated when I fractured in 2021. I tried Tymlos at full and half dose and , whether related or not, landed in the hospital with an afib episode.

I spoke with endo, cardiology and others and thought about Evenity but my docs agreed I could retry Tymlos at a lower dose. At that point, my doc would have been happy with even half the usual dose.

I started at two clicks out of 8 on the Tymlos pen and moved up slowly.

I do take calcium, D3, Magnesium, B complex and folate and did tai chi for years.

I really really wanted to go on meds. If people can tolerate them at all, even with some side effects, I encourage it to avoid painful disabling fractures.

@pami you can also call the companies.....

Thank you!

have you been checked for MGUS?