@ladydi22 I was diagnosed with osteoporosis about 15 years ago. I had been in the osteopenia range since my mid-40’s despite all the hiking, cross-country skiing, and weightlifting I had been doing for many years. I resisted taking any of the medications. My Vitamin D level was low so my doctor put my high doses of Vitamin D and I kept up with Vitamin D3, calcium, and magnesium. Since my mother had osteoporosis and by age 65 had compression fractures, was frail, and in a lot of pain I decided it was time for medication. I took the first line trial of Fosamax and did well with it. I figured it was a cost-benefit ratio. By the time I finished the Fosamax at 5 years of taking it my bone density score was back in the osteopenia range.

Here is how I look at alln. Once the tmedications are approved by the FDA the pharma company is to those present during the clinical trials and approval process. Notused the word “all”, thus resulting in the so-called “black box warnings”. If you read all of that information on every medication you could assume or believe that you will experience all of the side effects. In fact, that is rarely true.

Whatever specialist you do see you can discuss what side effects the specialist has seen in his/her practice and what you can expect. Taking medication isn’t a “get out of jail free card” and you have to do all the other lifestyle work to support your bone density including diet and exercise.

Whatever you choose to do may be different than what I chose. Do you have a referral to a specialist?