@ggopher, welcome to the group and thanks for laying out your concerns in clear detail. I was poked by your mention of "long-term Fosamax use," which faced my wife until two years ago after several years of Fosamax use for osteopenia. Her primary physician agreed to drop Fosamax after the FDA raised public warnings about several possible side-effects. Here is a link to an FDA publication in December 2013: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/UCM241519.pdf.

My wife's doctor was impressed by the FDA finding that growth of new bone is stunted after several years of Fosamax treatment, possibly leading to fractures. Her calcium supplements (with Vitamin D) have continued to this day, and her heavy physical workout regimen stopped her osteopenia in its tracks. It may have done the same for you!

Can you keep us posted on your progress in managing your situation? It would be most helpful to us all.

Hi Ggopher! Welcome to the group! There are lots of ideas and perspectives here. You can get a lot of information to research and take back to your Dr's. I am surprised by your being on fosamax for so long when it seems like your bones are not that far along the path to being strong. Are those numbers from a recent scan? My mom was in a similar situation with both Parkinson's and osteoporosis and unfortunately fell doing normal light house work, broke her hip, and never walked again. Definitely your weight lifting and exercise will help your balance to keep you from falling, but from what I understand as a patient, may not be enough. Parkinson's and balance are definitely issues that go together. Maybe the info in this group will help you evaluate your situation and ask new questions that might give you more options. We each are so different! Keep us posted and good luck.

I have my next Dr (well, PA) appt in a couple weeks and I think it is time for my next bone scan so I'll see my new scores and let y'all know. I'll bring up the Fosamax issue because I had heard the same about side effects. Last scan was 12_18 months ago. Balance is still good but not great and a concern for the future so I stay off ladders and the like. How heavy a workout regimen for your wife? My PA told me to stay at 10 pounds but I can't see that helping so I do 30 reps of 30# and up depending on the joint/muscle group but I don't strain at all, just go for reps.

@ggopher, I guess I used the wrong adjective when I wrote of my wife's "heavy" physical workout regimen. Maybe I should have called it "rigorous" or "habitual!" She's in our home gym every morning about 5:30 for an hour at least. Main equipment she uses are treadmill, cycle, and universal exercise machine which she uses to pull 15 pounds per arm and 25 pounds per leg. As you know from your own regimen, it's great for extending her days. Just read a newspaper article that gives physical workouts high marks for lifting mood and outlook and overcomes ADHD habits! All of that and rebuilding bones too! Such a deal!

I understood heavy that way, I was just curious about the weight. A deal indeed. Thanks.<br><br>Steve