Treating Osteoporosis: What works for you?

Posted by heritage1955 @heritage1955, Apr 1, 2016

Hi. I'm new to the site and am interested in treating osteoperosis. I'm 39 yo and recently had a bone density that showed I'm at -2.4. So, going through the intial "I can't believe it" stuff. đŸ™‚

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@angelas

<p>Has anyone received their 1st BMD scan with a low t-score, like -3.1 in the spine, and been prescribed Forteo? I'm 50 and a little freaked out as I thought I doing a baseline BMD scan. I have no underlying conditions that can explain the extremely low score. Family history of estrogen-receptive cancer puts HRT out of the question. I would like to wait a year, increase calcium/vit D/exercise, and get another scan. Thoughts?</p>

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I am on my second month of forteo. So far the co-pay is $20/month. I'm told the Lilly co and the specialty drug store can help get your co-pay reduced if it is high.

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@angelas

<p>Has anyone received their 1st BMD scan with a low t-score, like -3.1 in the spine, and been prescribed Forteo? I'm 50 and a little freaked out as I thought I doing a baseline BMD scan. I have no underlying conditions that can explain the extremely low score. Family history of estrogen-receptive cancer puts HRT out of the question. I would like to wait a year, increase calcium/vit D/exercise, and get another scan. Thoughts?</p>

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I checked out the specialty drug company you mentioned, called Lilly Cares, and found that they have an income cap for discounting their drugs, and I did not qualify because my income is over the cap. I called the company to verify and I was told that I did not qualify for any discounts. 

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@angelas

<p>Has anyone received their 1st BMD scan with a low t-score, like -3.1 in the spine, and been prescribed Forteo? I'm 50 and a little freaked out as I thought I doing a baseline BMD scan. I have no underlying conditions that can explain the extremely low score. Family history of estrogen-receptive cancer puts HRT out of the question. I would like to wait a year, increase calcium/vit D/exercise, and get another scan. Thoughts?</p>

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I truly understand your situation. At 34 I reached over my head and fractured my T9, I reached for the phone and broke my clavicle, I sneezed and broke ribs, I fell and fractured my pelvis in 5 places. NO surgery on any. Lastly with the pelvis the specialist on call said...YOU HAVE 90 YEAR OLD BONES...I know. he kept asking me my age. I was 57 then. I am scared to death of winters (ice, snow...) I can turn an ankle and it will break. Step off a curb and break a leg...I have been on Fosamax, Forteo and now Prolia.

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@angelas

<p>Has anyone received their 1st BMD scan with a low t-score, like -3.1 in the spine, and been prescribed Forteo? I'm 50 and a little freaked out as I thought I doing a baseline BMD scan. I have no underlying conditions that can explain the extremely low score. Family history of estrogen-receptive cancer puts HRT out of the question. I would like to wait a year, increase calcium/vit D/exercise, and get another scan. Thoughts?</p>

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You are receiving shots for Forteo or giving yourself shots? I did the self injection daily of Forteo for the maximum 2 years they allow anyone to be on it. I had fabulous results...then was switched to Fosamax following those 2 years. I got a 'drug holiday' then ended up falling and fracturing my pelvis in 5 places. Now on Prolia for the 3rd year. Am osteopenia now. Will have new DEXA scan next year.

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@angelas

<p>Has anyone received their 1st BMD scan with a low t-score, like -3.1 in the spine, and been prescribed Forteo? I'm 50 and a little freaked out as I thought I doing a baseline BMD scan. I have no underlying conditions that can explain the extremely low score. Family history of estrogen-receptive cancer puts HRT out of the question. I would like to wait a year, increase calcium/vit D/exercise, and get another scan. Thoughts?</p>

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Thank you very much for your information. Apparently you are being helped with these drugs and I am glad to hear it. As for me, I decided against Forteo and Prolia because of the risks (also, with Forteo, the expense). I was willing to go on a bisophosonate like Fosamax or Activol (I had been on Foxamax previously for 8 years) but my doctor said it might do me more harm than good. So I am trying to build bone with exercise and diet alone.  

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@angelas

<p>Has anyone received their 1st BMD scan with a low t-score, like -3.1 in the spine, and been prescribed Forteo? I'm 50 and a little freaked out as I thought I doing a baseline BMD scan. I have no underlying conditions that can explain the extremely low score. Family history of estrogen-receptive cancer puts HRT out of the question. I would like to wait a year, increase calcium/vit D/exercise, and get another scan. Thoughts?</p>

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Just a thought,@jaleen. Does your diet include modest Vitamin D levels (not many thousands daily, but a few thousands)? Have your Parathyroid hormones been tested for calcium impact?

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I have Osteoporosis and 65 years old. I was told years ago I had osteopenia but then a Dr. told me I didn't...so for years I did nothing about my bones. BIG mistake . But I will NOT take the bone medicine. One relative took Fosamax I believe, and broke her femur just walking into the kitchen. My druggist called me to see why I hadn't refilled my prescription for the fosamax (I decided NOT to take any of it) because it is part of his job. When I told him I had no intentions of taking the medicine he said, "good for you" and told me that his mother developed cancer of the jaw and he believed it was as a result of the medicine. So...I try and add more calcium and vitamin D to my diet and try NOT to fall..don't know what else I can do. I know exercise is important but I am recovering from a broken toe. Soon I HOPE!

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I also do not want to take those osteoporosis drugs. I take the Vit. D and calcium thru food and hope it will be the answer. How did your
brake your toe?

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Hi, I fell down the steps in the movie theatre. It was too dark. It is much better now but it took a really long time to heal. Which led me to getting a physical. And then the bone scan. I wish you the best!

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@mohavegal

Hello, I'm new to this group. My osteoporosis is not improving and after a dexa scan my doctor wants me to go on a drug. Tried one before and experienced a REALLY bad reaction. It was Ibandronate Sodium. Don't know what "family" it's in. Having horrible pain when lying down.

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May I suggest an edit? Under the guidance of two widely respected physician's in my urban area I was prescribed both Fossamax and Boniva for osteopenia. The diagnosis was not unexpected as I have a bone structure that is not as heavy as the average. Yes, I experienced gastrointestinal upset, but only for a few hours, and my sensitive stomach overcame the upset with over the counter medication and being upright for 4-6 hours -- as I was working at a desk job, my routine was not altered. After less than two years on the medications, graduating from daily to monthly doses (if that helps date my experience) I was told that my bone density was no longer decreasing, and that I could stop the medication. The next exam two years later, and every two years since then, I have been told that my bone density continues to increase slightly even though I believe I am not as active as I was when first taking these medications. Therefore, I must agree with my doctors, an ob-gyn, and a gerontologist, that these medications actually reversed my bone loss. Before reading these posts, I did not regard my self as being unique in experiencing a positive outcome from this regimen, but I believe based on the experience of women like me, and the doctors who prescribed these medications, it is not correct to state unequivocally that these medications "don't rebuild bone".

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