One quick comment on my scores--I've been having them done for more than 12 years. About 4 years ago, the scanners in my health system were changed or updated so for a few years I couldn't get a good comparison. Now we finally have 2 different scans to compare.
At present I am on Prolia. I started on actinel way back around 2006 when I was diagnosed with osteoporosis and I did that for almost 3 years. I had side effects like leg and back pain and dry eyes. I stopped actinel and the side effects went away so I just went without any meds. I thought I would be OK. Every Dr. I saw wanted to put me on Forteo but I was concerned about future side effects. Along the way I discovered I had one or two vertebral fractures then another in 2014. That's when I knew I had to be on something--Forteo was strongly advised since I needed to build bone. I worried but what were my options? Maybe side effects or most likely more fractures, pain, and disability. I could only take Forteo for two years. So now I'm on Prolia since coming off Forteo. I guess I'm lucky that I don't notice any side effects with it. I also take calcium and vitamin d which the Dr. monitors to make sure my levels stay in a safe range. I am under the care of an excellent rheumatologist.
I had an unfortunate accident 5 years ago that fractured my femur. I believe it would have been far worse if I had not been on the meds. It reinforced my belief that I needed these meds regardless of what I had thought before. Last winter I passed out for some reason and fell. One of the drs. in the hospital said that being on Prolia may have prevented more broken bones. Who knows? I have other meds that I take for various health issues. I wish I didn't have to take them but at 78 I have come to accept this. I have aches and pains but I'm still relatively healthy. No one said getting old would be easy. 🙂 No complaints.