Any non fracture members?

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis when I was about 56 and I've never had a fracture. I've never taken any medicine, I take certain vitamins, I joined a gym and do weight-bearing exercises and try to eat as clean as possible it's a lot of meat and veggies basically keto.

@chrisco would need to know what is causing the pain. then maybe someone on here can tell you what they do that helps.
as far as I know pain from osteoporosis only comes when you fracture something. usually compression fractures in the back.

I am 79 and have osteopenia. I’ve had two serious falls (down 14 oak steps) and was fortunate not to break anything. Recently I was put on sleeping meds which caused balance issues so stopped. I think doing things to prevent falls is critical. Balance exercises, weight bearing exercises. watching where we step and being cautious of stairs. When using stairs use the hand rails and even go down sideways (my son an ortho surgeon told me this). Also don’t carry baskets of laundry down wooden stairs in socks. Wishing you all many break free years to come.

I was diagnosed this past September and started Evenity in November. I am 58 and go to the gym regularly and eat well blah blah. I did just also start HRT and the right vitamins (Calcium Citrate and D). I am osteopenia everywhere except my low spine which is osteoporosis. I have never fractured anything and, after being really worried like you, decided to keep doing what I'm doing and just keep it in the back of my mind. I'm a litle more mindful when walking on something wet or going up and down stairs etc. but I am not stopping anything else.

@chrisco I understand that there are targeted back strengthening exercises designed to improve facet joint arthritis, which may help the pain. Have you tried this?

There is a British physio on Utube, Will Harlow, and he concentrates on older adults....nothing too difficult, but very effective. I have used his protocols for other painful joint issues and have been extremely happy.

His focus is on strengthening the muscles associated with a particular joint....so for example, knee pain needs to strengthen the quads, the glutes, and the calf muscles. This allows the knee to operate with less cartilage, the absence of which is what is often called 'bone on bone' and eases pain.

I just need someone on here to help me understand arthritis of the set joints. I heard that they cannot be fixed or operated on. I’m in pain 24 seven it wakes me up. It does a lot of crazy things to me. Someone please help give a rice.

@chrisco YouTube is often useful for this kind of information. Best to be sure you are watching stuff from real doctors and real physical therapists etc.

Here is a search that you can use:
https://www.youtube.com/
search on "arthritis facet joints"

And here is one of the results:

@glojo

Me Too! Haven’t taken any Meds. I’m turning 76 this summer.
Once you start you never stop as Bone density reverts after stopping.
Fosamax stays in system for 2 years then they start you up in another.
Not for me, not yet .
Changed diet, added more exercises for OP like hopping, lunges, deep squats , omega 3s help fight OP so I add that. Omega 6’s are BAD and make bones worse.
Dexa scans are faulty and not reliable stats. I did one REMs scan , bone quality not as good as expected.
Never have fractured that I know of.

Rudysmom, I was first diagnosed with osteopenia, then osteoporosis, then after 18 months of Fosamax, no improvement in osteoporosis. I consider myself healthy, even with modest arthritis and hypothyroidism, both managed with meds. My whole adult life I have eaten healthy foods, consumed calcium-rich foods and now exercise daily (it was 3-4 times/week while I was working.) I am physically active, muscular, and while I trust my doctor, I don't totally trust the scans. I don't feel my lifestyle mandates changing habits. She asked me to look into Prolia and Reclast, neither of which look guaranteed to help. I appreciated seeing an article referenced in this forum on over-diagnosis of thin women, but since it's from an anthropologist, I suspect the MDs will dismiss it.
I may ask my GP to recommend a rheumatologist for more specific advice.

@wagsofbevis
If you do decide to entertain the idea of Osteoporosis drugs at some point, I wonder about your doctors recommendation of either Prolia or reclast. I wonder about the possibility of an anabolic such as tymlos, forteo or evenity next instead. However I am not a doctor and I don't anything about your medical history. Sequencing of these medications is very important. It is also quite important to understand whether any physician who treats you has the training and experience in osteoporosis and bone health. Let us know how it goes.