Treating Osteoporosis: What works for you?

Hello, everyone, I'm also new to this group. I had taken Evista for osteopenia from 2008-2012, during which time several DEXA scans showed I had some improvement. My hip was fine then, but spine -2.1. I was 55 in 2012 when Evista was stopped. My GYN never again mentioned osteopenia, and didn't order a follow-up DEXA till last month - a 9 year lapse! It was never on my radar so I didn't research anything. I was mindful of calcium but not the fact that it should be well distributed throughout the day - thus I was overloading in AM and not enough in evening. Hip now -1.1 and spine -3.2. I had been very active but now fearful of skiing, biking and even less demanding activities. I'm now distributing my calcium properly, continuing Vit. D as always, and fast walking with hills close to 4 miles a day. Am researching the best/safest strength and resistance exercises as well, and plan to start ASAP. My GYN is referring me to an endocrinologist and suggesting Forteo or Tymlos. What I read about Forteo on other sites terrified me. On this site, the comments regarding Tymlos don't seem too bad, but I'm pretty reluctant. May just continue lifestyle/exercise and dietary approach and get a second opinion. Would be interested in any/all suggestions / recommendations! I'm glad I found this site!! Thank-you!

I had a difficult reaction to Forteo and my doc didn't want me on Prolia or Reclast (long story) so I didn't meds for quite a few years. All I can tell you is that you never know when you will fracture, and when I did, it was three vertebrae at once. Added to 3 traumatic fractures a long time ago, I now have 6. The pain of this is very motivating, believe me. I am finding Tymlos much easier than Forteo, and started at a low dose then moved up slowly. Evenity is another possibility but newer. Side effects from Tymlos, if they occur, tend to fade. I think a -3.2 could be the start of more fragility, but your MD would know.

Hello, everyone, I'm also new to this group. I had taken Evista for osteopenia from 2008-2012, during which time several DEXA scans showed I had some improvement. My hip was fine then, but spine -2.1. I was 55 in 2012 when Evista was stopped. My GYN never again mentioned osteopenia, and didn't order a follow-up DEXA till last month - a 9 year lapse! It was never on my radar so I didn't research anything. I was mindful of calcium but not the fact that it should be well distributed throughout the day - thus I was overloading in AM and not enough in evening. Hip now -1.1 and spine -3.2. I had been very active but now fearful of skiing, biking and even less demanding activities. I'm now distributing my calcium properly, continuing Vit. D as always, and fast walking with hills close to 4 miles a day. Am researching the best/safest strength and resistance exercises as well, and plan to start ASAP. My GYN is referring me to an endocrinologist and suggesting Forteo or Tymlos. What I read about Forteo on other sites terrified me. On this site, the comments regarding Tymlos don't seem too bad, but I'm pretty reluctant. May just continue lifestyle/exercise and dietary approach and get a second opinion. Would be interested in any/all suggestions / recommendations! I'm glad I found this site!! Thank-you!

Hello, everyone, I'm also new to this group. I had taken Evista for osteopenia from 2008-2012, during which time several DEXA scans showed I had some improvement. My hip was fine then, but spine -2.1. I was 55 in 2012 when Evista was stopped. My GYN never again mentioned osteopenia, and didn't order a follow-up DEXA till last month - a 9 year lapse! It was never on my radar so I didn't research anything. I was mindful of calcium but not the fact that it should be well distributed throughout the day - thus I was overloading in AM and not enough in evening. Hip now -1.1 and spine -3.2. I had been very active but now fearful of skiing, biking and even less demanding activities. I'm now distributing my calcium properly, continuing Vit. D as always, and fast walking with hills close to 4 miles a day. Am researching the best/safest strength and resistance exercises as well, and plan to start ASAP. My GYN is referring me to an endocrinologist and suggesting Forteo or Tymlos. What I read about Forteo on other sites terrified me. On this site, the comments regarding Tymlos don't seem too bad, but I'm pretty reluctant. May just continue lifestyle/exercise and dietary approach and get a second opinion. Would be interested in any/all suggestions / recommendations! I'm glad I found this site!! Thank-you!

Thanks, @jaleen . My instinct is to avoid these scary meds and work on calcium from food and weight-bearing exercise, weight training, etc. Altho I do all those and it didn't help, evidently. I have osteopenia in my family history and my doc says it's genetic. I'm 53 and mad as hell. Hope my doc has better solutions.

what are you all clicking? New to the site and am osteoporotic. Have history of jaw fracture so in eligible for shots.

I am meeting with my endocrinologist later this month. He gave me the choice of trying Tymlos again (after being hospitalized with a side effect) or Evenity. I wanted to save Evenity. But if it is more powerful and fewer side effects, I would consider. I want to know if I can do Tymlos AND then Evenity and get more bone growth, or if I would get the same bone growth with Evenity alone. Tymlos seems to help the spine but not the hip. Evenity is both anabolic and antiresorptive, but it is also very new.

So I’ve been taking Evinity for 10 months. I have absolutely NO side effects. I get 2 shots each month at northwestern hospital. I get a little sore and burn when I get the shots but worth it.

I think I fractured a vertebra last night ducking under a barrier. This is serious business. If I did, I have a total of 6 spinal fractures. Going to try to stick with 6 clicks and continue moving up. Have to ask doc if that is enough or if I should switch to Evenity.