Treating Osteoporosis: What works for you?

I have severe osteoporosis. I am on my 3rd year of seeing a wellness coach at a local physical therapy place. I started doing an hour twice a week of strength and resistance training. Then I dropped to an hour a week and Medicare will pay for physical therapy for resistance training. So I do an hour with a wellness coach (individual training) and intense. Then 40 minutes with a physical therapist. Not on the same day. After 1 1/2 years with the wellness coach and a year with the physical therapist, it stopped the osteoporosis in my spine but not my hips. I cannot take the Boniva, Fosamax of the world. My only resort now is for Prolia. But my first bone scan was in 1999, the year I turned 50 and my spine scan was -1.44 then. . It took until 2018 to get to -2.5 in my spine. My total left hip was scanned in 2008 at -2.5 and in 2019 it was -3.4. I am still weighing whether I want Prolia at 70 years old.

I think your advice is well taken if you have been diagnosed with Osteopenia, and don’t have other health complications that impact your ability to absorb calcium, or prevent you from exercising. I did all that for 20+ years and held Osteoporosis at bay until I hit my mid-60’s. At that point ... it became clear I was going to need “more”. I had to overcome the feeling of “failure”, because all the steps I had taken hadn’t prevented me from progressing into Osteoporosis, and make the decision to take meds. I chose Forteo (daily injections for two years, and then move to something else), which I am tolerating well. Everyone is unique and we all need to encourage each other to do what you can to educate yourself (which this Forum really helps with) and then make the best personal decision based you can for your health needs.

Good article, and especially the other one (from Readers Digest) that is linked to it.

Just noticed your posting. I started Forteo four months ago (with no side effects so far). Did you experience good increase in your bone density after you completed the 24-month Forteo regimen?

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Osteoporosis from Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoporosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351968

@bonnieh218, you are quite right. There is an important distinction between words like cure, treat and manage.

@johnduo32 cure and treat are two very different words.

You can cure osteoporosis in several ways. The protein, calcium, vitamin D and exercise can treat your osteoporosis.

@JustinMcClanahan Thank you Justin for the nice words I have enjoyed your help and comments

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Since I 've been on Prolia, (2 injections, 1 full year) my longstanding irritable bowel-C (constipation) has become quite dreadful. Coincidental? My followup appt is next week, so I will let the endocrinologist know and see what she says. I also noticed that constipation is listed as a common side effect.