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. 🙂

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@windyshores

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.

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@windyshores OUCH! I’ve heard that it’s very painful. Did you go to the ER or treat yourself?

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@becsbuddy

@windyshores OUCH! I’ve heard that it’s very painful. Did you go to the ER or treat yourself?

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I fractured three lumbar vertebrae last April, waited a few days and got an X-ray to confirm. ER cannot do anything. FYI compression fractures don't show up for a few days. Yes painful. I am enduring side effects of Tymlos no matter what- hopeful.

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@windyshores

@klh here are your scores again: L1-4 -3.5, left femoral neck -2.8, and left hip -3.3 . That was two years ago. Mine are worse but more recent! My femoral neck is the worst. Be careful of your spine with a score in the -3.5 and lower range. (I am afraid I just fractured another one making a stupid movement tonight- we'll see.) I did 6 clicks today so two days in a row and it went, well, tolerably. I guess I am the hare afterall.

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@windyshores, well now I only have 9 days to go on 3 clicks and I can try for 4 clicks. I hope that works since you had trouble at 4 for a while. Six weeks ago I have my L 4-6 nerves were burned with radio frequently. So no feeling till the nerve endings grow back. which could take two years. So far no fractures that I know of. I guess the tortoise will stay behind and give the hare a little push forward from behind. As long as we stay well and healthy, we can do this. It is going to rain here all day today and tomorrow. So will be in the house making more applesauce. Take care and keep me informed. KLH

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@kilh

@windyshores, well now I only have 9 days to go on 3 clicks and I can try for 4 clicks. I hope that works since you had trouble at 4 for a while. Six weeks ago I have my L 4-6 nerves were burned with radio frequently. So no feeling till the nerve endings grow back. which could take two years. So far no fractures that I know of. I guess the tortoise will stay behind and give the hare a little push forward from behind. As long as we stay well and healthy, we can do this. It is going to rain here all day today and tomorrow. So will be in the house making more applesauce. Take care and keep me informed. KLH

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I don't know why but all of a sudden my body is not rejecting Tymlos. Four days now on 6 clicks with few problems. Not 100% but so tolerable. Keep going!

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@windyshores

I don't know why but all of a sudden my body is not rejecting Tymlos. Four days now on 6 clicks with few problems. Not 100% but so tolerable. Keep going!

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Yeah and keep going strong. Maybe Fall and cooler weather helps. Two days to go and one week at 3 clicks.is finished. Do you have a different lot of Tymmlos that could help? Thanks for the update and keep informed. KLH

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@windyshores

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.

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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.

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@jasnat

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.

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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.

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@windyshores

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.

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I don’t know anything about Tymlos but I’ll look it up. I took beniva for 4 years and it did not help at all. I will be getting a bone scan in probably 3 months and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will see a big improvement with Evinity. It all is difficult and I have scoliosis which I think even makes my bones thinner. The best of luck. Let me know what your doctor says.

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@flmargie

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

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@flmargie, hi welcome if there is anything we can do to help with advice or explain anything. Just send a message. @windyshores or @kilh. Both of us are on Tymlos and had to stop for side effects but after off a few weeks, we started back on but at a small dosage. The full dosage is 8 clicks. I am only up to 3 clicks and the other is up to 6+ clicks. We are trying to get back to full dosage but if 1/2 dosage is all we get then we will be happy.
But the hare is beating the tortoise. But I am moving slower. Hope this helps. Stay safe and healthly. KLH

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@concernedmtnmom

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.

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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!

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