Osteopenia/ Osteoporosis and Prednisone

In addition to calcium and vitamin D supplements, I drink Ensure and do weight exercises. I watched a You Tube, in which a physician said that the only kind of exercise that really helps prevent osteoporosis is weight-bearing. I strap 3-lb. weights on each ankle every day for a 20-minute walk. Sometimes I also do jogging in place for brief periods. For the arms and upper body, I do push-ups against a counter top at an angle and sometimes carry 5-pound weights in each hand on my walk.

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis over 8 years ago and started on prolia. My docs always said take vitamin D and get calcium from food. The prolia did the job and bone density improved. Doc took me off prolia - tried Fosamax and had reactions, tried Reclast and within a year bone density declined. I am back on Prolia and will stay on it. I get Dexa scans every year. PMR was diagnosed in September at age 77. On steroids- started at 15mg and tapering. Very slow with ups and downs between 7-8.5. I walk 3-5 miles daily and keep consistent healthy diet. Steroids have caused pre- diabetes so now on Metformin. Also some weight gain even though exercise and diet have not changed since before PMR.
As others have said- our bodies are so different and I’m trying to just keep moving and listen to my body and be kind and patient. It is an interesting journey and glad to have this forum to share. It helps to hear other perspectives.

I have hovered on the border of osteopenia and osteoporosis for the last 12 years. I started on Fosamax in spring of 2020. I was subsequently diagnosed with PMR in August of 2022 and started on 15 mg of prednisone. I tapered off the prednisone in 18 months.

My Dexascan in April showed that my bone density remained mostly stable with a slight improvement despite the prednisone. The doctor now has me on a 2 year drug holiday. Then we’ll repeat the scan and decide how to proceed.

@pmrsuzie Me too. Is it too late to start again?

@callum2023
The answer to "is it too late?" requires some research on the safety of starting/restarting HRT. Also, consulting your Drs.

@callum2023 diagnosed with PMR in 2024, but think I had it a couple of years before diagnosis. Osteoporosis before starting on prednisone. Can’t tolerate fosamax, and once you start Prolia you can’t stop, as your bones deteriorate faster than the regular rate of loss. I have started on HRT, take calcium, vit D, mK2, strontium citrate, melatonin, boron, and a multi vit. I do weight bearing exercising, and walk 3-5 miles a day. Last dexa showed significant improvement in lumbar spine, and slight improvement in hips. I am currently on 2mg prednisone, and started on Low Dose Naltrexone in hopes it can help me taper off prednisone.

@codfish38 I was diagnosed at age 69.

I had a dexascan 5 years before PMR and was diagnosed with osteopenia.
Was on Prednisone 2024-25. Tapered down from 10 mg. Had a dexascan again a few months after tapering off. It showed worsening osteopenia.
I’ve been on Fosomax the last two months and tolerating it well. My doc said it has actually been shown to not only prevent more bone loss but increase density in many cases, so that’s a source of hope.