Osteopenia/ Osteoporosis and Prednisone

Posted by rnm @rnm, 6 days ago

I am wondering about the experience of women who may have had osteopenia, received a dx of PMR and then had to take prednisone.
I have been upping the amount of calcium in my diet as well as taking more in terms of supplements to prevent osteoporosis. I am also trying to increase weight bearing exercises, barre classes etc. to the extent that I am able
So, a few questions...

1. Is adding more calcium going to help prevent osteoporosis?
2. Is the osteoporosis reversible?
3. How far along were you with PMR when you had a dexascan?
4. Were you on high dosages of prednisone for a long time?

Thank you in advance for your help! Greatly appreciate it!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

centralflorida | @centralflorida | 4 days ago

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.

bainbridge | @bainbridge | 4 days ago

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.

shannonjp | @shannonjp | 4 days ago

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.