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Anyone not on medication for osteopenia?

Poet-Lady
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I am a 53-year old, white female. I have just been diagnosed with osteopenia in the hip and spine. Is there anyone who was diagnosed with osteopenia and NOT put on medication?

Explore topics in this discussion:

Exercise Surgery Forteo Fractures Laryngitis Fosamax Osteopenia Actonel Pain Gum disease Osteoporosis Evista Osteonecrosis

22 replies

Triena

Hi, Poet-Lady;
I don't know what your T scores are, but I was diagnosed at age 58 as "markedly osteopenic" with BMD of age 70 in the spine and was put on 'therapy': Didrocal, at the time; soon I was told that was not very effective. I changed to Fosamax, but then there was the scare about osteonecrosis and I was scheduled to have jaw surgery (which was canceled due to a 3% risk); I switched to Actonel. Five years later the DEXA scan didn't show any improvement; slightly poorer. My GP said to go off the chemicals and just take Calcium, Vitamin D and exercise. I requested a specialist's opinion, and she said I should go on Evista or Forteo. I disagreed with both methods and am 'self-medicating' myself with strontium citrate (since we can't get strontium ranelate). I've done a lot of reading, and based on my 'research', this is what I feel safest with. Good luck; get a second opinion and research as much as you can.

Poet-Lady

Triena commented that she did not know the results of my bone density scan. I had my first bone scan done in May. These are the scores -

t z
spine –2.0 –1.0
femoral neck –1.7 -0.8
total hip -2.0 -1.4

My gynecologist said I have the bones of a woman that is ten years older than I am. She wants me to try serious exercise. She says that it is not known what using medication for twenty-five years would do to a person.

My rheumatologist wants me to go on a weekly dose of 35 mg of Fosamax.

I am still researching.

Thanks to all who answered my various posts.

Tootzie

If I did not have a severe condition of Osteoporosis , I would not takeanything except Vitamin d and Calcium. I am on Actenol but I am not convinced that these meds are being pushed on to many people ! Think about our Parents, and grandparents. They didn't take all this junk! It seems to me that there are very few that have a bone density test that come out with normal results!

alanmoca

i'm a male with hip osteopenia. my doctors recommend calcium citrate and exercise. they said don't take other types of calcium.

Paulette1

Hi, I was just diagnosed and was told to take 1200 mg of calcium with D (I take the chewables - easier to obsorb) Mild exercise and that is it. No one in my family has this - so still in the "why me" stage. I didn't know there was anything else to take for this condition.
My ortho docs have prescribed pain killers, but other than that, no prescriptions.

tina178

Hi I have been diagnosed with osteopenia about one month ago but probably have it longer. I am now still in the research stage of what type of treatment I will take. I really do not want to take any chemicals unless it is my last resort although my PCP recomended that I take one of them...I don't really think he is very knowledgeable about the condition of ostio and bone health. I am now consulting with Dr. Susan Brown a PHD who wrote the book "better bones better body". She is one of the nutritionists who recommend vitamins, exercise and healthy eating for good bones. I just did a 360 degree turnaround regarding caffine. I was drinking approx 40oz of caffinated coffee per day and if not that than diet soda and sometimes both. There is a lot to learn and I am glad I found you all and hope that we can help each other to healthy bones the best way.

CelticRose

Poet-Lady,

Many docs want to start treating osteopenia with drugs when you get to 2.0. I'm at 1.6 and do NOT want to take drugs so I'm trying everything. I just started taking strontium and Jarrow's Bone Up that has a particular kind of calcium that is supposed to be highly absorbable. (At vitacost.com you can also get the NSI version that is exactly the same formula.)

I've just learned of OsteoDenz so I will probably try that as well. I've also heard there is a certain kind of butter oil that can rebuild bone. I'm considering buying walking poles to do Nordic Walking or Exerstriding. Even if they don't help rebuild bone they can't hurt and I do walk quite a bit. (I decided to try the walking poles rather than a walking vest.) I also take calcium, Vit D and monitor my ph levels. Of course, I avoid caffeine but not chocolate chip cookies! ;) I don't drink any carbonated beverages and try to avoid acid producing foods. I recently bought a mineral supplement as well. (Have to introduce one new thing at a time so I haven't tried it.)

Good luck and keep reading about natural alternatives!

CelticRose

ang71118

I was diagnosed with Osteopenia in 1996, at age 60. (I had a bone scan in my early 40's that showed low density but not at this stage). Anyway, my OBGYN doc put me on Actonel 75 mg. I was on it approx 6 months when I started having dental problems. Three attempts at root canal treatment failed (tooth fractures, loose tooth). All three were extracted and I was devastated. I do not have gum disease and never had teeth pulled. I now have two implants and hope they work. I have had dental pain issues for a year now. Sorry about this long reply, but I took myself off the medication prior to the third extraction. Yes, my doc placed me on it. But I did give her feedback and let her know I am no longer taking it. I did increase my calcium with vitamin D, and started drinking low fat milk. I've also started exercising more and plan on getting a treadmill in my home. I did this in the past and increased my bone density without drugs. I do not want to talk anyone out of taking medication, it's just that in my case I've had bad experiences with dental problems. Now dentists are getting involved too. My new dentist saw that I took Actonel in the past and gave me an info sheet on dental problems associated with Osteoperosis drugs. A bit late for me! My advice to anyone is to be your own health advocate. Do your own research. You may be absolutely fine on Osteoperosis meds, and not have complications.

PeteinSLC

I am 45 year old male, and was diagnosed with osteopenia after both of my knees shattered after running a 3 mile race. My doctors put me on Forteo, but after reading about all the possible side effects, I decided after 3 months to stop taking the medication. I work out almost daily, and have been for about 1 year. When I have my scan this year, will decide whether to go back on Forteo, however, my heart tells me to go as long as I can without the drugs since I am still relatively young.

kas

I am 57 and earlier this year told I had Osteopenia in my lower spine and no surprise they prescribed Actonel
I have mentioned this before on this site I took 2 tablets two weeks in a row after the first one I got a rosey hue all over my stomache from one side to the other it didn't itch or anything but just the same a red sheen on your stomache is a red flag to me but as it didn't itch or hurt I took the second pill the following week but then my voice started to close in on me as if I had a severe case of laryngitis and I totally lost my voice and this never happens to me
so I am not taking them and currently I am just taking vitamins calcium carbonate (Oyster shells) 500 mg 3 times a day with extra Vitamin D 125 IU but I also take an extra vitamin d which has 1000 mg and also a multi vitamin and I do exercise
all those medications like Actonel and fosomax make some drug company really rich and they don't care about the side affects
we are the guinea pigs and I refuse to take it

kas

I meant earlier last year

Lynney

I'm in the UK and was diagnosed with osteopenia 6 years ago and now have osteoporisis (-2.5). My consultant has NOT put me on drugs as she is worried about long-term side effects (I'm 51). I'm taking supplements, including 1800iu of Vitamin D.

cliffold

hello PeteinSLC

I'm a male osteopenic runner now 56
Sounds like a terrible injury you suffered, did you need an op to fix the knees?
Did they do a dexa scan afterwards which led to the diagnosis of osteopeneia? Would be interested to know the T scores from that test for hip & spine
How long have you been a runner & what sort of weekly mileage do you do

Poet-Lady

Hi Everyone,

This is Poet-Lady. I started this post months ago.

In May of last year I had my first bone scan. I was
53 then. My test showed I had osteopenia in both
the hip and spine.

I was put on 35 mg Fosamax. I took it for one month.

I then talked to a different doctor. She was concerned about the long-term effects of Fosamax
for someone who is middle-aged. She suggested
Fosteum.

In September I started to take Fosteum. Fosteum is
made from soy and zinc. It is classified as a
medical food. I take it twice a day.

In September I plan to have another bone scan to
see if the Fosteum has helped.

kas

Lynney
that is awesome your doctor DIDN'T want to put you on the prescribed drugs ... to me it just seems prescribed drugs are big business here and the doctors can't wait to prescribe them and shoo you out the door
I have heard that doctors get all kinds of perks from the drug companies

PeteinSLC

Hi Cliffold,
I did not have to have surgery to fix the knees thank goodness. It was odd, we had health fairs at work, and I would always fail the foot scan, but I thought the machine must be "fake" because I couldn't old enough for bone problems. Then the race which lead to the scans. I was -2.5 so they decided to put me on Forteo because of the fractures and my age. It's been a year, and I have only just begun to run on tread mill as my knees still hurt if I do too much. focusing on the upper body and back exercises and slowly building the legs back up. I'll keep you posted on the next results, but I do take calcium and vitamins daily to see if they help as well. I'm trying to be optimistic.

Fazz

I too have suffered greatly with dental problems but I'm on Fosteum. Have your dental issues subsided since getting off the Actonel?

Fazz

Why Forteo? That seems rather drastic given there are so many other med's out there. I also was put on Forteo but that was after exhausting every other possibility. It's difficult to give yourself an injection and also develop uncomfortable side effects. I also had to stop the drug do to it's side effects. I was told you can only be on it for two years. At 47 what are you supposed to do after that? Do some research, you're still very young.

gkg44

I have osteopenia in my femur and hip, and osteoporosis in my spine. I have had 3 scans now over a 4 year period. per the most recent scan I am barely in the osteopenia range for femur and hip, almost normal, and have improved one whole point on the spine. I intend to continue with my program of supplements for at least another two years to see if I continue to make progress. Fosamax was recommended to me, I choose not to use it, not because it upset my stomach, but because of the way it works.

krusso

I'm 48, thin, & used to take once weekly oral solution (have trouble swallowing pills) Fosamax but stopped due to the side effects (occasional pain when swallowing), so I'm NOT on medication anymore. I take Caltrate chewables twice daily with lunch & dinner, & take Vit D supplements every other Sat.

I have a question: what kind of specialist should we see for osteopenia? I see a rheumatologist but is that the correct doctor to see?

Thanks,

Karen

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