I am a 53-year old, white female. I just had my very first bone density scan. I have osteopenia in both the spine and hip.
I am under the care of two separate doctors. One thinks I should take 35 mg of Fosamax per week. The other
thinks I am rather young to start medication. This doctor
has suggested that I try exercise for two years and than have another bone density test.
What have other people in my situation done?
Dear Poet Lady:
I think you need to do your own research and do what you think is right for you. DEXA scores do not relate to fracturability as people with low scores(Ostopenia) have fractures and some people with high scores (osteoporosis) don't necessarily get fractures.
So there are no absolutes. I would vote in favor of the conservative approach. I think the FRAX test would be appropriate. Using this test, you can put in your lifestyle, age, genetics, DEXA scores and make an assessment of getting a fracture in the next 10 years. This should help you decide what is appropriate in your particular situation.
There is a lot of controversy as to what the Fosamax's really will do to ones bones long term. Since it stops the scavenging of the old bone and leaves the old bone in place, is the old bone good enough to resist fracture?
Someone posted a reference to the MORE magazine. Do a search on this site for More magazine and the posts will give you the links to the magazine. The More magazine articles will also give you the link to FRAX. Lots of good reading in the MORE articles. Be sure to read them all.
Good luck. Ther are lots of good posts on this site. So take a month or two of reading and then decide. Remember "DEXA scan results do not directly relate to fracturabilty".
I am 52 and also have osteopenia. My doctors wanted me to take meds and I opted for exercise and diet....I improved some and went through menopause without getting worse. I eat my calcium throughout the day, getting about 130% of daily requirement be sure and get alot of fiber and maybe some extra magnesium for constipation extra calcium will cause. Also vitamin D is vital.. I posted a few days ago an article you should read from More Magizine--June issue http://www.more.com/health/conditions/osteoporosis/frax. It can work , I work out 3-4 times a week , weight bearing exercise. It helps your bones...and your body!
This is a NOF website and as such, can give you information on FRAX -- a new tool or way to estimate your need for treatment now. You can click on NOF at the top of this page. Then search under FRAX. This estimates the 10-year fracture risk to YOUR bones and uses risk factors, including your T-scores. if you do not have these scores, it still can be useful in helping you decide what to do.
Lucy Buckley PT aka Mother Goose
Hi Lucy: Do you know why the FRAX calculator asks for the femoral neck score, instead of the total hip?
I know that other countries have different frax rates, is this based on varying climates and diet, or something else?
Thanks for all your help...
Hello,
I am writing an article for a major newspaper in Boston and I'm looking for comments on the usefulness of the FRAX tool. I have lots of doctors and few patients in my story.
If you are interested or need more information, please contact me at tinkerr@bu.edu or check out my work at www.tinkerready.com
Thanks so much.
Tinker Ready
www.tinkerready.com
Freelance journalist
Cambridge, MA
Poetlady: I too have osteopenia and I'm just sharing with you my story. I'm 54 years old and have osteopenia in both hips but not in the spine. I do 30 minutes of weight bearing exercises 4 days a week (been doing it for 2 years) and I take calcium with vitamin D/magnesium. I also drink soy milk and all of this has made me feel stronger. My doctor put me on Actonel three years ago and I took it regularly but if I had it to do over again I would have never went this route. This medicine has caused me to have digestion problems, and gas (every day) and at times pain in my esophagus, a problem I never had before I took this medicine. The last time I took it I got a pain in my jaw!! My OB-GYN doctor is referring me to a rheumatologist to see if there are other meds I can take as an alternative to Actonel. My other doctor told me that Fosamax stays in the system longer than Actonel (not a good thing) which is why she preferred me to stay on Actonel. It's bad enough to have this disease but worse to have other problems to go along with it. I read that Calapatite Forte is a good alternative to Actonel but I'm going to a rheumatologist before I make a decision. When I get more information, I'll post again.
Lucky you...you found your osteopenia early and you are seeking help. Smarty! If I could go back a few years (and had a brain) I'd have found my ND (doctor of nutrition) right away and started on her bone-building program. You do NOT have to resort to pharmaceuticals. In fact, if you'll get your diet and supplement regimen (and exercise program) going quickly, you'll be safeguarding against ever having osteoporosis. Unless you're in a big city, NDs are not easy to find but work on that - you'll have a great reward.
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