New osteopenia diagnosis

I don't know about the ankle weights although I don't know why they wouldn't be helpful provided you don't have any other health issues which might trouble you (bad knees?). There is a technique recommended called heel drops where one stands on tiptoe (can hold onto a chair) and drops the heels down hard, to create an impact. I don't do this because I have some other back issues, arthritis and such, but apparently it can be very effective, and a lot safer than a trampoline!

The alendronic acid issue is finally becoming more commonly known. See my reply to linziej where I describe how aa works.

This is an interesting article:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Linziej, I think you should talk to the national osteoporosis society regarding this specific question. However, to the best of my knowledge, alendronic acid has nothing to do with getting nutrients into the bones. In fact I understand it's very important that the levels of calcium and Vitamin D be optimum before initiating treatment.

Did you have a DXA scan and if so do you know your t-scores?

There are two types of cells which are key in what's called bone remodelling. This is a process which takes place throughout our lives, where osteoclasts remove old bone and new bone is made by osteoblasts. When we experience bone thinning it's because the 'clasts are more active than the 'blasts and remove more bone than is restored. Alendronic acid and related drugs (bisphosphonates) work by inhibiting the action of the osteoclasts. They do not, as far as I know, encourage the osteoblasts. Because of this there will be an initial improvement in bone density. But because old bone is no longer being removed it will gradually become more brittle, hence the risk of atypical femur fractures rises, for example. There are other side effects as well, many of them can be dealt with but others are serious. For that reason it's now thought that one should only be on a bisphosphonate for two or three years in order to gain the most benefit and avoid most of the bad effects. Because of your relatively young age I'm concerned that your doctor would consider this treatment appropriate. It's more appropriately used as treatment of last resort for people with very bad bone density and normally older patients.

There are other drugs. Just in case your doctor is insistent, and makes other suggestions: Denosumab is even worse than basic bisphosphonates because it actually poisons the osteoclasts. As they're also part of the immune system I'd be very concerned about this aspect, if nothing else. There is also a drug, a manmade version of a parathyroid hormone (teriparatide - brand names forteo/forsteo) which encourages the action of osteoblasts. This is only approved for use for two years as there are questions about its safety because lab animals (although not humans in trial) developed a type of bone cancer. Some people have also used strontium supplements, either natural strontium citrate or patented strontium ranelate, soon to be withdrawn. Because it's heavier than calcium it gives the impression of increased density but I don't know if it's ever been shown to actually improve bone strength, which, at the end of the day, is what we want.

Although pred can cause bone thinning, in my case I think it was a final insult after a couple of years of other incidents, it's still possible to improve bone density solely through the use of diet, supplements (Vitamin K2 !!!) and, most importantly, appropriate exercise. It's a great pity that doctors do not recommend natural methods before suggesting drug treatment.

No, No, No,.....I am fortunate. I have the medication that will help if any is. I took preventive meds since my 40's...and my first fracture was not till 66 when I had the audacity to fall down hard when rushing to do something.

My point is HAVE A DEXIGRAM DONE AGAIN....every year or so . This way a rheumatologist can follow you and pick up if your osteopenia is getting worse or better and you can adjust your lifestyle accordingly.

You have already been diagnosed with a possible bone condition when the word "Osteopenia" was used.

I inherited my situation....can run in a family. My sister is still in the treatable osteopenia stage. Two others are younger. I swear, I don't know when doctors determine osteopenia BECOMES osteoporosis.

Your on the right track with some of the info.

First I am fortunate to have a teaching rheumatologist professor at a good university medical school in Tampa as my physician.

My dexgrams were showing slight decreases in bone density several years ago, but the rheumatologist was not very concerned. Instead, he took me off meds to give my body a "vacation" for two years to see how I would do without them.

The fall and discovery of the fractured thoracic vertebra happened before the two years were up.

There was no discussion about the difference between the last two dexagrams. The rheumatologist saw the red warning when the location and type of fracture was found.....regardless of what the dexagrams showed. He is a very polite and caring physician, but he made it extremely clear why the Forteo (Forsteo) was THE medication he wanted me to take.

Forteo can be taken for only a total of 24 months during one's life time, as that was the period of human testing done before the USDA approved it's use. I may only need it for a year in the beginning and then stop for awhile. Then take the remainder later if needed.

What happens after the 24 months of Forteo is up to what my doctor thinks is appropriate for me.

(It does not include Prolea) One "maintenance" medication may be an infusion type of med once a year, etc.

Yes, the big question is always "What after Forteo?"

The answer is we have to see what results I get from Forteo first.

Bottom line osteoporosis is a lifetime maintenance concern.

I am going to throw out the cost now. So don't faint and I hope you can take a mortgage out on your house. The retail cost of one 28 day pen of Forteo, without including the needles, is $2400-$3,000 in Tampa, FL where I live. Insurance plans fight like he** not to pay for it, and when they do the co-pay can be over $1,000 a pen.

As I may have mentioned before, the two women from the UK who posted they were getting it was really because they were so badly fractured, it looks like Forsteo was provided as a med of last resort. But that doesn't make sense medically. Forsteo cannot heal fractures, help collapsed fractures, nor stop the pain. My "uneducated" guess is the COST was the reason those women didn't receive it after their first fractures when it could have done some good.

My age, that fact it was my first fracture, that the fracture was surgically "mended" within three days of the fall, and that it was a thoracic fracture fit the exact description of the woman/man Forteo was formulated to help to prevent future fractures. The results on the web are impressive when compared to other types of meds available.

It took me three weeks of nonstop reading, info research, telephone calls to the Eli Lily Forteo department, i.e. before I decided to take Forteo.

I think made the right choice for me. I'm on my third pen now, and at 5 p.m. I have gotten adjusted to injecting it. The needles are very small and sharp...not painful. It's kept refrigerated, and can travel well as there is enough time it can be kept cool, but not refrigerated to make ship or air travel possible.

The rheumatologists are the experts in osteopenia, osteoporosis and Forteo, not the GPs or GYNs.

Whew.....I hope that gave you the basic education that took me over three weeks nonstop to learn.

Oh, and some calcium and D3 are the only dietary supplements I am to take with Forteo, and it can cause excess calcium in the blood stream.

There are other things I know, but believe you have the main points.