-2.5 femoral neck and the Endocronoligist wants me to start a biophosphate.

[HealthELiving]

One femoral neck is diagnosed as osteoporosis as of August. Spoke with an Endo today and he felt that Fosomax or Actenol would increase bone density by 60% to mitigate hip fracture risk (cited 20-30% morbidity after a fracture). I was starting to work hard-core at the gym and got a vibration plate as well as increasing K2/D3. How do we know what works and when to give in to drugs? Not a fan of drugs. I have a REMS scan scheduled in the US in November. Hoping for some guidance! Anyone else with similar situation? Somehow it is depressing when they tell you that it is going to continue to get worse and you can die!

[MWZ3]

I don’t understand why you’d start on those drugs with no osteoporosis even. I’ve not started with far far worse numbers. You need to be your own researcher and decider. It’s not an emergency so take your time and decide what’s best for you.

[CDreamer]

I just had a REMS scan after a similar diagnosis of hip and spine. I posted about it a few days ago.

I had an excellent talk with the doctor in the UK who conducted the scan who explained to me how inaccurate DXA can be and that it doesn’t take into account your Fraility score or the strength of the bone, DXA measures density only.

Since seeing him I feel reassured that I can manage without the drugs and continue with the LIV and good nutrition.

[CDreamer]

Anyone else with similar situation? Somehow it is depressing when they tell you that it is going to continue to get worse and you can die!Anyone else with similar situation? Somehow it is depressing when they tell you that it is going to continue to get worse and you can die!

Really! I hope you asked for chapter and verse about how they gave you that prognosis! Talk about scaremongering!

The doctor asked me if my fractures were due to a traumatic injury ie: a heavy fall - yes, down a high step onto concrete - or fraility ie: just standing up or a slight knock. That is the difference between assessing bone strength and just density.

Hope that helps.

[HealthELiving in reply to CDreamer]

This is all helpful. I do a lot of research. There are so many problematic issues with BPs but besides that, most focus on % spine fx reduction while hip fx reduction is generally much lower. My spine is actually fine. In addition, it seems that studies and reports do not take into account the balance and activity level (general health) of the participant, so you might have a woman in her 70s who is mostly sedentary and another who plays sports. Risk of falling and fx should take into consideration overreaching factors of lifestyle since muscle plays a significant part of health, balance and even recovery should a fx occur. I hope the REMS physician and facility in Sanford, NC is equal to the one in the UK, but I'm going to continue on my track without BPs (following some of the suggestion here and in "Great Bones"). How can studies be deemed reliable when contributing factors are omitted? I am 72 and play pickleball, go to the gym to lift weights (I'm up to squats of 90lbs - close to my body weight), and exercises. Yet, if I believe the Endo and some studies, I would be grouped into the 'must have' category. He shook me yesterday, Thank you for bringing me off the ledge.

[CDreamer in reply to HealthELiving]

I am same age & similar fitness and use LIV. The doctor I saw took all that into consideration along with Life’s medical history such as smoking & age at menapause (I had traumatic menopause at 36 & no HRT so evidently my bones should be dust - and they aren’t. There was emphasis on Fraility score which included fitness etc.

[josephinius1 in reply to HealthELiving]

You're very fortunate.

The more I read, the more I think I must really have gotten the short stick if the osteoporosis draw. I'm 62, had a DEXA because I was continually injuring my back during activity. Tried to play pickleball with my mom, first backhand return, my back "goes". Sad when you're the youngest on the court (and maybe even the most fit in some respects, as I had been a runner, weight lifter,) and the one who literally can't play. But, now I know I've had multiple fractures, and all the muscles in the world (not that I have them but I've continued to TRY to strengthen my back,) doesn't prevent them. Most recently I felt pretty good--I'd gone 4 months without an injury, and have dramatically changed my diet/supplementation and have even taken a few doses of fosamax--just wanted to see if I could still run. I could! Knees, ankles, heart, lungs--all fine. Only issue was that I could feel muscles on either side of my spine, just above my waist, moving. It did hurt but in a good way, kind of like a massage. Two days later, though, I knew--I'd stomped my way into another fracture, and this time, whacked out my ribs, too (feels like muscle strain, but it's arguably worse than the fracture pain, which pretty much is only an issue if I put pressure on or stretch that spot. The ribs are 24/7, and they spasm frequently.)

I know my life isn't "over" but it's definitely more limited than I intended it to be, and I never had a clue it was even possible. I mean, yes, "old people" got osteoporosis, heck, my mom has/had it, but she never had back pain, never fractured/lost height/had her mobility impaired, and I was always more active, fatter and more. muscular than she was, so I thought it would be a long time, and not a big deal when it appeared. I've learned some hard lessons.

[HealthELiving in reply to josephinius1]

I an so sorry you are in this predicament and sorting out how to navigate. There is no greener grass. I had a brain tumor at 40 followed by a craniatomy and radiation, and breast cancer 10 years later (mastectomy). I am fortunate to still be here is my net/net. Oh, and melanoma twice. Was rear ended 8 months ago and still recovering.Life evolves and so must we. Finding good guidance to live our best life is a goal. On this forum, I love that we share and help each other do just that.

I wish you better health and far less pain.. I know how difficult that is. My prayers are with you.

[josephinius1 in reply to HealthELiving]

Oh my! I'm sorry for you, too! I was side swiped on Friday--no one was hurt, thankfully, but it's still scary, how much more if you're injured. I wouldn't say I've had perfect health, either but nothing like cancer (except one melanoma, in situ.) I know nothing is guaranteed, and one way or another, we either adjust/learn or we don't abd we're miserable. Praying for you, too.

[Rocknlily]

my Endocrinologist told me I have a 50% chance of mortality. I have not started the Prolia recommendation. Still researching. What is REMS? I had the Bone density test. Osteoporosis in one bone location. Osteopenia in the other.

[HealthELiving in reply to Rocknlily]

R.E.M.S. technology. Radiofrequency Echographic Multi Spectrometry. Radiation-free to assess bone density. May replace DEXA as the gold standard. Many in this forum in the UK have far more experience and knowledge than I, but it is because of their contributions that I learned of it at all, and appreciative.

[Arie4 in reply to Rocknlily]

Hi. There’s a really helpful YouTube video on how misunderstood & misused such percentages being tossed out can be! Best to you!

[HealthELiving in reply to Arie4]

Ariel, do you have that url? I would be interested in seeing it! thank you.

[Frodoles in reply to HealthELiving]

Me too 😄 x

[Arie4 in reply to HealthELiving]

Hi! Sorry, I don’t know how to give you the URL, but I typed in YouTube, WHY DEXA RESULTS ARE SO MISLEADING. I was surprised how many different medical people are in agreement!

I’m in the US, I asked to get a REMS test instead of DEXA, but doc had never heard of REMS! Come to find out, it’s very new here in US, only Mayo Clinic had any info on it.

General consensus is: Dexa often over-instated bone loss. It depends solely on how the technician does the test & there’s so much wiggle room involved, each tech could get a very different reading.

There’s more info about how misleading drug ads can be, i.e., ‘reduces bone fractures by 10%’ etc…it got too technical for me so I can’t say more, sorry!

[Weightrun]

Hi HealthELiving. We have so much in common. Both my femurs have dropped to -2.5, just on the cusp of osteoporosis. Oddly, the amount of measured bone for each side, both left and right is PRECISELY the same number. From 2 years prior, one femoral neck dropped 4%, the other 12%! I exercise both sides of my body equivalently, so this too is suspicious. My total femurs are -1.3 and -1.4 T-scores, about the same as the DEXA I had first done in 2001. My doctor honed in on that -2.5 and suggested medication. Having followed Health Unlocked for the past year, I was fairly certain that the femoral neck reading was likely inaccurate. My spine is -1.2 or barely in the osteopenia range. So, very consistent between total femur and spine as we might expect. Thankfully, my doctor is very supportive of my getting a REMS test. For the record, I’ve also been on very, very low dose estradiol for a while as well as small amounts of testosterone. Both of these are received from a compounding pharmacy. A couple times of year I take a 14-day course of progesterone to mitigate any possible uterine effects of the estradiol. The extremely low dose estradiol is supported by several respected medical groups. It is only for supporting bone density and is too low to help with any other post menopausal symptoms.

Your squat weight is very impressive and your comparison to your body weight leads me to believe that like me, your femoral neck reading is likely wrong. A site I was referred to saveourbones.org gives a couple of good tests for assessing strength of the lower body. One was seeing how long you could stand on just one leg. I was easily able to stand over a minute before deciding it was well over the threshold of a much lower amount of time. The other test was getting up from a seated position and going perhaps 10 feet in less than 12 seconds. See if you can try these to assess your leg strength.

I’ve been running since 1976, weight training since 1979 (with moderate weights, but still not easy), played racquetball from the early 1970’s into the mid-1990’s). Have also been walking a lot since getting a Fitbit tracker in 2014. I’ve also added either a weighted vest or weighted belt to my walks for several years and purchased a Power Plate vibration plate this past December. I don’t believe my bones aren’t strong. My current plan is to work up to low reps and higher weights along with more jumping and hopping. This is a part time job. Like you, I’m getting the REMS scan in November in Tampa. I hope to never have another DEXA as it has caused nothing but anxiety and has generated a feeling that nothing I can do is ever enough. The facility in Sanford is highly regarded and seems to be one of the original sites to offer REMS in the U.S. I will be curious to see how we both fare.

[HealthELiving in reply to Weightrun]

You are correct - we are very similar. I just got a LifePro LIV and if not using that one, use the Power Plate at the gym. - The intense weight lifting and activity as well was motivated by the -2.5 reading, altho I've been a gym rat for years. I had to pause since February when my car was rear-ended and my right knee somewhat damaged, but continue to strengthen it so it is no longer shaky... getting stronger. I walk, jog, jump sidewalks, hop (I researched the study program on hopping that successfully increased bone density and do that routine ). Yes, it is a part-time job but I am fully committed to it.. and D3/K2 + increased calcium thru nutrition. My walks use either 4lb. ankle weights or a weight vest.

I agree about the DEXA scan and was equally appalled to learn how a minute error by the technician in positioning a leg/foot can distort the reading.

It eases my mind that you have heard that the Sanford facility is highly regarded. My test is on 11/29 and I'd love to hear your results as well. Wishing the best for us all!

[MWZ3]

I think I’ll be dead long before my bones kill me lol. That’s actually ridiculous!