severe osteoporosis

[Healthymb]

I am at -4.2 am just fractured my sacrum. Any suggestions for help or relief

[Rik123]

See an endocrinologist or rheumatologist for medication. My numbers were in the -5 and -6's and I fractured 4 vertebrae in my spine 3 years ago. Now I'm in the -4.0 range and haven't broken any bones since. It sounds like you're high risk like me. I'm 71 years old now.

[DiscoLover in reply to Rik123]

I am 57 years old and I was diagnosed with osteoporosis when I was 52. I have seen an endocrinologist and a rheumatologist and they did a massive amount of tests and blood work and could find no medical condition that would have caused my osteoporosis and it does not run in my family. I am very petite, 5 ft. 3 inches and weight 112 pounds. I have not fractured or broken a bone yet but I am very scared it could happen at any time. My latest DEXA scan showed my scores got much worse since my scan one year ago. My total spine score is -4.3 and my total hip score is -3.5. I have been taking lots of supplements (calcium, D3, K12) and doing weight bearing exercises 4 days a week for the last year and was very depressed to find it did no good and my scores got significantly worse. May I ask what you did that contributed to your DEXA scores getting better. Did you start taking any osteoporosis medications? I’m desperate to find something that will improve my scores but I am scared to take the osteoporosis medications based on all the side effects and the fact that I am so young to start taking medications I will be on the rest of my life.

[Rik123 in reply to DiscoLover]

I was initially diagnosed also around age 50 and also tried to cure myself with diet and exercise. I made it to age 68 without a fracture. I understand your concerns. I had the same concerns earlier but now I have no choice. Once you break a bone it's likely that it will happen again and again. I started with Evenity for one year and then went to Prolia. That's when my score increased. Most people don't have side effects. The really scary side effects happen to a small percentage people.

Osteoporosis is more common in light weight people. Another reason, which I think made mine so bad, was medication that I was on for years. Some medications leech the calcium from your bones. One is Synthroid and another is Aciphex ( prescription antacid).

Good luck in your search for answers.

[evtcoach in reply to DiscoLover]

I heard in this stage you need either meditation like Evenity or strontium or/and HRT. I'm in that situation now, that I have to choose. I will try to get Hormone Replacement Therapy first and start at Osteostrong.