I HAD osteopenia, now have osteoporosis. Been taking meds for osteo for 4 years, and last bone density scan said there was improvement.

Due this spring for another one. Anxious to see if my using machines at health club is helping.

I was diagnosed with osteopenia in the hip (thigh?) and osteoprosis in the thigh (hip?). Cannot remember how it went. Then had a fractured femur, biggest bone in the body. I spent (too) many months on crutches (never missing a day of work, boy was that hard), but the bone would not heal, so surgery and rod inserted in the femur. Then I went on a 2-year regimen of Forteo which helped some, follow up with monthly Boniva. Have not liked any of the meds, but I'm afraid to reject them. I have no thryoid/parathyroid problems or other health problems--just crumbling bones like a lot of women. Everybody's situation is different, so what is good for some is not for other. OBTW I take 2000 IU of Vit. D a day, but I would not do this w/o an appropriate blood test and doctor's orders.

Susan

I had a bone density test last Monday.I haven't heard any results yet. The woman who was giving me the test told me that the best thing to do for your bones is a lot of walking.

I have osteopenia and osteoporosis. Typical for the ladies in my family, and seems to be connected to our early menopause.

I take Fosamax, which I guess is something you can't take. Don't know if it's helping, and this reminds me to ask my doctor for a recheck.

The vitamin D is important, so it's good you are taking that. Weight-bearing exercise, more than walking/aerobic, should help improve bone density.

Yes, I was recently diagnosed with ostepenia. My gyn had recommended a bone density scan due to my age (will be 50 next birthday), race (caucasian), and relatively small frame. Test came back "osteopenia" -- but I didn't get a copy of the report so I don't know my exact numbers. My gyn recommended I take OTC calcium and vitamin D, and wrote me a prescription for Fosamax.

For some reason, I just had a feeling my gyn was a bit too quick with this "fix". So instead of dropping off the prescription on the way home, I googled it. (Look for NPR's recent article "How a Bone Disease Grew to fit the Prescription" for a pretty good overview). I went ahead with the OTC calcium and D as she recommended. But NO WAY am I taking Fosamax until I get a better handle on my personal risk evaulation. That type of medication has serious implications and not enough long term study to deem it harmless -- so I've lost respect for my doctor because she was so quick to write me a prescription without asking more questions about ME. For instance, now I see she should have asked about how much weight-bearing exercise I get, and about my family history of bone fractures, and she did neither.

So I'll be following this thread with interest, because I still have to resolve how to (a) figure out and (b) treat my bone health.

I do 8 lb free weights at my health club.

Got some Christmas to use at home. Guess I better hop to it.

Told DS I would like 8 lb weights, and he thought two 4 lb total 8 lb was it, but WRONG, I do 8 lb total 16 lb.

I have osteoporosis in my left hip and lower spine, along with bursitis in the left hip and the RA.

Osteopenia is the diagnosis for early osteporosis.

I take Fosamax and 1000 IU for the osteo.
Range of motion exercises...NO impact like walking or running, and every other week, therapeutic massage.

I have never had a broken bone.

Just got my DEXA scan report a few days ago.

My MD wrote on the report:
"You have mild osteopenia in your forearms. Elsewhere bone density is normal. Overall, your bones are impressive"

For the last year I have been taking calcium and a multivitamin daily.

I have spinal problems, bursitis and sciatica, and have had both knees replaced. I'm never without pain. I take Celebrex.

I seem to have good bones, just bad joints!

Pretty good report for an 85-year old.

Sue

I am right osteopenia/osteoporosis. I was also diagnosed with Celiac...(allergy to wheat/gluten)...Celiac causes osteoporosis. I started the diet and do feel much better....I take 1200 of calcium....with VitD....I would have to get my bottle to see the dose...I do not want to take the meds....I get another bone scan in a few months to see if I can get it up myself.....I have also heard to take K3 so the bones absorb. You should think about being tested for Celiac....I had to ask my doctor for it myself........it is a blood test.....messes with the small intestines so that you do not absorb nutrients...Calcium being one of them....

Good luck to you!

I had a bone density test done a few months back. The doctor came back with a report that said my bones were that of a 20 year old woman. I am in my 60's. My husband has osteopenia though and is taking supplements.
I have always done a lot of walking since I was a kid, so perhaps that might be partly why I have strong bones.

Helen

My spine is fine but I have it in my left hip and osteoporosis in my right hip - pretty much due to the fact I've been a right above knee amputee since age 25 - no weight bearing on that hip joint in 27 years. It's only been about the last 5 years that I've had a prosthetic leg that allows me to walk very far but since I've had that I now walk about about 45 mins several times a week - less in the winter when it's slippery outside. I also ride an Airdyne exercise bike several times a week but biking doesn't help prevent osteoporosis - though I think the upper body resistance may have some benefit for arms and shoulders. In any case, left side has also suffered as a result of lack of walking over the past years. I drink about a quart of milk a day and take a calcium & D supplement to make up for any daily milk shortage. I also take a generic version of weekly Fosamax. I'm not due for another bone density test for a little over a year - at that time I guess I'll see if the medication is helping. Since I already have this problem at a pretty young age and am probably at a much higher risk of falling at some point in my life, I figured the benefits of taking some medication to mitigate the risk of a hip fracture far outweighed the risks.

I just read an article about bone density. It claimed there is one thing you can do to improve bone density and it does not require a long period of labored exercise. It claimed that if, in the middle of your walk, you break into a run for 60 seconds, that would be enough to signal the body to add bone density at stressed locations.

I have no way to verify the article, but it does make sense. It has been shown in labatory tests that live bones bones are sensors and produce an electrical charge in response to loads. This has been measured.

I suspose that for us old codgers, we should not break into a hard run if we have not done so in recent times, but we could start with a trot using a gait that does not jar the body and gradually work up to an honest run at some time in the future.

It's an interesting idea.

Jemdandy, your suggestion to walk/run certainly makes sense. Back in my twenties and thirties, I did a lot of jogging. I got quite fit. I had a beautiful, toned, healthy body, almost never got sick, even no colds, and found I could eat anything I wanted and not gain weight. I wou;d love to get "back in shape". Thanks for the suggestion.

Gibby, that's a great success story; you are really taking good care of yourself. Your walking regimen inspires me.

Jemdandy, I read the same thing about walk/run. Who knows if it helps or not, but it can't hurt, right?

I read the same thing about walk/run. Who knows if it helps or not, but it can't hurt, right?

It can do a lot of harm to some people with arthritis. If you have any form of arthritis, check with your rheumatologist (NOT family doctor), before doing any running.