Osteopena is a forecurser of Osteoporosis.
I have had Osteopenia, Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis in both hips for years. And have been on generic Fosamac for the Osteopenia.

I am scheduled for a Dex scan next month, and my Rheumatologist has told me that he will probably start Boniva.
A GP shoudn't treat this - a Rheumatologist is who you should be going to if you want proper treatment based on knowledge, not just a lab result.

Lily, you have my sympathy! I don't blame you for not wanting to take Boniva; I wouldn't either. Sounds like you're doing everything right, but somehow it isn't enough. If I were in your shoes, I'd investigate alternative approaches--see what's out there, and what's working. I hope you come up with something.

If it makes you feel better:
"The use of multivitamins was associated with a 2.4 percent increased risk of death, according to the study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Calcium wasn�t associated with the danger and had a favorable effect on mortality, the authors found."
You may want to ask your doctor if a more intensive weight bearing exercise would be more effective. I had improved bone scan results with an exercise regime that includes lifting weights 3X per week. Good luck to you.

Here is a link that might be useful: Business week article quoted

can't take any of the bone meds because i'm on low potassium diet (kidneys) but do high doses of vit d 2000 units and a script drug...all are managed with blood work every 3 months, sigh...am taking anti-hormone drug from my oncologist..gads!

I am taking Evista. It is NOT a bisphosphonate like Boniva. You might want to google it and do some research, and discuss with your doctor.

I also would not take any of the bisphosphonate medications. Evista is working for me - my last scan improved over my previous one.

Thanks everyone. Tally, are there any side affects for you with the Evista? As Susan probably knows, people with fibromyalgia seem to much more sensitive to drugs causing negative affects. I sure am. I take no prescription ones, and will probably stop taking some vitamins like magnesium and B6 and B12.

I have severe kidney disease, I can't take Boniva or any of those anti-osteoporosis drugs. My kidney doctors tell me it won't work properly-instead of adding Calcium to my bones, ,it puts calcium in my blood, and that's bad. I do have osteopenia, but I take a drug called Sensipar, as well as 1,000 IU of Vitamin D. My blood is checked weekly. Yesterday I fell while gardening and gave myself a good scare. Luckily, I fell on my- ahem- assets.

This thread is very interesting to me, since I was very recently diagnosed with osteoporosis. Dr. said it is not severe (yet). I am to go back next week for more tests and he will at that time prescribe treatment. I am NOT looking forward to taking any more prescription meds, especially one that has side effects!

As I understand it, the side effects are a big problem for some. AND...the drug may or may not work. It's like playing Russian roulette.

I went to a Doc who specializes in this. That was just weeks before my bonemarrow transplant. I have yet to go back. She did research and decided thatt he only one for me that would be safe to use with my non hodgekin lymphoma is fosomax. (sp) I need to go back. I might see anohter specialist that my nurse practioner sister in law knows. With all my chemo and now radiation, I have osteoperosis

I have osteoporosis in my right hip due to the fact I had an above knee amputation on that side 28 years ago. I also had osteopenia in my left hip but normal spine. I've taken a generic bisphosphonate for a couple years and had significant improvement on my last scan earlier this year.

I'm only 54 and quite active so I think I have a long time ahead of me with significant risk of hip fracture - which I'd very much like to avoid since I already have limitations with my other leg. To me the risks from the medication do not outweigh the risk of hip fracture and the adverse impact of that. In other words, I think I'm far more likely to have a hip fracture than I am to suffer from any serious side effects of the medication.

There is no medication that doesn't have potential side effects - known and unknown. You have to educate yourself on the risks and benefits and make a personal decision about what is best for you. Medical evidence is rarely black and white so it can be a tough call.

I'm not sure what adverse impact the osteoporosis had on your elderly relatives other than the "hump". If they had a decent quality of life into their 90s and didn't take any medication for osteoporosis then that's pretty good. If your situation turned out the same would you be pretty happy with that?

Actually my mother and I had/have never any broken bones . I think my three aunts might have had broken bones, but I can't recall what. Since the lawsuits came out Boniva NOW says it does not reverse bone loss and is not a cure for post menopausal women. Side effects are:back pain, heartburn,stomach pain, pain in arms and legs, diarrhea, headache, muscle pain, and flu like symptoms. Wonderful and for something that even the company says won't reverse bone loss. My aunt who will be 95 next week is almost doubled in half but gets around. I'll have to ask her daughter if she ever took meds for it. Her daughter, my cousin is six years younger than me and has been diagnosed and was on one of the drugs but stopped.

I've had kidney stones, so never took Bonica, etc. People lived OK before there were bone density tests or meds to 'correct' any imperfect test result.

I'll be following the whole 'vitamin' saga. Can't any study have up to a 4% variant 'just because'?

For what it's worth I have no side effects from bisphosphonates (generic Fosamax). I have a friend who took it for over 10 years for osteoporosis in her spine that was caused by radiation therapy. She had no ill effects either and though she saw no improvement in bone density, she didn't have any further deterioration either.

When they started women on large doses of calcium and D the scientist came out and said it won't help, you can not rebuild bones. They say you have to start taking those things when you are very young, long before you have a problem. I don't take drugs, but did try the calcium and D and now I have kidney stones. The doc told me to watch my calcium intake...so you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. I don't take anything now.

My osteo improved by 33 percent on my last bone density scan. Part of it was due to the fact that I had been using the machines at the health club. But doctor said it wasn't enough to stop taking the meds for osteo.

lily, one of my good friends was on Fosamax for 14 months and dring those 14 months I watched her go from a vibrant, active woman to a depressed, unable to walk distances, needing a wheelchair in airports woman who was about ready to curl up and die. I know that not everyone reacts so badly nor so quickly but it was enough to tell me that there is no way one of these medications is going into me. I wish you lots of luck and hope that you find a way that won't cause harm.

I was initially on Fosamax until they came out with a generic.

Been on the meds for 6 years now and no problem

Lily, there are side effects to every drug.

You need to do your research, become informed, discuss this with your doctor, and make your own decision. Sometimes we have to make a decision between the lessor of two evils. Each person's lists of pros and cons is different.

Between the bisphosphonates and Evista, I chose to go with Evista. An added bonus for Evista is that it is also used to reduce the risk of invasisve breast cancer, so it kind of protects both my bones and my breasts.

The only real side effect I can honestly say I've experienced is occasional increased sweating. Other than that I haven't had any problem with it, and as I said - my bone scans have improved.

Hope this helps.

I had a bone density test earlier this year, first one for
me, at 64. I was told I did not have osteoporosis but to
continue taking Citrical because I could still get it later...

Thanks for your stories. Glenda, what machines do you use at the gym? I called the practice today and asked them to send me a copy of the last dexa scan so I can compare how fast it went down. I have not talked to doctor, because he is at his new practice now. I'll email him when I figure it out. At the last dexa , I wasn't going to the gym. I only walked two miles a day. But for the last almost two years, I've gone to the gym every day and do the treadmill and a few weight machines. Plus I added another mile on the daily dog walk. I was optimistic because at my mammo last year , she did a heel scan which was normal. You just don't know what to do anymore. Today a report came out for men to stop the vitamin E they take for their prostate. It seemed to increase cancer.

As of yet I have no signs of bone density loss. I am 60.

I have never ever been a milk drinker since I was into my 3rd year. I am a not a great dairy eater except for cheese and cream which I eat in moderation. I do not take any vitamins or supplements. I did take natal and prenatal vitamins as prescribed by my doctor during my childbearing years.

I think simple genetics plays a role. I also believe that women who over diet into staying thin can add to the later thinning of their bones.

I credit my healthy (thus far) bones to genetics,exercise and a bit of extra padding in my middle years and presently.

With all the controversy over supplements and medications I choose to take nothing unless it is something that would actually be life-saving 0r proven to treat a certain condition. I take my thyroid meds religiously for example. if I had high blood pressure I would take my meds for that. High cholesterol? I o would really have to think about it. Too many pros and cons so that would have to be a carefully informed decision.

I think we need to concentrate on healthy balanced diets, a weight based on health and not vanity, and exercise and balance throughout out lives.

I lost balance due to hearing loss so I concentrate on that area. It's not as good as it was but I must say it is much better than a lot of my younger friends.

Except in extreme cases most breaks in elderly are due to falls. Working on balance can prevent those falls or at least lessen the chance of them.

I am sure that in some people there is drug therapy to delay the advancement of Osteo. But like Glenda said exercise,weight training etc. play a role too. I believe a greater one.

And for every prescribed drug that has controversial side effects or no effects there are so called perfectly "natural" OTC supplements that have the same downsides and can even be more harmful. So if one is taking advice of thier local "nutritionist" at the health food store or Vitamin Store they should do some heavy research on the real science behind these drugs.

I'm not sure what adverse impact the osteoporosis had on your elderly relatives other than the "hump". If they had a decent quality of life into their 90s and didn't take any medication for osteoporosis then that's pretty good. If your situation turned out the same would you be pretty happy with that?

That's an important consideration that I hadn't thought of..... thanks Gibby.

My mom (97) has a "hump" & it's been rather marked in the last few years. She's been taking biphosphonate for the last 6-7 years because a chest xray showed osteoporosis... it was to the degree that a dexa scan wasn't even necessary!

But the remarkable thing about my mom is that she has ZERO pain.... NONE anywhere! I find that amazing! Now, because her spine is so curved it has diminished her lung capacity so that she breathes rapidly. But I don't think she even notices it because she has never, ever said, "I feel short of breath."

So the above consideration helps to reinforce the decision I made a few years back. I had taken Fosomax for a number of years because my dexa showed osteopenia. Then I did some research & reading about biphos's & decided to no longer take them. My dexa has not worsened. I take Vit D & Calcium and walk.

I think Wildchild's advice to "work on balance" (improving or maintaining it) is good. Falls are major culprit to declining health as we age.

Good advice about improving balance. My balance isn't what it used to be but I am very careful. I walk very fast on walks and on the treadmill, but around this old house with its two staircases and obstacles I walk like I'm 95 so I don't trip over dogs and cats and their toys. I don't have high BP and have great cholesterol, so I take no prescription drugs. I never dieted but keep weigh at 108 because that's where I feel the best. If I weighed 148, my bones would still be very small, so I don't think weight has anything to do with my thinning bones. When I think of every relative, mostly dead now, and they all had this problem, then I feel a little helpless.

I think heredity does play a role in this. My mother had some osteo problems with her spine and the doctor mentioned something to me about it at the time - watch out for this as it's hereditary. However heavy smoking and drinking also increase the risk and since I don't partake of either of those I don't necessarily think it's genetic predisposition in my case. My 97 year old grandmother and 90 year old aunt never had any problems with osteoporosis that we know of but neither of them smoked or drank alcohol.

In my case I think it's primarily due to having an amputation at an early age and having more limited mobility in prior years. Fortunately that is no longer the case so I can do more walking and other activities that help most parts of me.

I talked to my cousin today who lives in SC. She told me her mother who will be 95 next week and very bent over never took any meds for her osteoporosis. Cousin who is six years younger than me took Fosamax for a few years with no side effects but no progress on slowing the osteo so she stopped. She's the opposite of me. Her hips are worse than her spine. Also my practice sent me the results of my heel scan from Sept '10 and it was normal at +.6. Now how can that be? I had it when I had my mammogram last summer.