What if anything are you doing to treat your osteopenia?

[Anonymous]

If you have osteopenia, are you taking anything for it or doing anything to treat it? Aside from weight training and calcium supplements?

I had a recent Dexa scan that showed mild osteopenia. It's been the same for about a decade-no worsening but no improvement. Mom has pretty severe osteoporosis so it's not surprising.

Everything my Dr recommended I'm already doing and have been for years. I'm just wondering if I need to get more aggressive with treatment at some point. I'm 51 and perimenopausal.

[Anonymous]

Diagnosed with osteopenia at 45. Took calcium supplements. Three years later and by then one year menopausal, I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. Prescribed weekly Fosamax that I’ve been taking 3 years and two more years to go.

I had an intermediate DEXA scan-learned that my osteopenia has improved likely to my commitment to near: daily hard-surface walking (3 miles), wearing weighted vest during my walks, gaining about 10 pounds, yoga and balance exercises and following a healthful diet with lots of oat milk and near daily Swiss cheese.

[Anonymous]

Osteoporosis has improved


Also need to add that both of my parents had osteoporosis and my older brothers (58,59) have had DEXA scans at my recommendation and they have osteopenia. Clearly genetic link for us.

[Anonymous]

My mother was treated with HIGH doses of vitamin D and some other meds I can't recall. She was followed closely for years with DEXA scans, and then she was declared back to normal - a pleasant surprise. She's still at risk, of course, and needs to take maintenance vit D.

[Anonymous]

Yes--this was me two years ago. I started on estrogen patches last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes--this was me two years ago. I started on estrogen patches last year.

OP. Interesting and good to know. I will probably need to do this at some point. I still have estrogen right now but know it won't stick around forever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes--this was me two years ago. I started on estrogen patches last year.

How old were you when you started the HRT? Did a pcp prescribe?

[Anonymous]

Testosterone cream-female appropriate dose!

[Anonymous]

What are the symptoms?

[Anonymous]

What does your doctor suggest?

I wish I’d started Fosomax when I had osteopenia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does your doctor suggest?

I wish I’d started Fosomax when I had osteopenia.

OP. Calcium and weight training which I've been doing for years. Rescan in 2 years. Aside from that-nothing. I'm wondering if I should be more aggressive now. This is just my OBGYN. I live in the land of old people so there are tons of Drs who specialize in this but just not sure if they would even see me now.

My T-score femoral neck improved by .1 since my scan 8 years ago so I'm not getting worse but not really getting any better.

[Anonymous]

Lifting weights.

[Anonymous]

I've been lifting weights since I was in my early 20s. Now 55 and just diagnosed with osteopenia. It's just not fair.

[Anonymous]

Take vitamin D with your calcium if you aren’t already

[Anonymous]

What worked for me over two years is similar to the above:

Weights to target specific area
Hard surface walking
Calcium — I take Bone Plus.
Adding calcium-fortified foods to diet.
Gained 15 lbs to achieve the minimum ideal BMI for osteoporosis.

Good news is my osteoporosis changed back to osteopenia in two areas.

BUT the femoral neck improved but not enough to considered only osteopenia. I read too late that one must do specific exercises, and apparently all the walking I did was not enough for my body.

It is important to do closed chain kinetic exercises where one foot remains on the floor, so I’ve added those types of exercises into what I do.



I will test again in two years!