Newly diagnosed with Osteoporosis

[Anonymous]

I was recommended a DEXA when I broke a bone at 47.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:54 female, had osteoporosis for 4 years and coincided with menopause at 49.

Knew I had osteopenia at 43 when I got a DEXA.

Saw a rheumatologist Dr Shari Diamond but honestly learned more from my physical therapist. PT advised me to wear a weighted backpack and do hard surface walking (I had been walking on a treadmill - not enough to stimulate bone growth) so now I strove for 3 miles, 4 days a week. I also do yoga to help with balance.

I take weekly Fosamax.

For me osteoporosis is own both sides of my family as both parents had it. My older brothers both have osteopenia and take calcium supplements

Per an intermediate DEXA that I insisted upon last year, I’ve made “tremendous to remarkable improvement” and hope to end my course of Fosamax with the diagnosis of osteopenia.

I’ve also gained about 15 lbs and try to tell myself that this was necessary- to add some weight to my frame

Can you share the actual backpack you use?

Weighted vests are also good.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to piggy back on this thread but can anyone recommend an endocrinologist in the DMV for osteopenia? I’m 51, went through menopause at 45 and have osteopenia. Trying to figure out what I can do now for prevention (other than getting a weighted vest and take my Vit. D). So far I haven’t found an endocrinologist who is taking new patients and doesn’t work just with diabetes patients. My GYn and PCP were not very helpful - just said see an endocrinologist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you all getting bone scans on your own? My dr refused even though I have a family history because I'm only 50. Said the rec was 65.

Find a new Dr. my Dr recommended it at 51 due to family history.

I agree full heartedly. I am the OP. I only wish I was sent to DEXA earlier.

[Anonymous]

How have others convinced their PCP to order a DEXA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you all getting bone scans on your own? My dr refused even though I have a family history because I'm only 50. Said the rec was 65.

Switch doctors. I had my first in my 40s. Sadly, while my woo woo doctor recommended a dexa, he never told me about fosomax or anything else so mine turned into osteoporosis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How have others convinced their PCP to order a DEXA?

Find a new doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to piggy back on this thread but can anyone recommend an endocrinologist in the DMV for osteopenia? I’m 51, went through menopause at 45 and have osteopenia. Trying to figure out what I can do now for prevention (other than getting a weighted vest and take my Vit. D). So far I haven’t found an endocrinologist who is taking new patients and doesn’t work just with diabetes patients. My GYn and PCP were not very helpful - just said see an endocrinologist.

Dr. Eyob Makonnen with MedStar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you all getting bone scans on your own? My dr refused even though I have a family history because I'm only 50. Said the rec was 65.

Switch doctors. I had my first in my 40s. Sadly, while my woo woo doctor recommended a dexa, he never told me about fosomax or anything else so mine turned into osteoporosis.

Given Fosamax's adverse side effects, it might have been a conscious decision on your doctor's part not to prescribe it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PS:

It is very important to do “closed chain” exercises.

This is a new term for me, thank you! - NP with a family osteoporosis history, wondering what to do now in my 40s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How have others convinced their PCP to order a DEXA?

Find a new doctor.

A different specialty. My gyn doesn't do it until late in the game. Went to a rheumatologist and she did a comprehensive workup with DEXA. Found out I'm in osteopenia despite a lifetime of weightlifting. She also told me to get off SSRIs and go to an SNRI for bone health.

[Anonymous]

Op: For those in need of information I want to share some of the resources I found. I hope it will help you and reduce your stress upon receiving the same diagnosis. I am not advocating for anything below. Just FYI.

https://arapc.com/services/osteoporosis-assessment-center/

https://www.castleconnolly.com/top-doctors/william-mullins-rheumatology-62cc078389

https://www.castleconnolly.com/top-doctors/kendall-moseley-endocrinology-diabetes-metabolism-122cc000579

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/exercises-for-osteoporosis-of-the-spine

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851231/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851231/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12204390/#:~:text=Low%20calcium%20intake%20is%20clearly,1%2D2%20tablespoons%20of%20milk.

Stay healthy!
🙏

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to piggy back on this thread but can anyone recommend an endocrinologist in the DMV for osteopenia? I’m 51, went through menopause at 45 and have osteopenia. Trying to figure out what I can do now for prevention (other than getting a weighted vest and take my Vit. D). So far I haven’t found an endocrinologist who is taking new patients and doesn’t work just with diabetes patients. My GYn and PCP were not very helpful - just said see an endocrinologist.

I see your post is from May yet thought I'd share for you or anyone else...You can also go see a rheumatologist. Both endos and rheumys treat bone diseases.

I wish I had gotten onto Fosomax when I had osteopenia. You really have a chance to go back to "normal" at this stage. Unfortunately, I had a bad doctor who ordered a DEXA but never mentioned Fosomax or that I should see an endo. It took me a long time to get help.

Mine turned into osteoporosis. Over a span of two years, my osteoporosis turned back into osteopenia. My doctor said my bones got two years younger even though I am two years older. This is a bigger deal than it seems at first and VERY good news.

The Melioguide website has a lot of useful info specifically on exercises for osteoporosis. She's against the medicine, I think, but I decided to take the med AND do exercises. I also ate prunes nearly every day -- they are scientifically proven to help as per UC San Diego research -- and gained 15 lbs as I was underweight and a BMI above 18 is recommended to overcome osteoporosis.

I seriously researched every last thing I could do -- and did not rely on my doctor who only suggested medicine and "some exercise" -- because you have to do the RIGHT exercises and not just any exercises.

My apologies if this is rambling. I feel passionate about this subject and want to help others avoid what I had to go through!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS:

It is very important to do “closed chain” exercises.

This is a new term for me, thank you! - NP with a family osteoporosis history, wondering what to do now in my 40s

Also, consider not doing exercises that twist the spine. I stopped doing these because that can cause tiny fractures that cause the "hump" or "stoop" that many with osteoporosis get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you all getting bone scans on your own? My dr refused even though I have a family history because I'm only 50. Said the rec was 65.

Switch doctors. I had my first in my 40s. Sadly, while my woo woo doctor recommended a dexa, he never told me about fosomax or anything else so mine turned into osteoporosis.

Given Fosamax's adverse side effects, it might have been a conscious decision on your doctor's part not to prescribe it.

I've not had any adverse side effects. Not one.

Are you talking about the scary yet rare side effect of femurs breaking? I have questioned both an endocrinologist and a rheumatologist about this very topic while deciding if I wanted to take the medicine. In the professional medical opinion of these two people (one with a Doctor of Pharmacy in addition to his MD), this was not likely to happen and even less likely to happen before five years. At five years, they give you a medicine "holiday" to prevent the side effect.

So, I'll listen to the two experts with many years of education and experience over what another doctor called my "quack doctor," who tried to give me $200 supplements to "cure" tinnitus, which can't be cured according to medical science. And then sent me for a DEXA while giving me not one lick of advice about what to do about the osteopenia -- whether medicine, diet, or exercise. He offered nothing even though diet and exercise don't have side effects. So, it wasn't due to the side effects of Fosomax that he didn't offer advice. He probably didn't even know about the side effects because he was so busy ringing up another $200 charge and telling me I have Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.