Went from a mild Osteopenia DEXA to Osteoporosis in two years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try jumping exercises and heavy weights. Even if you go on medication, they may help.

But get your doctor's approval and clearance for any of this before you do it. My mother has very mild osteoporosis (just over the mark from osteopenia) and her doctor told her no jumping -- she is hypermobile and doesn't have great balance, and despite lifting weights is not very strong.

So: she needs to work on balance and build some full body strength and stability, and THEN can work toward small bounces, then hops, and maybe then small jumps while holding on to a bar for stability. Every body is unique.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for all the responses. I am 5’6 and weigh 125 pounds. My weight has been stable for years. I am interested in hearing people’s experiences with specific medications. My body tends to react poorly to trying new medications. For instance, I just had a tetanus shot a normal tetanus shot and I’ve been out of commission for over a week. I’m certainly not opposed to going on medications, but I would just like to hear from people who have been there with this situation. My primary care doctor indicates that there is no real specialist for osteoporosis. She actually encouraged me to just watch it for a year or so I’m not really comfortable doing that now that it’s full-blown osteoporosis. I also had a CTX blood test and the results for that weren’t good either. I am interested in the echo light scan. I can’t seem to find it locally. Any information is appreciated thank you.

Endocrinologists are experts in metabolism. Osteoporosis is a disease of bone metabolism. Your PCP is not great but you also need to see an endocrinologist who does bone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for all the responses. I am 5’6 and weigh 125 pounds. My weight has been stable for years. I am interested in hearing people’s experiences with specific medications. My body tends to react poorly to trying new medications. For instance, I just had a tetanus shot a normal tetanus shot and I’ve been out of commission for over a week. I’m certainly not opposed to going on medications, but I would just like to hear from people who have been there with this situation. My primary care doctor indicates that there is no real specialist for osteoporosis. She actually encouraged me to just watch it for a year or so I’m not really comfortable doing that now that it’s full-blown osteoporosis. I also had a CTX blood test and the results for that weren’t good either. I am interested in the echo light scan. I can’t seem to find it locally. Any information is appreciated thank you.

I would get a new doctor.

I have osteoporosis at 51. I had osteopenia for years but my dexa in 2025 showed the progression into osteoporosis and the scans were shared between my primary care and my gyno (who is the one that ordered the annual dexa). Both offices were calling me, very concerned and wanted me to consider seeing a specialist and consider medication. You can see an endochronologist but I had a hard time getting a relatively recent appointment (I have seen the one at medstar but didn't love her, I have heard the one at GW is good). So I was eventually referred to Dr. Andrea Singer at Medstar who works in women's care with a primary emphasis on bone health. She had me do the 24 hr urine collection, blood work, and a spinal X-ray and after that we decided to try 2 years of Tymlos (I am the PP that takes it). I have been on it for a few months. It is a daily injectable you give in your stomach via a pen. It can cause a drop in blood pressure right after the injection, so sometimes I feel light headed for a few minutes afterwards, but otherwise I have had no other side effects. This is a bone building drug, vs bone loss prevention. Dr. Singer's position was that since I haven't finished going through menopause yet, you want to build up as much bone as possible before menopause kicks in (which she defined as when you haven't had a period for 12 consecutive months) where the average woman then may start losing 1-2% a year. Tymlos is only for 2 years. Then it would be possible to switch to something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try jumping exercises and heavy weights. Even if you go on medication, they may help.

But get your doctor's approval and clearance for any of this before you do it. My mother has very mild osteoporosis (just over the mark from osteopenia) and her doctor told her no jumping -- she is hypermobile and doesn't have great balance, and despite lifting weights is not very strong.

So: she needs to work on balance and build some full body strength and stability, and THEN can work toward small bounces, then hops, and maybe then small jumps while holding on to a bar for stability. Every body is unique.

It is really irresponsible to suggest to anyone that jumping up and down will alleviate osteoporosis (it's like saying aromatherapy cures cancer). Please stop with this nonsense.

[Anonymous]

There are parathyroid conditions that can cause the body to strip out calcium. You should see an endocrinologist.

[Anonymous]

Osteopenia here at 51 so watching closely. My mom had to treat hers (she also slid quickly into perosis) and after 2 years of daily shots her doctor told her, in her mid-70's, that she's got the bones of a 30 year-old. Assuming I'll be following in her footsteps (was already on HRT, lifting heavy and taking calcium and vitamin D)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Osteopenia here at 51 so watching closely. My mom had to treat hers (she also slid quickly into perosis) and after 2 years of daily shots her doctor told her, in her mid-70's, that she's got the bones of a 30 year-old. Assuming I'll be following in her footsteps (was already on HRT, lifting heavy and taking calcium and vitamin D)

what did she treat with?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for all the responses. I am 5’6 and weigh 125 pounds. My weight has been stable for years. I am interested in hearing people’s experiences with specific medications. My body tends to react poorly to trying new medications. For instance, I just had a tetanus shot a normal tetanus shot and I’ve been out of commission for over a week. I’m certainly not opposed to going on medications, but I would just like to hear from people who have been there with this situation. My primary care doctor indicates that there is no real specialist for osteoporosis. She actually encouraged me to just watch it for a year or so I’m not really comfortable doing that now that it’s full-blown osteoporosis. I also had a CTX blood test and the results for that weren’t good either. I am interested in the echo light scan. I can’t seem to find it locally. Any information is appreciated thank you.

OP, your doctor is giving you good advice. You need to take this slowly and thoroughly investigate treatment options before starting. At your age, you're in this for the long haul and these drugs can have a long term impact on your body.

Did you get your FRAX score? This is most important as it shows the likelihood of you having an osteoporadic fracture in the next 10 years. This can be helpful in making a decision on watchful waiting, which is what many people do.

If your DEXA didn't provide a FRAX score, you can google it to learn how to calculate yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try jumping exercises and heavy weights. Even if you go on medication, they may help.

But get your doctor's approval and clearance for any of this before you do it. My mother has very mild osteoporosis (just over the mark from osteopenia) and her doctor told her no jumping -- she is hypermobile and doesn't have great balance, and despite lifting weights is not very strong.

So: she needs to work on balance and build some full body strength and stability, and THEN can work toward small bounces, then hops, and maybe then small jumps while holding on to a bar for stability. Every body is unique.

It is really irresponsible to suggest to anyone that jumping up and down will alleviate osteoporosis (it's like saying aromatherapy cures cancer). Please stop with this nonsense.

Except that many studies show that high impact jumping exercises does have some positive impact in stimulating bone growth. It's not fake science. Look it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try jumping exercises and heavy weights. Even if you go on medication, they may help.

But get your doctor's approval and clearance for any of this before you do it. My mother has very mild osteoporosis (just over the mark from osteopenia) and her doctor told her no jumping -- she is hypermobile and doesn't have great balance, and despite lifting weights is not very strong.

So: she needs to work on balance and build some full body strength and stability, and THEN can work toward small bounces, then hops, and maybe then small jumps while holding on to a bar for stability. Every body is unique.

It is really irresponsible to suggest to anyone that jumping up and down will alleviate osteoporosis (it's like saying aromatherapy cures cancer). Please stop with this nonsense.

You need closed chain kinectic exercises to build bone.

Why? Jumping is in the scientific literature and is not too much different from the lifting of weights in the LIFTMOR study.

Do more research, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try jumping exercises and heavy weights. Even if you go on medication, they may help.

But get your doctor's approval and clearance for any of this before you do it. My mother has very mild osteoporosis (just over the mark from osteopenia) and her doctor told her no jumping -- she is hypermobile and doesn't have great balance, and despite lifting weights is not very strong.

So: she needs to work on balance and build some full body strength and stability, and THEN can work toward small bounces, then hops, and maybe then small jumps while holding on to a bar for stability. Every body is unique.

It is really irresponsible to suggest to anyone that jumping up and down will alleviate osteoporosis (it's like saying aromatherapy cures cancer). Please stop with this nonsense.

You need closed chain kinectic exercises to build bone.

Why? Jumping is in the scientific literature and is not too much different from the lifting of weights in the LIFTMOR study.

Do more research, PP.

I was born with a medical condition that basically is osteoporosis, so I have had it all my life. There are many different variables to bone building and bone breakdown. I have over 50 years experience living like this and dealing with people like you. That's great that one study says you should jump up and down to build bones. So what? You are doing to tell someone, that has fragile bones, that they should jump up and down? I broke my foot recently walking down stairs. What do you think jumping up and down does?

I have done my research. I am also very well connected with NIH, Hospital for Special Surgery, and medical experts that deal directly with my condition, osteoporosis and researchers. I am the kind of person drug companies and medical labs want and am often recruited for studies (Ultragenyx was recruiting me for years for their phase 3 orbit but I decline).

You are wrong. I wish the answer was jump up and down or drink milk or take collagen powder or add a calcium supplement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try jumping exercises and heavy weights. Even if you go on medication, they may help.

But get your doctor's approval and clearance for any of this before you do it. My mother has very mild osteoporosis (just over the mark from osteopenia) and her doctor told her no jumping -- she is hypermobile and doesn't have great balance, and despite lifting weights is not very strong.

So: she needs to work on balance and build some full body strength and stability, and THEN can work toward small bounces, then hops, and maybe then small jumps while holding on to a bar for stability. Every body is unique.

It is really irresponsible to suggest to anyone that jumping up and down will alleviate osteoporosis (it's like saying aromatherapy cures cancer). Please stop with this nonsense.

You need closed chain kinectic exercises to build bone.

Why? Jumping is in the scientific literature and is not too much different from the lifting of weights in the LIFTMOR study.

Do more research, PP.

I was born with a medical condition that basically is osteoporosis, so I have had it all my life. There are many different variables to bone building and bone breakdown. I have over 50 years experience living like this and dealing with people like you. That's great that one study says you should jump up and down to build bones. So what? You are doing to tell someone, that has fragile bones, that they should jump up and down? I broke my foot recently walking down stairs. What do you think jumping up and down does?

I have done my research. I am also very well connected with NIH, Hospital for Special Surgery, and medical experts that deal directly with my condition, osteoporosis and researchers. I am the kind of person drug companies and medical labs want and am often recruited for studies (Ultragenyx was recruiting me for years for their phase 3 orbit but I decline).

You are wrong. I wish the answer was jump up and down or drink milk or take collagen powder or add a calcium supplement.

So what are you saying PP? Only medicine is the answer? I think most people understand that all the exercise and diet may not overcome genetics in certain circumstances, but it does help for many who do not want to go on medication or wish to delay medication. I’m sorry for your medical condition but you and your condition does not represent most.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for all the responses. I am 5’6 and weigh 125 pounds. My weight has been stable for years. I am interested in hearing people’s experiences with specific medications. My body tends to react poorly to trying new medications. For instance, I just had a tetanus shot a normal tetanus shot and I’ve been out of commission for over a week. I’m certainly not opposed to going on medications, but I would just like to hear from people who have been there with this situation. My primary care doctor indicates that there is no real specialist for osteoporosis. She actually encouraged me to just watch it for a year or so I’m not really comfortable doing that now that it’s full-blown osteoporosis. I also had a CTX blood test and the results for that weren’t good either. I am interested in the echo light scan. I can’t seem to find it locally. Any information is appreciated thank you.

The closest REMS/ Echolight in the DC area is in Owings Mills MD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try jumping exercises and heavy weights. Even if you go on medication, they may help.

But get your doctor's approval and clearance for any of this before you do it. My mother has very mild osteoporosis (just over the mark from osteopenia) and her doctor told her no jumping -- she is hypermobile and doesn't have great balance, and despite lifting weights is not very strong.

So: she needs to work on balance and build some full body strength and stability, and THEN can work toward small bounces, then hops, and maybe then small jumps while holding on to a bar for stability. Every body is unique.

It is really irresponsible to suggest to anyone that jumping up and down will alleviate osteoporosis (it's like saying aromatherapy cures cancer). Please stop with this nonsense.

You need closed chain kinectic exercises to build bone.

Why? Jumping is in the scientific literature and is not too much different from the lifting of weights in the LIFTMOR study.

Do more research, PP.

I was born with a medical condition that basically is osteoporosis, so I have had it all my life. There are many different variables to bone building and bone breakdown. I have over 50 years experience living like this and dealing with people like you. That's great that one study says you should jump up and down to build bones. So what? You are doing to tell someone, that has fragile bones, that they should jump up and down? I broke my foot recently walking down stairs. What do you think jumping up and down does?

I have done my research. I am also very well connected with NIH, Hospital for Special Surgery, and medical experts that deal directly with my condition, osteoporosis and researchers. I am the kind of person drug companies and medical labs want and am often recruited for studies (Ultragenyx was recruiting me for years for their phase 3 orbit but I decline).

You are wrong. I wish the answer was jump up and down or drink milk or take collagen powder or add a calcium supplement.

So what are you saying PP? Only medicine is the answer? I think most people understand that all the exercise and diet may not overcome genetics in certain circumstances, but it does help for many who do not want to go on medication or wish to delay medication. I’m sorry for your medical condition but you and your condition does not represent most.

I am not sure what your hang up is, but stop trolling. OP came onto this thread for advice from people who actually have osteoporosis. Do you have it? I do and offered my experience and you for some reason keep discounting it and plugging away about jumping. You are recommending to someone with actual osteoporosis to engage in an activity that increases their risk of fractures? Are you just naive, a jerk, a troll, RFK?

I have real experience and advice to offer which is what OP asked. Is it for all cases of osteoporosis, no, but it is for many. I do a combination of nutrition, weight training and medication BECAUSE there are several components that contribute to bone density (not just one). Did your study about jumping tell you that?

I will call out people who offer ridiculous suggestions. It’s hard enough being a woman, especially over 50, and especially with a medical condition like osteoporosis that needs medical care. Stop making it harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try jumping exercises and heavy weights. Even if you go on medication, they may help.

But get your doctor's approval and clearance for any of this before you do it. My mother has very mild osteoporosis (just over the mark from osteopenia) and her doctor told her no jumping -- she is hypermobile and doesn't have great balance, and despite lifting weights is not very strong.

So: she needs to work on balance and build some full body strength and stability, and THEN can work toward small bounces, then hops, and maybe then small jumps while holding on to a bar for stability. Every body is unique.

It is really irresponsible to suggest to anyone that jumping up and down will alleviate osteoporosis (it's like saying aromatherapy cures cancer). Please stop with this nonsense.

You need closed chain kinectic exercises to build bone.

Why? Jumping is in the scientific literature and is not too much different from the lifting of weights in the LIFTMOR study.

Do more research, PP.

I was born with a medical condition that basically is osteoporosis, so I have had it all my life. There are many different variables to bone building and bone breakdown. I have over 50 years experience living like this and dealing with people like you. That's great that one study says you should jump up and down to build bones. So what? You are doing to tell someone, that has fragile bones, that they should jump up and down? I broke my foot recently walking down stairs. What do you think jumping up and down does?

I have done my research. I am also very well connected with NIH, Hospital for Special Surgery, and medical experts that deal directly with my condition, osteoporosis and researchers. I am the kind of person drug companies and medical labs want and am often recruited for studies (Ultragenyx was recruiting me for years for their phase 3 orbit but I decline).

You are wrong. I wish the answer was jump up and down or drink milk or take collagen powder or add a calcium supplement.

So what are you saying PP? Only medicine is the answer? I think most people understand that all the exercise and diet may not overcome genetics in certain circumstances, but it does help for many who do not want to go on medication or wish to delay medication. I’m sorry for your medical condition but you and your condition does not represent most.

I am not sure what your hang up is, but stop trolling. OP came onto this thread for advice from people who actually have osteoporosis. Do you have it? I do and offered my experience and you for some reason keep discounting it and plugging away about jumping. You are recommending to someone with actual osteoporosis to engage in an activity that increases their risk of fractures? Are you just naive, a jerk, a troll, RFK?

I have real experience and advice to offer which is what OP asked. Is it for all cases of osteoporosis, no, but it is for many. I do a combination of nutrition, weight training and medication BECAUSE there are several components that contribute to bone density (not just one). Did your study about jumping tell you that?

I will call out people who offer ridiculous suggestions. It’s hard enough being a woman, especially over 50, and especially with a medical condition like osteoporosis that needs medical care. Stop making it harder.

Wow. Btw, I am not the original poster about jumping, but if you read that post, it says possibly try plyo and strength even if put on medication. Where does it say to do those in place of medication? I’m sure everyone here ( including me, 55 post menopause with strong family history of osteoporosis ) with bone density issues is consulting with a doctor. Let go of your outrage.