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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on December 2, 2004, at 14:59:17
OK, who here knows anything about treating osteopenia and/or osteoporosis? It's going to be a couple of weeks to get the results of my bone mineral density scan back, but I'm more than an inch shorter than I used to be, so I'm betting it's not gonna be great news, you know? So, I've looked up the drugs I know about on Medline, and will look them up eventually on rxlist, but I wanted to hear from anyone who might have first or second hand knowledge of the various treatments.
Larry? What do you know about all this? I know you're the Mineral Man. (Wasn't that a kid's song? "Do you know the Mineral Man, Mineral Man, Mineral Man...")
Posted by Noa on December 3, 2004, at 5:20:41
In reply to Osteoporosis treatments?, posted by Racer on December 2, 2004, at 14:59:17
My mom had success on Fosomax for about 7 years. Before that, she had had a number of fractures--wrist, elbow, ribs (from coughing) and eventually vertebrae. She lost height and developed some back curve.
First, she was on hormone treatment but I don't think it helped--I think this was the period during which she continued to have fractures.
Then she started Fosomax and the fractures stopped. It made a huge difference in her life, of course, and she did not develop any more curve in her spine or lose more height.
However, two years ago, after being on the med for 7 yers, she had some stress/compression fractures in more vertebrae and was basically immobilized in extreme pain for a few months. She clearly had a lot more forward curve in her back as well as twisting slightly to one side. And she lost more inches of height for sure. It took a while to recover from this episode and her life was very limited for a while. Now she is active again, but not at the same level she was before the vertebrae fractures that happened 2 years ago.
It turns out that Fosomax often loses effectiveness at about 5 or 6 years. So now, she set out to find out more about other meds. It wasn't easy. Fortunately, a new treatment came on the market shortly after that, but it was very expensive and much more involved than just taking a pill and having to stand up for 30 minutes after dosing, which is how you take Fosomax.
The new med is Forteo, a recombinant RNA med, which is injected once a day. It comes in a 28 day injection pen that has a dial for setting the dose, etc. It has to be refrigerated at a specific range of temperature.
It's been working well for her. The only complication is that sometimes she has a bit too much calcium in her blood and is supposed to cut down on the dose, but the way the pen works, this is hard to do, so she dosed every other day for a while. But this meant wasting a lot of the med in the pen, because they only come in 28 day pens and the med expires after 28 days (I think she has sometimes stretched it a few more days when she is on half dosing, but is wary of going further). But the excess calcium thing is not frequent.
Based on my mother's experience with fractures and pain, I would definitely recommend treating osteoporosis ASAP to prevent these from happening.
Posted by wildflower on December 3, 2004, at 10:50:04
In reply to Osteoporosis treatments?, posted by Racer on December 2, 2004, at 14:59:17
I'm not sure of your age but strength training with light weights may be an option for you. Not only can you help to prevent osteoporosis with strength and resistance training, but you can actually rebuild lost bone mass and reverse the effects of the disease.
I teach a strength training class and I've had many clients tell me that doctors recommended the class and that their bone density was increased after taking the class.
Posted by Noa on December 4, 2004, at 7:38:31
In reply to Re: Osteoporosis treatments? » Racer, posted by wildflower on December 3, 2004, at 10:50:04
Yes, this is what I've learned, too--especially focusing on upper body for most women.
Posted by Phillipa on January 6, 2005, at 20:08:56
In reply to Re: Osteoporosis tx--strength training » wildflower, posted by Noa on December 4, 2004, at 7:38:31
This is all true. But, my doctor tells me I have it from my thyroid condition and it's synthroid. It makes you really high risk. I heard of the injection but suspected it would be expensive. Just had my own density repeated and got the scores from the tech. Not inproved after wt lifting. Haven't heard from MD as yet but know what she'll say. Take the meds! Phillipa
Posted by CareBear04 on January 10, 2005, at 23:46:19
In reply to Osteoporosis treatments?, posted by Racer on December 2, 2004, at 14:59:17
hi racer,
i've read some of your posts on the eating board, and i hope you don't mind if i ask you some questions because i'm sort of in the same place. i'm scheduled to have a bone density scan in a few weeks. i've been so dopey from my meds that i don't even remember why my doctor ordered it. i guess it's probably because he thinks i'm frail and malnourished. for awhile, i was having bone pain, and i'm curious as to what the results will be. i may be underweight and undernourished, but i've always been a little underweight (the malnutrition is a recent thing) and i've kept having menstrual periods, though they've always been irregular. i heard that the biggest risk for osteoporosis is loss of periods. is that the case with you? sorry, i know it's a personal question. i'm really surprised that my periods haven't stopped-- i read somewhere that you need close to 20% body fat to keep up, and my body fat has ranged between 8 and 14%.
do young people really get osteoporosis, or is it just that they have a higher risk for when they get older? i'm 22 now, and i can't imagine going through this at this age. you sound like someone pretty young, too, so you probably would agree that it really sucks to be stuck in a feeble old body when you're not really in the geriatric age range!
what was the bone density scan like? why does it take so long to get the results? sorry for all the questions...
Posted by Racer on February 6, 2005, at 9:48:02
In reply to Re: Osteoporosis treatments? female questions » Racer, posted by CareBear04 on January 10, 2005, at 23:46:19
Let's see, the DEXA scan is easy and quick -- filling out the paperwork takes longer than the scan itself. You just lie there, it's a little like an x-ray.
Yes, you can get osteoporosis in your twenties, or even teens, from AN. And no, you don't have to have total amenorrhea to lose bone mass. If you're irregular, you're likely not ovulating, which would mean that your hormones would be a bit screwy, thus putting you at very high risk. And birth control pills haven't been shown to help with bone loss in AN. Bad news for a lot of folks, but there it is. It is true that it's a question of hormones protecting your bones, so it you lose your periods entirely, you are at much higher risk, but you're at high enough risk even with periods.
General risk factors for osteoporosis are things like being white or asian, being thin, being female, being older, etc. You're at least two of those things, so you've got a high enough risk to be worth checking. If you do have bone loss, take it very, very seriously. Go see a dietitian right away, and don't think to yourself that you can worry about it later. If you have any idea of ever having children, it's time to deal with this right now, not later. None of the meds are safe for pregnancy, and they stay in your body for years. That means that you have to do everything you can right now to improve your bone health.
Posted by CareBear04 on February 7, 2005, at 10:32:12
In reply to Re: Osteoporosis treatments? female questions » CareBear04, posted by Racer on February 6, 2005, at 9:48:02
thanks, racer. i'm worried about my mother. in addition to the risk factors you listed, i'm sure hereditary factors are also important. i think my mother is 52. at her last bone scan, they found that she was borderline osteoporosis. because the calcium supplements are unpleasant to take, she just doesn't, no matter how i push her. i figure that if she feels free to lecture me on my eating, i have a right to push her to take those supplemenets. in any case, i worry about her. also, since she is showing signs of osteoporosis, that's not good for me, even at a young age.
i hope your scan turned out well without anything to worry about.
Posted by Racer on February 7, 2005, at 16:56:25
In reply to Re: Osteoporosis treatments? female questions » Racer, posted by CareBear04 on February 7, 2005, at 10:32:12
I posted my results when I got them, I think. I do have osteopenia, which is the term for having too much bone loss to be called normal, but not enough to be called osteoporosis.
Keep that in mind and look to doing something about your own disordered eating, 'k?
Posted by CareBear04 on February 7, 2005, at 19:37:27
In reply to I posted my results elsewhere, and it's not good » CareBear04, posted by Racer on February 7, 2005, at 16:56:25
thanks, racer. i know you're right. my own mother is borderline osteoporosis. she's about 52 and has been through menopause. aside from genetics, i thought my only risk factor was lactose intolerance and inadequate calcium intake, but my dr points out my low weight, too. for you, was it the mix of risk factors, or was there one predominant one? sorry if it's a personal question. *hugs*
Posted by Phillipa on February 7, 2005, at 19:48:30
In reply to Re: Osteoporosis tx--strength training, posted by Phillipa on January 6, 2005, at 20:08:56
I have osteoporosis. And I don't want to add any more meds to my cocktail. They cause too many problems. And, the drug companies keep recalling them. First Viox and what's next? I've tried calcium and magnesium etc. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Racer on February 7, 2005, at 20:26:15
In reply to Re: Osteoporosis tx--strength training, posted by Phillipa on February 7, 2005, at 19:48:30
Posted by Racer on February 7, 2005, at 20:35:34
In reply to Re: I posted my results elsewhere, and it's not go » Racer, posted by CareBear04 on February 7, 2005, at 19:37:27
Let's see, what are all my risk factors? Let's see...
I'm a white female, years of eating disorder, heredity, and probably a few more I can't think of off the top of my head.
Just as a note to you, in hopes you'll get yourself adequate treatment for your disordered eating, my periods never stopped completely. Total amenorrhea is not necessary to put you at high risk for bone loss.
Posted by Mark_6328 on March 22, 2005, at 9:26:13
In reply to Re: Osteoporosis treatments? female questions » CareBear04, posted by Racer on February 6, 2005, at 9:48:02
My grandmother was diagnosed with osteoporosis few months ago. I have now read somewhere that the vitamin K also plays some role in this disease. Could it be possible that warfarin, which she takes regularly, could have worsen her condition? I only know that the vitamin D, and calcium have mainly been associated with this illness. I fear that it may be possible that the whole onset of her osteoporis was due to her current medication. But this conclusion is very likely to be incorrect.
This is the end of the thread.
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