My WebMD Sign In

Please enter email address

Enter your password

Keep me signed in on this computer

Show more Information

If you select "Keep me signed in on this computer", every time you visit WebMD.com you won't have to type your email address and password. This means that a cookie will stay on your computer even when you exit or close your browser which may reduce your levels of privacy and security. You should never select this option if you're using a publicly accessible computer, or if you're sharing a computer with others. Even if you select this option there are some features of our site that still require you to log in for privacy reasons.

Forget your password? Having trouble signing in?

Why should I
sign up for WebMD?

With a WebMD Account you can:

Track your way to weight loss success
Manage your family's vaccinations
Join the conversation

See more benefits Sign Up

Why WebMD?

My WebMD

Show Menu

Facebook Twitter Pinterest

WebMD Home

Osteoporosis Community

Reply: Steroid Injections & Osteoporosis

Yes. If it's 12 weeks or longer, it's considered long term steroid use and is a risk...

Posted by bonebabe

3 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Steroid Injections & Osteoporosis Yes. If it's 12 weeks or longer, it's considered long term steroid use and is a risk...

Reply: Bone loss after forteo?

As with any medication, there are considerations to be made. You have to weigh the...

Posted by bonebabe

6 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Bone loss after forteo? As with any medication, there are considerations to be made. You have to weigh the...

Reply: Bone loss after forteo?

Yes, you will lose the bone the Forteo has made if you do not go on a medication to...

Posted by bonebabe

6 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Bone loss after forteo? Yes, you will lose the bone the Forteo has made if you do not go on a medication to...

Reply: Steroid Injections & Osteoporosis

No. It's long term steroid use for inflammatory illnesses that is so damaging to bone.

Posted by bonebabe

3 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Steroid Injections & Osteoporosis No. It's long term steroid use for inflammatory illnesses that is so damaging to bone.

Reply: Severe Osteoporosis & Compression Fractures

I am so sorry to hear this, but if it makes you feel not so alone, many people who've had...

Posted by bonebabe

I am so sorry to hear this, but if it makes you feel not so alone, many people who've had a compression fracture have this problem. When one vertebra fractures, it puts pressure on the adjacent ones. If the bones are already thin or thinning, they too will fracture under the increased pressure.

You're doing the right thing with the Forteo. It will grow you new bone. It is important that you take a bisphosphonate when you finish the Forteo to strengthen your new bone.

I also would suggest getting with a physical therapist for some exercise to strengthen your back muscles to further support your spine. Also double check your calcium consumption that you're getting 1200 mg spread out throughout the day. This is the time, when you're on meds that need calcium in order to perform, that you really need to make sure you're getting that calcium.

This is the point I try again and again to stress to those who "are doing fine and have never had a fracture" who shy away from the meds. There is no turning back once you fracture. It is very painful and it changes your life. There are times when you need more help than the natural approach can give you.

The more you move (correctly - no bending or twisting the spine) and the more those back muscles strengthen, you will get some relief. I wish I could say that doing those things would end or better, reverse, your problems, but I can't. You will always have problems, but overall your pain should be better tolerated.

In addition to the muscle strengthening, you would also benefit from PT instruction on ADL's (Activities of Daily Living.) They can show you how to get into and out of a car, grocery shop, do housework and/or gardening, sneeze, etc. in order to avoid another fracture. This should also give you a better path to becoming active again, but safely.

I've seen several dozen women like you who've gone through our rehab and education classes who swear that their quality of life has improved simply by doing these things. It's very important to them. On the flip side of the coin. we have lots more who say they wish they'd not waited so long to do something when they learned they had "only osteopenia."

Please keep up apprised of your progress (and you will progress). You can also look at the NOF website (www.nof.org ) for an osteoporosis support group near you.View Thread

Posted bybonebabe

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Severe Osteoporosis & Compression Fractures I am so sorry to hear this, but if it makes you feel not so alone, many people who've had...

Reply: 35 femalw with osteopina and back pain

Has she had a DXA? Has she gone through menopause? Does she take her calcium throughout...

Posted by bonebabe

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:35 femalw with osteopina and back pain Has she had a DXA? Has she gone through menopause? Does she take her calcium throughout...

Reply: Adverse Reaction to Reclast?

More likely it's the chemo. My mother had chemo in 1992 and last year (after 20 years)...

Posted by bonebabe

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Adverse Reaction to Reclast? More likely it's the chemo. My mother had chemo in 1992 and last year (after 20 years)...

Reply: Sever osteoporosis

There is no data that shows strontium citrate has any effect on the bones. Strontium...

Posted by bonebabe

There is no data that shows strontium citrate has any effect on the bones. Strontium Ranelate, which is a prescription drug in Europe and includes othere meds binding to it, is being tested here in the US for use as another choice in the prescription meds we now have available.

Strontium Citrate is not regulated nor tested. No one knows exactly how much to take, or even if what's labeled as in the bottle really is what's in the bottle. The reason people who take it believe that their density has improved is because it gives a false positive on the DXA scores. Because the software used in bone density testing only measures calcium, putting strontium citrate, another mineral, in your body appears to elevate the calcium levels, making you think your bones are better than they are.

At a -3.5 score, you need to do some immediate and proven intervention. There is nothing natural, no matter what you read on the internet or hear from lay people, that will reverse what you have at this point. We've had this discussion many times on this board. As a disclaimer to myself, I do not work for a pharmaceutical company, nor do I or my coworkers write prescriptions or advocate for a particular medicine. We do work in an internationally accredited osteoporosis center within a hospital where we test, hold rehab and education classes, have a support group where we hear their stories, initiate and moderate exercise and yoga classes for people with osteoporosis right here in our own hospital fitness center. We also have a mobile unit that goes out into rural areas to test people who can't get in to us,we've participated in two special studies on osteoporosis in conjunction with UNC Chapel Hill, and...we've been filmed twice by PBS out of NYC on our multidisciplinary program. We see about 4000 patients a year and I can tell you without qualification that no one, not a single one, has reduced her risk of fracture by natural means alone. Not one.

Conversely, we hear many times how they wish they'd not wasted the years necessary to determine gain or loss by taking unregulated supplements or increasing calcium only, etc. During that time, their bone density decreased as their fracture risk increased.

I can also tell you that the lifelong side effects of a vertebral or hip fracture are many times worse than any side effects from a prescription drug that has been proven to help. Once your spine breaks and you become bent over and suffer pain until you die, and your independence is at risk, you will wish you could have a do-over.

What you decide to do about your health is totally up to you. I'm just giving you the benefit of my knowledge and experience so that you can make an informed decision. As I tell my patients who feel they have to convince me, "If you break a hip, I can still walk. Your decisions affect you, not me."

I wish you years of good health with the ability to do the things you want.View Thread

Posted bybonebabe

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Sever osteoporosis There is no data that shows strontium citrate has any effect on the bones. Strontium...

Reply: 35 yr old female with osteopina

Unless you've had two DXA's at the same place, and can measure any difference in the...

Posted by bonebabe

Unless you've had two DXA's at the same place, and can measure any difference in the results, you won't know if you have bone loss.

For people whose first DXA results in a low score, it's a toss up as to whether your bone density has always been low as a result of not building up your maximum bone mass during your bone forming years or whether there's something else going on that would cause your bone density to be low.

If your blood tests are normal and you've had hormone tests that are normal, other reasons it could be low at your age would be a chronic medical problem you've had, such as an illness that necessitated your use of steroids or anti-seizure meds, anorexia or bulimia or another condition that impeded calcium absorption, low Vit D levels, your genetic makeup (look at your parents/grandparents) amenorrhea, heavy alcohol consumption, the use of depo provera birth control shots. Any number of reasons your score could be low. It could even be that you're going through an early menopause.

What we see now are young women with low bone density because of environmental changes in our culture. They are smoking, reducing their milk intake by replacing it with soda, not going outside for recreation, thereby reducing their exposure to the sun (use of sunscreens too) and exercise. More kids are indoors on computers, video games, etc and aren't getting adequate PE in school anymore. We're seeing the results of these lifestyles show up in our osteoporosis center with stress fractures. Girls especially are prone to this as they are concerned about their weight and forego a healthy diet with exercise.

At 35, you've already reached the maximum bone density you'll have. What you need to focus on now is preserving that, and if your doctor has ruled out any medical reason for this, not losing any more bone mass.

Look at the NOF website for information on this. www.nof.org There's a really good FAQ section that has a lot of good advice and information for you.View Thread

Posted bybonebabe

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:35 yr old female with osteopina Unless you've had two DXA's at the same place, and can measure any difference in the...

Reply: Exercise

These are the recommendations from the National Osteoporosis Foundation. The problem with...

Posted by bonebabe

4 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Exercise These are the recommendations from the National Osteoporosis Foundation. The problem with...

1 2 345

See Related Women's Health Communities

See All Communities

Women's Health Newsletter

Find out what women really need.

For more information, visit the National Osteoporosis Foundation website

Other Osteoporosis Information

The opinions expressed in WebMD User-generated content areas like communities, reviews, ratings, or blogs are solely those of the User, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. User-generated content areas are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. Some of these opinions may contain information about treatments or uses of drug products that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment.

Do not consider WebMD User-generated content as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your care plan or treatment. WebMD understands that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource, but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.