Found out have osteoporosis in my right hip

[edhopper]

Last edited Fri Feb 28, 2025, 11:12 PM - Edit history (1)

I don't need a hip replacement, but should I just get one before I don't have Medicare and then can't afford it?

Not serious, but seriously.

I am joking about the unnecessary surgery, but appreciate the advice from all.

[Scrivener7]

1. Recently learned the same about my spine.

I'm going to try a weight training program for a year and see where it gets me.

[edhopper]

5. Same here

Weight exercise and more calcium.

[SheltieLover]

2. I have osteopenia

And have been taking a product called Bone Up that others claim remineralizes the bones.

For exercise, recent research reflects just jumping up and down helps bones to become stronger.

Good luck to you!

[milestogo]

4. I have it too.

I think just walking helps.

[SheltieLover]

11. Yes it does.

Anything that stresses connective tissue connection to bones is my understanding.

[multigraincracker]

8. I've had good results with vitamin K2 with D3.

The K2 directs the D3 to your bones and muscles.

[SheltieLover]

12. Yes it does & Bone Up contains these

Although I also take a separate d3 + k2.

[multigraincracker]

15. I've been very lucky. In 75 years I've never broken a bone.

Fell off a roof years ago. I learned to tuck and roll early in life. I use to trip and fall all the time when I was running because I didn’t pick up my feet because neuropathy until a coach taught me to roll on the ball of my feet.

[SheltieLover]

16. Glad you've never broken a bone

Good grief! You fell off a roof?

[multigraincracker]

18. Plus I played sports all thru HS and beyond.

At my age now, try to be more careful.

[SheltieLover]

28. That's good

I try to be more careful, too.

[LeftInTX]

27. I never heard of Bone Up. Thanks. Just ordered 360 capsules.

from Amazon....

They're impossible to boycott. They own Whole Foods anyway. We have Sprouts in town, but when it comes to supplements, I'm forgetful and don't drive across town, so I ordered from Amazon

[SheltieLover]

29. Good for you!

[diane in sf]

3. For a really good calcium supplement, I recommend Bone Up by Jarrow. It has the full range of vitamins and

trace minerals that let your body actually use the calcium for bone building, not just dump it in your soft tissue. Another supplement good for bones is Quercetin, it’s a bioflavonoid and good for connective tissue.

And do weight training and stuff that gets you out walking.

[Raftergirl]

6. I take a Prolia shot every six months. I have had great results with bone density growth. Talk to your doctor.

[Scrivener7]

31. Any side effects? I had a hard time with alendronate and that's

been suggested as an alternative.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

7. It's my opinion that you should NEVER have currently unneeded

surgery. No. Plus, and far more to the point, should you want someone to give you unneeded surgery? Really? I don't.

The temptation of "It will cost later" while tempting, is an incredibly bad reason.

I know very little about osteoporosis, but are there exercises you can do?

[edhopper]

9. I wasn't serious about it

Just a comment about the fucked up future under Trump.
Never thought I would be worried about Medicare.

[SheltieLover]

13. I hear you!

I have plaque build up in arteries and am feeling the same way.

[cliffside]

10. Personally I would go with exercise and dietary changes before undergoing surgery...

Medicare with a supplemental plan generally pays for PT as a starting point.

Weight bearing exercises are supposed to be good, not a doc ... and a reminder to self!

My osteopenia held steady, slight improvement with exercise, but I've slacked off lately.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoporosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351968

"...Your bones are in a constant state of renewal — new bone is made and old bone is broken down. When you're young, your body makes new bone faster than it breaks down old bone and your bone mass increases. After the early 20s this process slows, and most people reach their peak bone mass by age 30. As people age, bone mass is lost faster than it's created.

How likely you are to develop osteoporosis depends partly on how much bone mass you attained in your youth. Peak bone mass is partly inherited and varies also by ethnic group. The higher your peak bone mass, the more bone you have "in the bank" and the less likely you are to develop osteoporosis as you age...

...Exercise can help you build strong bones and slow bone loss. Exercise will benefit your bones no matter when you start, but you'll gain the most benefits if you start exercising regularly when you're young and continue to exercise throughout your life.

Combine strength training exercises with weight-bearing and balance exercises. Strength training helps strengthen muscles and bones in your arms and upper spine. Weight-bearing exercises — such as walking, jogging, running, stair climbing, skipping rope, skiing and impact-producing sports — affect mainly the bones in your legs, hips and lower spine. Balance exercises such as tai chi can reduce your risk of falling especially as you get older."

[Meowmee]

21. Excercise and diet will benefit and should be done anyway but they will not help you if you have severe osteoporosis

I know because I tried the natural route, all the supplements etc. and it did nothing at all. Now I have a vertebral compression fracture which is serious. I did the natural route because my doc would not rx the safer drug at the time which was forteo.

[cliffside]

24. Thanks for sharing and a good reminder that we need to advocate for ourselves and do some research ...

from reputable sources.

Many times we need a little of this and a little of that, stay well.

[Meowmee]

25. You're welcome 😁

You too

Another thing that can help believe it or not is a fracture, not that you want one. But a fracture causes your body to build more bone normally.

[Meowmee]

14. Ask your doctor

It's not a simple situation to do something like that when you have osteoporosis. It also depends on how bad it is. If your bones are super fragile they can fracture during surgery and you are more at risk to fracture after surgery due to a fall etc. I have severe osteoporosis from various health issues, but I have never fractured at all in my life until 2 years ago. It was a forced fracture however as I tried to move something way too heavy. Had I not done that or had my doc put me on forteo back then I probably would not have fractured at all, unfortunately I had a vertebral compression fracture from doing that and the o and never being treated etc. I have fallen maybe a year before that- I tripped on something mowing the lawn, but did not fracture then so it needed a lot more force.


https://www.nextgenerationhipandknee.com/can-you-have-total-hip-replacement-with-osteoporosis/#:~:text=If%20you%20already%20have%20weak,can%20still%20be%20an%20option.

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/h/hip-replacement-surgery.html#:~:text=Although%20the%20hip%20replacement%20procedure,time%20for%20them%20to%20learn.

They will probably want to put you on meds first. I will warn you that the bisphosphonates are dangerous and can actually cause fractures and many other issues such as osteonecrosis of the jaw/ onj. Prolia is the most dangerous one, it can cause spinal fractures after you stop it so you will need to be on some treatment for life.

I am currently on tymlos(abaloparatide) which is sythetic parathyroid hormone, in small doses it stimulates your body to build bone naturally unlike the bisphosphonates which build up bone unnaturally by inhibiting osteoclasts which normally break down bone. Drugs like tymlos and forteo(teraparatide) which are injected at home stimulate you to build bone the way you normally would by stimulating osteoblasts which build bone. They are usually used after you have a fracture. The bisphosphonates stop the break down of bone so you end up with layers of older more fragile bone which is never broken down properly.

While you are on any of these meds you need to supplement vitamin d and get enough calcium- from food is best. But if you are on prolia, you need to supplement calcium.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/osteoporosis-drugs-which-one-is-right-for-you#:~:text=Teriparatide%20(Forteo)and%20abaloparatide%20(,bone%20density%20and%20vertebral%20fractures.

[Raftergirl]

19. My doctor does blood test every six months to make sure everything is AOk. I also take a calcium supplement.

I’ve been on Prolia for about 8 years.

My 95 year old mom has been on it and she has no osteoporosis any more. She has never had a fracture of any kind. She is in incredible health, both mentally and physically and celebrated her 95th by buying herself a new car.

I know others people who have had good result with the infusion treatment.

A friend of mine one who is just in her late 60’s has osteoporosis and her doctor won’t put her on prolia or infusion, She is already starting to get a hump back. It’s very noticeable now. It cannot be corrected now, it’s too late.

[Meowmee]

20. I'm glad it was ok for you and your mom- I assume prolia or another one?

I have spoken with several people who had spontaneous hip and also spinal fractures(not from stopping it) and other serious side effects and read about many more so I will never take it. It is in your system for at least six months, probably a lot longer I suspect. I try not to take any medications like that because if you do have serious side effects they can't be stopped.

I remember when they tried to put me on that before my doc at the time had even read the bd report. I knew something was up because they get kick backs to rx things. He later said he didn't know about it- someone from the office called offering to start me on it right away which was very suspicious to say the least.

My former neighbor's friend was on prolia and developed a severe itchy rash which never subsided and regretted it. Due to this as well and the gastro symptoms I would never be able tolerated any bisphosphonates even without all the other potential severe effects.

At the time my hematologist said forteo would be the safest for me but my doc would not rx it, he said it was going to cause bone cancer. Now after the fracture he says he never said that! Lol- I need to start recording my office visits. I have been on Tymlos for about 1.5 years now- bd has improved , I'm not sure how much exactly yet since my scan was done on a different machine.

If you are on prolia be careful not to stop it without starting another bisphosphnate, it has caused rapid and multiple spinal fractures from stopping it.

I hope one day they come out with something safer. However a rheumi I saw said they are all going to be just as bad most likely with some serious potential side effects. Right now forteo and tymlos are still the safest ones.

Your friend should ask to take the pills or better yet, forteo or tymlos. Tymlos is cheaper. No medication is going to reverse that unfortunately.

[Raftergirl]

22. Prolia. My sister is on it, also with no issue. I started it when diagnosed with osteopenia. I have no intention

of going off it unless my doctor thinks it’s necessary. Then I guess I’ll go on something else.

I really don’t care if I need to stay on a certain medicine for the rest of my life.

My friend is taking something (i think fosamax.) We don’t discuss it anymore because she got mad at me for suggesting she needs to be more proactive with her doctor.

She has also been doing weight training for years now. Obviously not helping much.

Her hump back was so noticeable this summer when I was at her pool I was in shock! Another friend of hers was there and as usual we started talking about aches and pains, etc., and my friend was the one who brought it up. I would have never mentioned it at all.

[Meowmee]

23. Not everyone gets that

I have severe O and don't have that. There may have been other factors for her too. I hope she can get on tymlos at least to help slow it down. Exercise can help too.

https://www.umms.org/ummc/health-services/orthopedics/services/spine/patient-guides/adult-kyphosis#:~:text=Physical%20therapy%20and%20exercise%20is,Doing%20your%20daily%20stretching%20exercises

My mother had that from a neck injury but no O. I'm worried about that because I had 3 neck injuries and back etc. and now the O/ fracture too. My O happened pretty rapidly. I definitely tend to hunch over when I read, I have to stop that and do some mild stretching etc.

[DET]

30. Interesting

I went from osteoporosis to osteopenia after taking Prolia for several years, but I was always concerned about the quality of the bone. I stopped last year after my NP expressed concerns about Prolia. She put me on an alternative drug (Actonel?), but I haven’t been great about taking it. I’ll have to ask about synthetic parathyroid hormones as an alternative.

I always knew that I would have bone problems; everyone on my mother’s side has, including the men. My mother broke her hip in her 70s and was never the same again. She needed two hip replacements and she shrunk about five inches and became extremely frail. The surgeries also triggered paranoia and dementia. I really do not want to have to go through that.

[Meowmee]

32. Yes the quality of the bone is not good because it's all older bone

Which is probably part of the reason why some people have spinal fractures after stopping, but the main reason is there is a reaction of increased resorption after stopping which leads to fragility and fractures- for some reason it is worse with prolia than the other non injectable bisphosphonates.

Some have had spontaneous femur fractures and vertebral fractures while taking it, from taking it etc. as well. One woman said she was walking on a street and suddenly had severe pain in her thigh- it was a fracture! There was a lawsuit of course. And it has caused many other serious issues. One man said his sister had multiple organs failing after 3 injections, another woman developed celiac and other severe issues after 2-3 injections and her doc/rheumy said prolia was the cause, apologized for it etc. She had to be on steroids longterm after which made everything even worse.

I would ask about tymlos, it is cheaper and it seems to be better at preventing vertebral fractures than forteo. If you are high risk for fractures even if you haven't had one you can get it rx most likely.

I'm so sorry about your mom, that is terrible. I worry about all of that too. The options for meds for this aren't great, but I determined quickly forteo and tymlos so far are safer. Some people can't take them either due to side effects. It did start causing migraines for me the second year and sometimes I have bad muscle spasms when it is worse I take a day or two off. Some people adjust the dose and only take it a few days a week. I have bad spasms anyway a lot so I'm sort of used to that.

The problem is once you stop these drugs- all of them- you start having bone loss again if the issue causing it is still there. In my case it was clear something unusual happened because it happened too rapidly. But no cared to figure out what caused it exactly so they just want you to take the meds available.

[SheltieLover]

17. Also have dr order up a home sleep study

Sleep apnea contributes to osteopenia & osteoporosis!

[Bread and Circuses]

26. Hi, I'm familiar

It sounds that you are under 65.
May I kindly suggest that you review plans available via Affordable Care Act (ACA).
https://www.healthcare.gov/see-plans/#/

I’ve purchased a plan via my State’s plan previously . It is based upon your income .

Osteoporosis is the final stage of bone loss , which starts as arthritis and moves to osteopenia, and the osteoporosis.

Physical therapy does help as well as certain RXs. I assume you were diagnosed by either X-Ray or MRI.

There’s no cure, but walking and PT and some exercises will help.

Your doctor should have provided you with recommendations.

Additionally, I’ve had a hip replacement. It is a very successful procedure and it takes a full year for the body to heal. you But you will feel much better after 4 weeks and continue the PT exercises that you can do at home,

If you need additional information, please reach out.

Best to you.

[edhopper]

33. I am over 65 and on Medicare

I just think it might not be around after the next few years when I will need it.. They are ending Medicaid, next they will come for Medicare and Social Security.

[Bread and Circuses]

34. OK...

Well if you’re on Medicare, you have this year at least. Talk to your doctor and get into PT. It helps. 😄