How 'bout them bones?

Two years ago  I had a Bone Scan and didn't think a thing of it until I got an email with the results. 

Shocking! How on earth could the results be so concerning? My doctor called me that night and we set up another appointment. My scores didn't just say Osteopenia. The results were considered pretty severe in regards to the lumbar spine. 

In fact I had nightmares about going to do something that winter and literally having my bones burst out of my body and scatter all over the place. 
Wouldn't that give you a Halloween Nightmare!

I sort of explain things in an April 2022 post where my Osteoblasts are fighting my Osteoclasts.

In short, I was unable to continue with the medication that was prescribed the would keep me from losing more minerals. 

I went back to CrossFit and took up Mobility [and Balance] classes, along with weight training to build up my core muscles to protect my spine along with a moderate change in diet.

I have to be honest. I am horrible when making dietary changes. I do eat my veggies, I do eat mostly properly, but I eat as my husband would say 'like a bird'. I don't like a ton of meat. I like soups and stews, but not steak and tators like he does. I'd rather eat a salad sometimes.

I was asked to drink milk and eat yogurt much more. I don't like milk. I like it if it IS chocolate milk once in a while or if it is a MILKshake. But just milk? Ick. And after a few months of all that extra dairy, my stomach revolted.

So I substituted some Calcium supplements along with some vitamins and continued going to the gym. I enjoy what we have in the gym and it is a social relief to be around other sweaty people. Many times it is comedic relief also.

I let the whole Osteo thing sort of slip from my mind. I figured that I was doing what was right for me and being active and amused is better than being afraid and sorrowful. I let it slip away that is until the next scan which was Monday.

The result was:

Two years and there was almost no change. 

One hip got a tiny bit crappier 'score' and one hip improved on its score. 

The lumbar region had ... and I quote "No significant change".

I feel like I passed a big test and didn't flunk it! To me, this means that I think I am doing something right. Now the endocrinologist may think otherwise when we meet next week. However I will listen to her and discuss medication.  

We've tried Fosamax and Teriparatide aka Forteo with some extremely painful results. I suspect she'd like me to try a newer medication that can only be taken for a year called Romosozumab aka Evenity. It is supposed to build bone density up and can be taken only for 12 months before reverting back to one of the previous meds I've already had or suffer loss of bone due to the new med.

I'd like to hear her take on vitamins and diet and what her thoughts are regarding the No Significant Change. I've had no fractures and no breaks ever in any of my bones so what does she think of that?

Eventually the lower back will have a compression fracture[s] that is inevitable. 

But until then I will be friends with my bones and make sure I take care of them in the best way I can.

My Osteoblasts are fighting my Osteoclasts!

 

I thought this was interesting in a way. I had a visit with an Endocrinologist yesterday. The first line of meds for those folks with bone loss is a med called Alendrontae. I did not get along with that medication at all. I didn't suffer GI issues, but the other issues were pretty severe. 

An Endocrinologist treats conditions related to the body's hormone issues. Apparently some hormonal part of my body forgot to tell the Osteoclasts to quit with the TNT sabotage or perhaps my Osteoblasts went on vacation?

Emily, the PA, was excellent at going over everything and asking the questions she needed to. She spoke directly to me and looked me in the eye. She did not stare at the keyboard and just type. 
She then told me what she was writing as she typed it into my visit notes.

We discussed the severity of my Osteoporosis. A score of -2.6 is severe. That is in my right hip joint. You know the part that swivels the hips? But wait! 
GO Big or Go Home!

My low back has a score of -4.4 

And what does that mean? Kinda like my bone loss is equivalent to a really really old lady? 

I prefer to think of myself as having bird bones, except I can't fly.

So some medication choices were discussed. The first med I tried made me extremely sick but is generally the first line of medication choices and works well. They are in a class of bisphosphates which my system doesn't like much.

So we discussed alternatives. Two meds that actually help rebuild bone use daily injections for 18 months. After 18 months, a med that is supposed to maintain the Osteoblast Guys and prevent the Osteoclasts from blowing me up is taken for the rest of my life.

So hmm. The rebuilders are called: Foteo and Tymlos. Average cost with no coverage per month for these meds are about $2000. I don't see it in the formulary for my medications. However the doctor has someone doing some research. 

The alternate maintenance med is in the formulary.

Osteoporosis is not painful. It is arthritis that hurts along with fractures. The diagnosis really threw me for a loop. I'm supposed to be Superwoman, right?  

Exercise in the proper way, good diet, and positive outlook are all helpful ingredients that cannot be found in a pill.

Because of the severity, I have a few recommendations. No skydiving, no jumping rope, no box jumps, no running~like distance running, and no twisting with weights or heavy weights over my head.

Good recommendations. Continue daily hiking, do weight bearing exercises, fresh air. Walk the dog, enjoy everyday.