I am an extremely active 58 year old. Non-smoker all my life, have taken the right vitamins for years and exercised, and suddenly have been told after a scan (that I asked for during my annual exam) that I have borderline osteopenia and have been told by my internist that I must take Actonel. I have read too many horror stories and can't afford in my business to be sick. Obviously I don't have any symptoms except the usual aching for overdoing it.

My mother had osteoporosis, but she smoked heavily for 70 years and was not very active. My chiropractor told me NOT to take Actonel because it made bones harder and bones had to remain flexible; he said over time hard bones will break easily (isn't that what Actonel was supposed to avoid?). He told me to get on a natural Calcium routine and stop taking synthetic Calcium.

I have never had a problem making a decision such as this, but I am really stumped. I have read many of your similar comments and would like to know more about strontium citrate, what it does, etc. and how to get more information.
Also does anyone have the real scoop on what is the right kind of calcium/Vit D combination to take and where generally I can get this?

First of all, from all the researching I have done you should not take Actonel or Fosamax for osteopenia - most especially borderline. Osteopenia is not a disease and it does not mean that you will eventually have osteoporosis. Some bone loss is a natural part of aging, especially after menopause. Do lots of research before taking these drugs, especially in light of the fact that you do not have osteoporosis.

I have been taking strontium for three months now, so it is a bit early to tell what effect it is having. You can get a great deal of information on the web by looking up strontium citrate. A place to start is drhoffman.com. He is a well respected doctor in NYC and you can find information there to start. I also purchase my strontium from his site as I trust what he sells.

Go to your local health food store and ask for advice on the best calcium. They are usually very helpful. Most calciums contain Vitamin D now. Vitamin K is also needed (not in large quantities though) and a good multi-vitamin should contain that. There are other minerals which are needed too such as boron. The calcium I bought at my health food store contains those.

I was very upset and confused by all of this several months ago. The only thing I could do was do my own research and come to my own conclusions. The medical community, sadly, was not of much help. Their only suggestion was to take the drugs and seemed unwilling to answer my questions. Dr. Christine Northrup and many others suggest taking the drugs only in extreme cases.

I hope you will be comforted to know that most women are at the highest risk for breakage in their 80's. This does not mean that we ignore the problem now, but also does not mean that we need to over medicate in our 50's.

Another thing to consider is weight training. I do this at home three times a week for about a half an hour each time. There are many sites on the web that will give you exercises and many books that have them too. Walking is also important and I try to do that 3 or 4 times a week.

If I can be of any more help, please let me know. Best of luck to you! Do not panic, there is time to think and decide. You do not have osteoporosis now and that is a very good thing! Quite possibly you never will.

Dor

I can only add...make sure to take magnesium along with the calcium, vit D and boron. The calcium is like the chalk and the magnesium is like the superglue. You need both to made strong bones.

Full fat yogurt and real cheese, canned salmon and sardines with bones, chicken and meat stock made with bones, green leafy vegetables, and natural vitamin D aka sunshine, also you can take Vitamin D3. I don't think any calcium supplements work as good as natural calcium from food.
I doubt you need Actonel, drs. pushing new drugs from osteoporosis and they have more side effects that help. You may never suffer a fracture in your life if you take no meds but you may get it if you do.
HTH

I would say "TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS". Too many times we just ignore them and then live with regrets for having not listened.

I too have osteopenia but I told internist I would not take anything for it. I increased my exercise (especially weight bearing exercise) and have changed my diet and my last test was actually better and that was without the drugs. Do you drink soda? If so, that will deplete you of calcium. Try going off that at well if you do indeed drink it.

--Gramz

I had a bone density test in October and was told I have mild ostenopenia in my left hip. My gyno was gonna put me on Fosamax but instead put me on Climara patch. Well I stopped taking the patch 3 weeks ago and now I'm afraid she will want me to start on the Foxamax. I had no idea there were side effects on these kinds of meds. My sister in law takes Boniva and she said she feels great. So what kind of effects are we talking about here? I don't want to take anything more that causes side effects. I already take Paxil and still trying to overcome some issues. I take Ambien at night and feel like crap in the morning.(but I need it ). Xanax for anxiety so at times I'm tired all the time. Any body out there that takes Fosamax??

Char

Char,
Do your research before you agree to take Foxamax, Boniva, or Actonell. The most serious side effect associated with bisphosphonates is osteonecrosis, which is rotting of the jaw bone. This class of drugs should only be used in the most severe cases where the T score is greater than -2.5.

I am treating the start of osteoporosis with the Climara patch, otc progesterone cream and a little testosterone. My last dexa is improved since starting hormones. There is an estrogen patch called menostar, which is very small dose of estrogen, for building bone. The dose is small so it doesn't treat hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms.

I would definitely trust your instincts. Just the other day, the media had a report on certain bone drugs possibly causing esophogeal cancer. I would take the diet and strength training route - lots of greens in your diet. The medical community is very good at scaring us into not trusting our bodies and our own capacity for good health. My two cents.

Thanks guys...I had no idea. I'm new at the whole bone loss issue.....
Char