r/osteoporosis

Hi all,

I'm 63...I've had all of my prior bone scans done in Seattle (my spine was already -2.2 at 50) This past one was on a different GE machine (older) and different tech/facility. In 3 years time, I went from -3.0 to -3.7 in my spine. Ugh. This is super frustrating because after years and years of just jogging, I really started focusing on full body strength and weight bearing exercises in the past 3 years, which somehow didn't seem to help. I was referred to an endo. My hips have remained steady (osteopenia), even with some improvement over the past several years, but my spine not so much. An Xray showed a deformity at t-12, which is strongly suspected to be a healed compression fracture. Guess how that happened? MAKING A BED. I thought I strained my back last September while lifting a very heavy mattress with my left arm and shoving/tucking in a heavy comforter with my right (i was on my knees). All of a sudden I felt this jarring and heard a very audible crack. Scared the bejeeezus out of me. I immediately stood up, felt no pain, bent over, felt no pain....no pain walking. In fact the next morning i felt so good I walked 4-5 miles. Bad idea. I had 4 days of back muscle spasms, but only at night. No fun at all. The only pain I felt was an achiness. Fast forward 7 weeks and I felt good enough to golf. I started up my two 15 pound weights again end of Jan....swings, overhead cleans. Looking back knowing what I know now, I kind of cringe. I had no pain or problems whatsoever...
Anyway, my endo has referred me to a bone specialists at OHSU who I can't get in to see until March 1st! 8 months is a long time to wait and get some true guidance on what I can and cannot do. My endo in the meantime says no jogging, no golf :( He said lift with my legs and nothing more than 15 pounds total. Needless to say I am very frustrated and sad that I am here. I had ER+ breast cancer 22 years ago (no chemo or radiation), so I am not a candidate for HRT, which i think would help.
Do any of you have any similar experiences or can share what your bone specialists told you regarding activities? thanks much for reading

Hi everyone,

I’m a 27-year-old male and I recently received a diagnosis that has completely turned my world upside down. I found out I have severe osteoporosis, and to be honest, I am terrified. I keep waking up in the middle of the night just overthinking and worrying about my future, so I really need some advice from people who have been in my shoes.

I recently got a DEXA scan and my numbers are quite scary:

Lumbar Spine (L1-L4) Z-score: -4.4 (with my L2 specifically at -4.8)

Femoral Neck Z-score: -3.5

Total Hip Z-score: -2.8

During the COVID pandemic, a blood test showed I had a severe Vitamin D deficiency (my level was at just 9 ng/mL). Now, a few years later, my recent test shows it has finally crossed 30, but the damage to my bones is already there.

I strongly suspect the pandemic played a major role here and wanted to ask if anyone else experienced this: During the lockdowns, I was stuck indoors for almost two years, got absolutely zero sunlight, and my physical activity dropped to zero. Could a completely sedentary lifestyle combined with zero Vitamin D over that period cause numbers this low in a guy my age?

I am scheduled to do my second round of more comprehensive tests in a few days (Cortisol, 24-hour urine calcium, hormones, etc.) to rule out other secondary causes before I see my endocrinologist again.

My questions for you:

Has anyone around my age successfully reversed Z-scores this low (-4.8) without fracturing?

What specific questions should I ask my doctor once my second round of lab results are ready?

Any tips for managing the intense anxiety that comes with this diagnosis?

Thank you so much in advance for your help.

I’ve just had a scan that showed boneloss, Im F74. Last scan 4 years ago showed I had none. Ok. I do laps in the pool in summer, and recently I joined a gym where I do use the seated weightlifting machines and seated elliptical. I don’t do standing exercises because I have chronic feet issues. If I did, the repetition would cause injury. My question is can I strengthen my hips and femur bones by seated leg extension, leg curls, hip abduction, and abduction machines? Would lying on my back with ankle weights work? Thanks for your input.

The results came back the very same day!

The summation was like…yes, we note the patient had a fractured vertebrae from a fall that happened when over 40 yo but it caused minimal trauma.
How right this was! I fell down my stairs and hurt my back and was told time will help and it did.
Anyhoo
Onto the bone density stuff.
The forearms and some other areas were fine.
Ok, relief.
Then the stuff about my spine…
Spinal Lumbar at -2.4. The boundary line b/w osteopenia and osteoporosis.

And I am sorta scared! I go to the grocery just to price shop some of the supplements I am thinking I need after my doc emails me after also seeing the results and reccs upping calcium and vitamin d intake (via diet or supplements) and exercises etc.

Today I visit this group where I think I just read that prior vertebra fractures can inflate the results of the DEXA?!
So curious. Should I BE curious or just get to hopping walking running and other exercises that will undoubtedly kill my Plantar fasciitis prone feet :)

I had a low dose CT scan of my lungs in mid-March and had my PCP send those results to VirtuOst for BCT analysis.

Background: I began jump training in February after my latest DEXA showed slight improvement in my lumbar spine (from osteoporosis to osteopenia) and slight worsening osteoporosis in femoral neck in both hips. The radiologist called both the gains and loss clinically insignificant. In addition to beginning jump training, I also started taking K2 in February. This is to say that I had been doing regular strength training, increased calcium intake -- but was not doing all of the things I am now doing -- when I had the CT scan in March.

The findings of the BCT, which analyzed a different area of my spine than the DEXA looks at, was that my density was "normal," but my bone strength low. In the report, it is noted that "low bone strength" can be caused for a variety of reasons including "small bones." I know a lot of us wonder about this. I am 5'5" tall and weigh 126 lbs, but I have very small wrists. I can easily put my thumb and index finger around the circumference of my wrists and always have use the last or second to last hole on my watch bands/bracelets. I don't know if "small bones" are the reason my bone is rated low strength, but I imagine that could be the case.

I am hoping that the jumping, addition of K2 and increasing load during strength training will move things in a positive direction when I have my next DEXA in 2027. I am meeting with a NIH sponsored endocrinologist in October. His areas of research are osteoporosis and the use of HRT. I am really interested in what he will say and will share here after I meet with him. My lowest score is -2.7 in one hip. I am 59 year-old female.

https://preview.redd.it/wlomr2y6e2bh1.png?width=1420&format=png&auto=webp&s=5df4e3d54a8aafa775653cb5ac1caa4f50889747

I hope to hear your experiences with LIFTMOR-exercises or LIFTMOR inspired exercises if your lowest T-value of the vertebrae is -3.9 or worse, as well as having lost some length and got a bit of a forward bending posture.

Did your physiotherapist encourage or discourage you from doing so? And if you actually performed these exercises, did it lead to fractures or other unwanted consequences?

At the moment, I'm just walking about 2 miles twice a day, with nordic walking poles. I wonder if there are people feeling this really helped to strengthen their bones, as this can hardly be called strength or resistance training.

My HX: I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis with a -3.8 in Jan 2024. Took Tymlos for 15 mo. Switched to Evenity October 2025-took 3 monthly injections and ended up with hives. Stopped Dec. 2025. Dexa in Sept. 2025 showed -3.2, so some improvement. The entire time since diagnosis I have increased Protein (I was really lacking) increased supplements, Calcium, magnesium, K2, D3. Started intense strength training, continuing with yoga, and walking. (something every day) Latest Dexa, (March 2026) is -2.7. Major improvement with very little meds. Has anyone had improvement with lifestyle changes? Dr. today wants to throw another medication at me. I want to wait. Thoughts?

Does anyone else wake up achy? Would this be due to Osteo?

I just learned (from this subreddit!) that Flonase is affecting my bones. I've been taking it for 20 years daily so I don't know if stopping it will have any effect. But does anyone have a recommendation for allergy relief that isn't a corticosteroid?

A family member about to turn 65 was diagnosed with osteopenia in April 2024. We made some changes but she fell last weekend and we are worried we still do not have a solid treatment plan.
We regret not being more aggressive back then, though we did take steps. We increased her protein, added prunes, started Bone Up twice a day, kept her vitamin D in range, and paid for an Onero consult at a clinic in central NJ. She already exercised at home, but never did the LIFTMOR style weighted machine work.
This past weekend she fell hard on her wrist and ankle. I have also noticed she is losing height, which I have read can mean small spine fractures. It scared us all.

DXA, April 2024
• Spine L1 to L4 T-score -2.4 (worst level -2.6)
• Femoral neck -1.5, total hip -1.2
• Read as osteopenia, but right on the osteoporosis line, and likely worse now after two years without a formal plan and a fall?

Questions
1. At similar numbers (-2.4 to -2.6), did you stabilize with protein and exercise alone? Any advice welcome.
2. Onero looks great but expensive and not covered by insurance. Any experience with the program, or with PT led weight bearing exercise, especially in central NJ?
3. Did you find an endocrinologist or bone specialist worth seeing? Her regular doctor just said Bone Up and exercise. NJ recs welcome.
4. Protein tips for a picky eater?
5. How often do you get DXA scans? We are getting another soon. I saw something called an intact PTH and a celiac screen that might be worth getting- is there anything else you would ask for?

Thank you all. Any guidance means a lot.

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis this year at age 56, and was bummed but not gobsmacked - petite white woman, post-menopausal, family history. My PCP immediately prescribed a biphosphonate but I waited for an appointment with a endocrinologist, who ordered additional bloodwork. Ding ding ding, my calcium is normal but my PTH is high. Since my kidney function and vitamin D levels are fine, and celiac came back negative, it's most likely primary hyperparathyroidism. People typically regain a lot of bone density after surgery just with calcium supplements -- the usual meds would NOT fix the underlying issue, and would be like adding water to a leaky bucket. I never thought I'd be so eager for a surgical procedure!

Hello,

As the title suggests I need some advice/direction/reality check.

I am 25f with osteoporosis attributed to not having periods and restrictive dieting.

While I know osteoporosis is bad I have no motivation to do the work. I have a BMI of >!18.3!< and while I know regaining menstural periods is the main stay of treating osteoporosis in my case I have absolutely no desire to do this. I was hoping that some real life experiences live with osteoporosis might serve as some form of inadvertent motivation? I know this sounds a bit crazy but I need to stop being so oblivious to the truth. I don't know if anyone has experienced this?

Thank you

I’m beyond scared and quite angry. At myself, endocrinologist and dentist.
I have to go on evenity followed by reclast. Went to dentist for clearance, he referred me to endodontist for a root canal that he performed to make sure infection is gone. Well Endo recommends surgery as a large area of 2 teeth is impacted. I’ve been crying since the appointment yesterday and don’t even know which foot to put forward first. Any suggestions, advice you can share would be greatly appreciated. Right now the endo is contacting insurance to see what they will cover. I feel so overwhelmed. Thank you for reading this

I have had Forteo injections 2019-2021 followed by Reclast in 2021. Now on a "drug holiday", but my Dexa is much worse since the meds -2.1 T score lumbar spine and hips.

Has anyone been in my situation? Not enough time to start osteoporosis treatment....

Title + I had my first two injections a few hours ago. Easy injections. I just noticed itching and am alarmed because the injector asked me about allergies - both environmental as well as medicine related - and now this? Anyone else or advice?!? Trying not to go over the edge freaking out . . .

Hi all, in 2018 I suffered 11 vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis, went on an anabolic bone building medication for a year and then was able to have a T3-pelvis fusion. I am so paranoid about the stability of my fusion, the hardware, etc, and I have been walking on eggshells for the past seven years. I’ve fallen several times, and other things have happened that have made me so fearful that I’ve done damage. So far things have been okay, but I find myself becoming more fearful of every day things that are probably fine. Does anyone else here have osteoporosis, and how are you handling things physically and emotionally? I also have bone cement in all 11 vertebrae that were fractured, but I’m still worried. I try to be so careful but life happens, and I can’t walk around in constant fear. My surgeon has given me reassurance that I’m pretty darn solid, but my worried mind doesn’t always accept that. Any advice appreciated. Thanks in advance 😊

Background: diagnosed with osteoperosis in March 2026 with t-scores in the high -2s and -3.1 in femur. Also have smouldering multiple myeloma, but SMM is not active so no treatment necessary, docs feel osteoporosis was cooncental.

Endo would prefer I take Evenity for 12 month course because of results tied to femur, but because of off label (not female, not post menopausal), she thinks insurance will reject this and proposed Prolio for about 2 yrs followed by reclast, or possibly reclast only.

I'm still recovering from my L5 compound fracture in March but plan on aggressive LIFTMOR style bone strengthening.

I know everyone responds differently but wondering if the group has any experience specific to being male and 55 yrs and proposed treatment, alt courses, suggestions, etc... thank you.

The results came back the very same day!

The summation was like…yes, we note the patient had a fractured vertebrae from a fall that happened when over 40 yo but it caused minimal trauma.
How right this was! I fell down my stairs and hurt my back and was told time will help and it did.
Anyhoo
Onto the bone density stuff.
The forearms and some other areas were fine.
Ok, relief.
Then the stuff about my spine…
Spinal Lumbar at -2.4. The boundary line b/w osteopenia and osteoporosis.

And I am sorta scared! I go to the grocery just to price shop some of the supplements I am thinking I need after my doc emails me after also seeing the results and reccs upping calcium and vitamin d intake (via diet or supplements) and exercises etc.

Today I visit this group where I think I just read that prior vertebra fractures can inflate the results of the DEXA?!
So curious. Should I BE curious or just get to hopping walking running and other exercises that will undoubtedly kill my Plantar fasciitis prone feet :)

Hello 25 F extremely worried i guess my life over? I have backache pain dexa scan says lumber area tscore -2.5 that means oestroposis. Can I make this situation reverse?