Guest guest Posted September 8, 2001 Report Share Posted September 8, 2001 Dear Jen, I don't have any expertise, but Calcitonin (nose spray) was prescribed for my mom's osteoporosis. She's 83 and recently fell and had a compression fracture in her back. When I asked my gastro about Calcitonin she said it preceded Fosomax. Calcitonin ( for Mom) is used once a day in alternating nostrils. My understanding is that there is a positive side effect of helping with bone pain. I don't know if this is helpful. Good luck, Jen. Sue (Oregon) AIH 12/96 [ ] Osteopenia? I had my Bone Density Scan done a week ago. I am a half inch sorter upon my arrival and the results came via mail today...stating I had " osteopenia " . I can't take fosomax (esophogeal varacies), are dietary suplements the only other alertnative? I'm not even in menopause and will probably be on the prednisone (currently 10mg's and tapering next month) for the rest of my life. Is bone loss and height just something I will have to live with the rest of my life? Jen P.S. Platform shoes at this point sound good, but I would probably fall and break my ankle in the process (ha ha). _______________________________________________________ Send a cool gift with your E-Card http://www.bluemountain.com/giftcenter/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2001 Report Share Posted September 8, 2001 Sue, thanks so much for the info. I'll look into it and ask my MD. Hope your mom is doing better. Thanks, Jen On Sat, 8 Sep 2001 07:30:35 -0700, wrote: > Dear Jen, > I don't have any expertise, but Calcitonin (nose spray) was prescribed for > my mom's osteoporosis. She's 83 and recently fell and had a compression > fracture in her back. > When I asked my gastro about Calcitonin she said it preceded Fosomax. > Calcitonin ( for Mom) is used once a day in alternating nostrils. My > understanding is that there is a positive side effect of helping with bone > pain. > I don't know if this is helpful. Good luck, Jen. > Sue (Oregon) AIH 12/96 > > [ ] Osteopenia? > > > I had my Bone Density Scan done a week ago. I am a half inch sorter upon my > arrival and the results came via mail today...stating I had " osteopenia " . I > can't take fosomax (esophogeal varacies), are dietary suplements the only > other alertnative? I'm not even in menopause and will probably be on the > prednisone (currently 10mg's and tapering next month) for the rest of my > life. Is bone loss and height just something I will have to live with the > rest of my life? > > Jen > > P.S. Platform shoes at this point sound good, but I would probably fall and > break my ankle in the process (ha ha). > > > > > > _______________________________________________________ > Send a cool gift with your E-Card > http://www.bluemountain.com/giftcenter/ > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2001 Report Share Posted September 8, 2001 Jen, I might be wrong but I thought spinal compression fractures caused people to shrink, yet you don't mention anything about fractures in your report. You might only need some yoga or pilates to stretch yourself back to original size, it works for me. Another $.02 worth.... I got Osteopenia from pred, but it doesn't always require drug treatment. In my case, the only treatment recommended is calcium. The best source is calcium rich food, if you're able to tolerate it. I eat yogurt every day and lots of dairy. I take about 600mgs of calcium citrate. My bone density is virtually the same as it was three years ago, but I haven't taken pred for 4.5 years. In addition, for strong bones, weight bearing exercise are the best. These sites have some pretty good calcium and bone info http://www.calciuminfo.com/index.htm http://www.aafp.org/afp/990700ap/194.html I hope this helps. I think of osteopenia as a warning, if we can hang on to what we have, we'll be just fine. Barbara Ann TX 12/94 18,349 WAITING FOR A LIVER AS OF JUNE 01, 2001 - BE AN ORGAN DONOR > I had my Bone Density Scan done a week ago. I am a half inch sorter upon my > arrival and the results came via mail today...stating I had " osteopenia " . I > can't take fosomax (esophogeal varacies), are dietary suplements the only > other alertnative? I'm not even in menopause and will probably be on the > prednisone (currently 10mg's and tapering next month) for the rest of my > life. Is bone loss and height just something I will have to live with the > rest of my life? > > Jen > > P.S. Platform shoes at this point sound good, but I would probably fall and > break my ankle in the process (ha ha). > > > > > > _______________________________________________________ > Send a cool gift with your E-Card > http://www.bluemountain.com/giftcenter/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2004 Report Share Posted February 26, 2004 In a message dated 26/02/2004 16:17:54 Central Standard Time, xponder70@... writes: > Any > medication to build bone density? > I went to a seminar on this last year, partly my own interest, partly for CEUs for my nursing license. Anyways, there are many meds out there, but none actually " build " bone. What they do is decrease bone loss and remodeling, which is the continual breaking down and replacing of bone that occurs all the time. As for the osteopenia, I have peri-articular osteopenia with having been on steroids for any length of time. So part of it is from the RA itself. The best thing any woman can do for her bones other than meds is weight bearing exercise. Lifting weights or jumping (joke, right?) keeps your bones rebuilding themselves due to the stress put on them. So when not in a flare, if you can and your doctor okays it, you would be smart to lift weights. And that's about all I know on that subject! :>) hope it helps. Cary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2004 Report Share Posted February 26, 2004 Hi everyone. I am sort of new here so I'll post a reminder, I'm 33, have RA, diagnosed less than a year ago. I take 5mg prednisone daily, 17.5 mgs of mtx weekly, and just started Humira. About a year 1/2 ago I got a bone density test. This was before any RA symptoms, but was done because my mom has osteoporosis (probably due to long-term prednisone use to treat RA, but we were being safe). I have several osteoporosis risk factors including being very petite. Anyway, bone density was high, looked great actually. My rheumatologist ordered a follow up test, just to see since I am on prednisone and have been for about a year. I think the most I ever took was 7.5 mgs but that was before starting mtx and wasn't for long. Usually it's the 5mgs. So I go today and was told I have ostepenia in my back and hips (back worse than hips). I am assuming this is from prednisone since things were fine less than 2 years ago. I have a rheumy appt next week, so I'll see what he says. I am sure he will have me take more calcium and I am doing weight bearing exercises (just started recently though). Is there anyone else with definite signs of bone loss? What treatment are you taking? Any medication to build bone density? Any information is appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2004 Report Share Posted February 27, 2004 Hi, I was diagnosed with osteopenia and was told it was due to steroids (Prednisone). I was told by my Rheumy to take 500mg of calcium a day. It has helped and I have had no further signs of density lose. I also don't take steroids unless I have a flare up, which I am sure has helped greatly. Hope this helps somewhat. Alan > Hi everyone. > > I am sort of new here so I'll post a reminder, I'm 33, have RA, > diagnosed less than a year ago. I take 5mg prednisone daily, 17.5 > mgs of mtx weekly, and just started Humira. > > About a year 1/2 ago I got a bone density test. This was before any > RA symptoms, but was done because my mom has osteoporosis (probably > due to long-term prednisone use to treat RA, but we were being > safe). I have several osteoporosis risk factors including being very > petite. Anyway, bone density was high, looked great actually. > > My rheumatologist ordered a follow up test, just to see since I am on > prednisone and have been for about a year. I think the most I ever > took was 7.5 mgs but that was before starting mtx and wasn't for > long. Usually it's the 5mgs. So I go today and was told I have > ostepenia in my back and hips (back worse than hips). I am assuming > this is from prednisone since things were fine less than 2 years ago. > > I have a rheumy appt next week, so I'll see what he says. I am sure > he will have me take more calcium and I am doing weight bearing > exercises (just started recently though). Is there anyone else with > definite signs of bone loss? What treatment are you taking? Any > medication to build bone density? > > Any information is appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2004 Report Share Posted February 27, 2004 Osteopenia affects bone density in people with RA but the exact mechanism remains unclear. Some studies indicate decreased bone formation while others indicate increased bone resorption. Reduced mobility and inflammation play a major role in developing osteopenia. I was also diagnosed with osteopenia a few years ago and I¹ve never taken steroids except once for poison ivy. I took Fosamax for a year, had another density test and no further bone loss resulted. However, after reading how Fosamax works, I stopped taking it. To many studies were saying that although Fosamax increased density, the bone became more brittle over time. Other studies contradict this, so it¹s pretty confusing to know what to do. So what I¹m doing is using diet to build my bones. I had another density test one year after stopping Fosamax and I¹ve had no further bone loss. I¹ve also read that an acidic diet can cause OP. Drinking soda is very harsh on the bones. Processed foods also are acidic. Recommendations for the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: 2001 update. http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?ss=15 & doc_id=2934 & string Women With Rheumatoid Arthritis More Likely to Develop Osteoporosis http://imaginis.com/osteoporosis/news/news5.03.2000.asp a > Hi everyone. > > I am sort of new here so I'll post a reminder, I'm 33, have RA, > diagnosed less than a year ago. I take 5mg prednisone daily, 17.5 > mgs of mtx weekly, and just started Humira. > > About a year 1/2 ago I got a bone density test. This was before any > RA symptoms, but was done because my mom has osteoporosis (probably > due to long-term prednisone use to treat RA, but we were being > safe). I have several osteoporosis risk factors including being very > petite. Anyway, bone density was high, looked great actually. > > My rheumatologist ordered a follow up test, just to see since I am on > prednisone and have been for about a year. I think the most I ever > took was 7.5 mgs but that was before starting mtx and wasn't for > long. Usually it's the 5mgs. So I go today and was told I have > ostepenia in my back and hips (back worse than hips). I am assuming > this is from prednisone since things were fine less than 2 years ago. > > I have a rheumy appt next week, so I'll see what he says. I am sure > he will have me take more calcium and I am doing weight bearing > exercises (just started recently though). Is there anyone else with > definite signs of bone loss? What treatment are you taking? Any > medication to build bone density? > > Any information is appreciated. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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