Does anyone know about pre-menopausal osteoporosis?

[LizzyBee]

My PA sent me for a bone density test just to have a baseline, because osteoporosis runs in my family for at least 3 generations and probably more. My younger sister has already lost an inch of height, so the PA shouldn't have been too shocked at my results. But she was shocked and she's spending the weekend researching to figure out what to do with me. All of the meds are designed for post-menopausal women, so they are not an option. There is a new injectable that just came onto the market; my mom was part of the study that led to its approval and it's worked well for her. But my PA does not like to prescribe new meds. And at my age, we have to be concerned about long term side effects.

I will get blood drawn on Monday to check my Vit D levels and then I'll talk to my PA on Wednesday. But from what I could find on the internet, it looks like my best options are major calcium and Vit D supplementation. My PA is also thinking about sending me to Duke to consult with a specialist. But from what I could find out, there are no studies, no approved treatment plans, nothing, nada, for premenopausal women with osteoporosis.

If you or someone you know has been through this, please share your knowledge and experience. Thanks!!

[Claire]

Don't know about pre-menopausal specifically. However, I read that a study of bone breakage in post-menopausal did not find a significant difference between women who had not taken the osteoporosis drugs and those who had. The X-rays of women on the osteo drugs seem to show greater bone density; however, it is thought that this may be because a little extra bone accretes around the outside while nothing happens to the fragile inside. If the bones had indeed become more dense, there should have been fewer bone breaks in women who had been on the drugs.

My sis and I have osteopenia, and my sis was considering going on one of the drugs. We both decided against it and are taking a calcium/magnesium/Vit D supplement instead (magnesium is required along iwth Vit D for calcium absorption). We take a calcium *citrate* supplement because this form is absorbed pretty well by the body.

If I were in your shoes, I would supplement heavily and also engage in weight training exercises as these are supposed to help build and maintain bone density.

Here are some websites I found: http://www.obgyn.net/osteoporosis/osteoporosis.asp?page=/osteo/ate_1199
http://www.postgradmed.com/issues/2006/06/008/
This one seemed pretty good: http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/164/6/603

[LizzyBee]

Thanks for your input!