How do you handle osteoporosis with MS

Hi, !

I am sorry you are dealing with osteoporosis on top of MS. It's not uncommon for people with MS to also eventually be diagnosed with osteoporosis. This can be due to the long term use of medications used to manage certain MS symptoms (prolonged steroid usage comes to mind). You can read a bit about that (and other comorbidities) here -- https://multiplesclerosis.net/living-with-ms/comorbidities-ms-isnt-only-health-condition. Also, a fair number of our post menopausal members have been recommended various osteoporosis medications, like Boniva.

I would say, keep in constant discussion about this. The benefits of these treatments freqeuntly outweigh the possible drawbacks. My mother was diagnosed with osteopenia at a relatively young age and has used various bone strengthening/building treatments over the years. Overall, she and her physician have been pleased with the results and she has experienced relatively mild side effects. She made sure to follow any dosing instructions to the letter and that really seemed to help. Some are very specific about staying upright for a period of time after taking the meds or taking them on a full stomach. And those instructions matter.

I couldn't find any conversations on our forums about this topic specifically, but I do hope some of our members with experience in this area see your post and chime in.

In the end, you get to decide whether you want to try any particular medication or not. That's your right.

I hope, whatever you decide, you feel at peace with your decision (and, if you go thr medication route, that you experience minimal side effects).

Best, Erin, Team Member.