19. Success!

Three years into alendronate therapy (the bone strengthening pill), I repeated the "DEXA" (bone density) scan of my spine, neck of the left thigh bone, and total hip.  The spine was the most affected before (3.8 standard deviations from the normal of a mature adult), and remains osteoporetic now--BUT ONE STANDARD DEVIATION BETTER!--only 2.8 SD.

At 5-9 and a fraction, my height is right at the mean of the American male.  If I were 3.8 standardard deviations below the mean, I would be about 4 ft, 10.5 inches.  2.8 SD would be around five foot, one and a half inches.  So taking alendronate for three years has been the equivalent of adding about three inches to my height (actually 2.8 inches). Not bad.

The plan is to continue taking alendronate for 2 years, then stop.  Somehow the bone densifying effect of alendronate continues long after stopping.  And continuing would increase the risk of jaw necrosis or spontaneous femur fractures that are rare side effects. Five years seems to be the Goldilocks balance between risks and benefits.

18. Osteroporosis by xray

Here are some computerized xrays (CT or CAT scans) of osteoporetic vertebrae (normal on left, osteopenia in middle, real-live osteoporosis on right).  No wonder they break (but why hasn't mine?). 

Impressive, eh?