I believe that we should be tested as early as 30 for signs of osteoporosis.  I had the ankle test done at the State Fair when I was just 40, but didn't pay much attention since they said it was ok.  By the time I was 45, I was breaking ribs just by sneezing or bending over the side of the couch.  I asked my doctor if there was something else besides the ankle test to see if I had osteoporosis (my mother is 30 years older than I and much shorter and now has advanced osteoporosis).  He finally had a bone density test done which showed I had osteopinia (sp).  He started me on Fosomax (it was daily then).  I took it for several months and was sick everyday.  We discontinued that and went to Miacalcin.  The next year's density test showed more deterioration and then Fosomax was out as once a week.  I took it until I was injured in 2000 by walking around my desk at work, falling with all my weight on my shoulder, crushing my humeral head and breaking my humerus in 3 places.  We told the local surgeon of my osteoporosis condition, but since I was so "young" I don't think he took us seriously until he came out of the surgery and told my husband that my bones were like butter.  That surgery failed as did the next and then we went on a search for a surgeon that specialized in shoulder repair.  My shoulder was in a horrible mess by this time; a total replacement was done but unfortunately a massive infection developed which required the removement of the prothesis, a spacer inserted, 8 weeks of IV antibiotic meds 3x/day at home by home-health nurses.  After the antibiotic series, my fever skyrocketed and I was back in the hospital trying to figure out what was going on.  It was determined that one of the antibiotics they give me before each surgery was killing my white blood cells.  After that another replacement was installed, but due to the infection eating up my tissue and muscle and the loss of my rotator cuff completely, the pain was extreme.  After months working with the pain clinic, they determined the surgeon would have to try to find something else to do.  We waited for the reverse ball and socket procedure to be approved for the US and I had that surgery February 2005.  The recovery from that surgery involved being in a huge brace for 6 weeks 24/7.  It looked like a computer monitor (CRT) with the monitor side towards my stomach.  If I laid down flat, I could not see a thing except the brace.  It was so combersome I would have bouts of claustrophobia because if felt like I couldn't breathe at times.  When that finally came off, I cautiously used my arm (right- and I'm very very right handed).  I wasn't to pick up anything more than 2-3 pounds or do anything above shoulder height.  Sounds easy enough.  Ha!  Keyboarding would cause problems if I did it for longer than 30 minutes....just washing my hair, curling it, putting on makeup, driving, fixing dinner...all these things would cause what muscles I did have to lock up and the shoulder joint to feel like someone was pushing a knife through my shoulder.  I endured the pain with the help of the pain killers they would prescribe like vicadin and percocet.  Tramadol did nothing for me.  I hate being on narcartic pain meds, but they seem to be the only ones that cut through the pain and allow me to have a decent evening or part of a day. By fall of 2005, depression over not being a "person" anymore, but a problem, I ended up spending a week in a mental ward.  I did my best to overcome those issues (they are still underlying and I still seek help with them) and attempted to return to work for the third time since the injury.  My return date was 2-15-2006 with a work release from my surgeon stating no work above shoulder height, no more than 2-3# lifting with right arm, limited keyboard and writing.   My position (which I had held for 21 years at the time) is a high-pressure, sales-type position which is either a "put everything you have into it" or die job.  I did my best, within 45 days of returning, I noticed some weird popping and crunching sounds as well as increasing pain in my shoulder.  I called my surgeon and was able to get an apointment about 40 days later.  By the time I got there, the pain was much worse and the shoulder was moving around a lot more than it should.  Surprise!  The shoulder was constantly popping out of joint.  I was pinching nerves each time I moved it around to "pop" it back into joint.  The "fellow" came into the room and said "we have to take this prothesis out and put in another" or soon you will lose the use of your hand.  So my last open reduction surgery was June 19, 2006 where they removed and replaced the reverse ball and socket prothesis along with adding some cadavier bone to possibly give it some stability.  By November, my surgeon felt he had to release me from his care giving me a work release identical to the last one.  Because I know the requirements of my job and the stress it causes, I knew I was not going to go back since I feel positive that if I do, I will end up in surgery again.  Few people outside of my family understand (and maybe not even all of them) since to look at me, you can't see anything wrong (unless I have something sleeveless on).  My fear is that if I try to use it on a regular basis again, it will deteriorate faster.  At 52, I had hoped to take early retirement at 55 in order to do some traveling that I have never been able to do since most of my working life I have been supporting my children and putting them through college.  Now I am faced with trying to figure out how I can make my savings last to make ends meet until I reach 55 and then how that amount will be enough to keep me going until I get 65 and social security kicks in.  Oh yes, we are going to go through the worker's compensation legal mumbo jumbo, but I don't look for that do amount to much since according to the surgeon, I should be able to work. (He fixed the problem; that doesn't mean it will stay fixed).  I am in pain all the time.  I have a great deal of depression and anxiety.  I used to be an outgoing, never turn down a challange type person.  I am a mere shadow of that person.  I guess I feel that more education regarding this debilitating disease needs to be brought forth much earlier than menopause.  The main damage is done in the late teen years and 20s ( I'm sure that was when I did most of my damage trying to be thin...not eating right, etc).  Yes, it is hereditary, but maybe if young women can realize what can happen if they allow themselves to be anorexic, bulimic, or even a constant dieter, they will look at it differently. Doing weight bearing exercises and taking calcium supplements can help and the earlier the better. It is sad to be my age, an age when I thought I would be able to do some of the fun things in life, knowing that I have to watch every step I take of everything I pick up to make sure I don't break anymore bones.  Anyway, I'm frustrated, sad, depressed, and close to ruining by marital relationship because I feel so worthless. Thanks for letting me vent.