Hi Pam, you answered some concerns I had before, thanks.  I'm still not on any medication for my osteoporious.  I'm suppose to start the Forteo.  I have it in my refridgerator waiting for training.  Now after reading and researching more, I'm still not sure.  My drs are aware of the kidney stones, and I'm scared to death of the black box warning, osteosarcoma.  My mom has osteoporious, and at age 78 she has never had any fractures.  She's been on the fosamax for a couple yrs. She has a lot of leg and back pain, also she pops tums all the time for her stomach discomfort.  If not for my ortho dr recommending the Forteo, I'd probably wouldn't have thought about taking it at all.  Also, what is the difference between a Z score and a T score, and are they accurate?  I'm seriously considering a natural alternative.

Pam, after receiving a copy today of my last 24 hr urine collection, and googling distal renal tubular acidosis, I think my underlying problem is osteomalacia.  It's consistent with the lower back pain, symmetrical ribs pain, weak muscles, fatigue.  I've been complaining about this to my drs, also my xrays indicate straightened of natural curve.  I believe this is my problem, and none of these drs ever looked at the whole picture.  I'm not a dr, but would Forteo be beneficial?  It seems like any bone build by the drug therapy would soften.  I'm scheduled for training on Monday, really confused now! I'm thinking of going to University of Penn, I've been going in circles since September. 

I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving.