I graduated from the University of West L.A. School of Paralegal Studies with a Paralegal and Litigation Specialist Cert. After graduation I worked for several Law firms in the L.A. area working in Family Law, Product Liability, and Personal Injury, with an emphasis on legal research. Two years later I was in a car accident that fractured my spine and injured my neck, which meant I had to have a spinal fusion with fracture repair. I thought that surgery was a success, since my fusion was solid, but approximately 2 years post op that fusion failed and I had to have a revision.

I went through early non surgical menopause, which may have played a partial role in acquiring osteoporosis, at the age of 31. As a result of that accident, hormone loss and osteoporosis, I had many failed spinal fusions, along with hardware failure and developed an assortment of degenerative spinal disorders which included fragility fractures. I have a family history of osteoporosis, on both my mother and fathers side, plus hypercalcemia and other mineral metabolism problems, so all of these things have factored into a severe osteoporosis diagnosis.

I took weekly Actonel for 17 months, which helped a little and then started Forteo which I did really well on. I didn't have any side effects from Forteo other than fantastically improved scores that are in the osteopenia range. I'm now taking Evista, and hope that will maintain my scores. I'm constantly monitoring the pipeline for new drugs and hope something new will be available to us in the near future.

I continue to have spinal problems with chronic pain, but I deal with that one day at a time, and find that physical therapy has been tremendously helpful along with many types of low impact exercises rooted in proper body mechanic techniques, which is so important for those with weak spines and osteoporosis. I had some success in pain management with the use of epi's, electro stimulation, different types of massage/traction, chymopapain injections, and am eager to try acupuncture and possibly spinal decompression treatments.

I've been married for 25 years, to a wonderful guy, who shares the ups and downs of his disabilities along with my health problems, which keeps us very busy. Since I didn't know much about osteoporosis, I decided to research as much as I could using the techniques I learned in school. I joined several Osteoporosis support groups six years ago, and continue to participate in those to help lend a hand with the things that I've learned and continue to learn from others, the greatest source of knowledge I know. I wish you all good luck on your personal journey's with this disorder, and look forward to becoming good friends and advocates for one another.