Osteoporosis

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I have a strong family history of osteoporosis. have reluctantly been taking steroids for 18 months due to rheumatoid arthritis. I have been asking my rheumatologist for a bone scan for over a year and finally got one. The result is a score of -2.3 which is borderline osteoporosis.
I can't get off the steroids yet.
I have been taking calcium vit D for 18 months and have just started alendronic acid.
It's just the latest in a long catalogue of health problems.

Does anyone know whether it's possible with the optimum drugs, diet and exercise, to actual improve bone loss? Or is the best I can hope for to maintain what I have?

at one point of place, we can try to manage or prevent osteoporosis with a proper diet and exercising routine. But as you said, you are at borderline, I think your doctor will give the best solution to your question. But stay positive, everything will be already. You'll figure out the best way to get out of this osteo thing. Be brave and make yourself strong.

I have osteoporosis. I take the following supplements and it seems to slow the deterioration.
Vit d and c from Boots.
Boron, cal-nag citrate and osteo p complex from Nutri Advanced as they are well rated by nutritionists.
I also do a mixture of bone strength yoga, walking and elliptical exercise. Kettle bell occasionally.
Astronauts have vibration plates on their space stations as their bone density plummets while up there. I used one for a couple of years and my bone density went up by 2 percentage points! Sadly I’ve moved to a second floor flat and it couldn’t come with me.
Anything with weights will help.

I'm not an expert so I would recommend you google this, but my understanding is that as well as minerals that support good bone density there are foods which have the opposite effect. Foods containing oxalix acid. These include rhubarb, chocolate and probably others.

Good luck OP.

Bone needs essentially calcium, protein vitamin D and stimulation to increase in density.

Depending on your age, you may be able to recover some bone mass, but probably not all of it. The thing that is often overlooked is exercise and loading - bone is a responsive organ, think of it like a plant growing toward sunlight - your skeleton needs loading and stimulation to encourage it to form new bone - think astronauts in space - osteoporosis in just a few weeks.

Bisphosphonates (alendronic acid) need to be used properly, bisphosphonate 'holidays' are often missed, and taking them continuously actually increases your fracture risk.

What @FixTheBone says about alendronic acid is essential - my DM has osteoporosis and has been on meds for decades, not sure when she started on AA. She had serious fractures - femur, both ankles, wrist, spine, ribs - in the course of 2yrs, mostly through no more than walking or the dog jumping up (that broke her ribs, she didn't fall over). A full body scan identified multiple historic fractures as well, and the AA had weakened her bones considerably.

Due to misdiagnosis and missed fractures, she now has to be scanned if an Xray is clear.... Orders of her consultant.

And she's only 65 now!

Ask your rheumatologist about zoledronate infusions.

Thanks everyone.
Rheumatologist was positively unhelpful. It was a telephone appointment, he was 2 hours early (fitting phone calls in between clinic patients), in a hurry and very grumpy. He didn't want a discussion and wouldn't consider changing my drugs until he can see me ftf which will be months. I blame the steroids though it's true my mother and maternal grandmother had op. I had no choice about taking them but desperately want an alternative.

I only started alendronic acid 2 weeks ago but will keep an eye on duration. I've just had a really helpful phone call to the national osteoporosis society who have a nurse helpline. I now know about impact exercise and am going to try and plan a routine. Also weights- not something I've ever done.
My main sources of exercise atm are walking and pilates. Helpful but not really quite the right things.
I also looks like maybe I need to add more protein to my diet.
@mibbelucieachwell I can live without rhubarb, though I have a garden full, but not chocolate!