Interferon and bone degeneration

I finished 2 years of injecting Interferon and the Ribavirin tablets about a year ago. About a month after stopping the treatment I became very ill for several months. I would not allow (an epidural), a needle to be stuck up my spine to check for meningitis so my doctor said that was probably what I had and was very lucky. My eyeballs were popping out of my head, I could barely walk and was bed ridden for 3 months but survived it. Anyway, I did the treatment for 2 years and 1 and half years later my viral load is still undetectable. But my question is this. During the treatment I started having joint and muscular problems. My doctor said it was the meds and it would stop after I stopped taking them. Over the last year, I have been complaining to my doctor about more and more lower back pain and leg pain. Then about 6 months ago my hips started hurting. Now it is constant and when I wake up and start walking it feels like my hips are literally bone to bone without any cartilage and it takes me 30 minutes or so to loosen up enough to walk correctly. So I went to a different doctor and had a bone density scan. It showed that My upper leg bones, my lower spinal vertebrae’s and hip bones are in a class called osteospenia. My doctor said to start taking folic acid, calcium and vitamin D. That's it. It feels like whatever this is it's advancing rapidly and if it continues on it's present coarse I will be in a wheel chair within a couple of years. I am 49, 6' and 180 lbs. I am on hydracadone and I need to take about 15 to 21 mg a day to tolerate the discomfort. I am walking and exorcising at night my hips and legs just kill me. So my question is, if this is developing so rapidly, are there any other diseases or anything that anyone would know about that would cause rapid degeneration of these bones and the best way to stop this from advancing? Now my arms are starting to go through the same type situation so I need to figure this out pretty soon. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

[pigeonca]

I have osteoporosis, and treatment was very difficult for me.  The only thing that kept me going prior to tx was faithful dedication to an exercise program, which became impossible on Interferon and ribavirin.  As a matter of fact, although I only treated for 3 months, I lost 14 pounds, 6 of them muscle.  I had spent most of those 3 months in bed.

As soon as I could after finishing (had to stop early, but just got word of SVR), I resumed going to the gym.  I was a flabby weakling and feeling quite a lot of pain.  If I don't exercise I get a back ache which goes into sciatica.  Walking doesn't do it for me.  I walk for the aerobic benefits, but for building bone there is nothing like weight lifting.  And I'm talking about heavy weights - not girly weights.  If you can, try to find a knowledgeable physical therapist or personal trainer who can set up a program for you.  It will hurt, but in the long run it may take your pain away.  If nothing else, it will make you strong.  Basically, you need to build up muscles to take over some of the job that your bones used to do.  Good luck and good health.