STOP! Don't do this if you have osteoporosis

Hello @isabelle7 !
I do not think you need to worry about getting extra calcium from food! No worries there! But I would caution about taking calcium supplements if your husbands blood test are calcium normal. Having too much calcium can have undesirable side effects. The same with vitamin D! I was low on vitamin D when I finished menopause - as are most women and most people as they age need more vitamin (I take 5000 iu every day now - but I also am tested to make sure my vitamin d levels are midrange normal. If your vitamin d is too high it works AGAINST the bone medicines. I have used this group to figure out what tests I need to ask the endocrine dr for. He didn’t think I needed any baseline testing but I asked my primary doctor and she agreed with me. So if you are going to put supplements into your body make sure you get periodic labs to make sure all is humming along in harmony. I also look up what it means if I am borderline low or high on test results. It ALWAYS means something if one is on the borderline. The doctors always dismiss borderline testing as if so how it’s “normal” but I tell them normal is near the MIDDLE! not at the ends. 😊
As far as the DEXA- correct— they don’t always tell the truth. I never had any indication my bones weren’t strong until cervical spine surgery and my C5 fell apart in their hands last year. No one has even said I HAVE osteoporosis in the past year, but I am on this bone medicine now. All I know is I have degenerative disc condition and osteoarthritis. It is the right time of life to have deteriorating bones so being on this medicine is valuable. Even if the DEXA isn’t accurate, they can still use it to see if my density is changing over time. But you have to stay with the same equipment because the calibration needs to be consistent. And wouldn’t you know it but my insurance company is no longer going to contract with my DEXA provider next month! But I will stay with them and pay a small copay next year.
I guess we just learn a lot as we go! I am sorry to hear about your husband’s steroid side effects! I’ve had to rely on steroid injections but always take a half dose over the years and only periodic use.
I think menopause did me in and I might check out getting back on bio identical HRT . That might help maintain a strong body. Good luck and stay strong! Lori

I refuse to take any of the drugs for osteoporosis . I joined a gym, took supplements and reversed my osteoporosis in a year and a half. My doc said "whatever you are doing, just keep it up."
Thank you Lord!

@ldg001

Can you share what level of osteoporosis you have? Did you get DEXA scores? Did you have fractures?

For some people like my husband with -3.4 scores and three fractures, exercise is completely off the table for now and meds are the only things that, in his condition, will rebuild bone.

@ldg001 many of us are not able to pursue a "holistic" approach and need meds to avoid further pain and disability. Especially those who have fractures. We don't know your situation but if your DEXA shows serious bone loss at any point, just know that there are no warning signs or symptoms before fractures. I hope your osteoporosis is mild and that you can continue to hold your current status.

I take supplements, walk and do tai chi but those are like trying to topple a building with a feather, for me! The loss of estrogen is a cause for many of us.

@ldg001

Can you share what level of osteoporosis you have? Did you get DEXA scores? Did you have fractures?

For some people like my husband with -3.4 scores and three fractures, exercise is completely off the table for now and meds are the only things that, in his condition, will rebuild bone.

@loriesco

Thank you for your list!!

I agree with getting a great doctor and not settling. It took us a while and making changes with doctors we didn't feel were competent. When they say they take care of patients with osteoporosis and have never heard of Forteo or Evenity it's time for a new doctor. In my opinion. The best doctor we found for osteoporosis is an endocrinologist. And we have a rheumatologist for his other conditions. We also have a physical therapist to help us navigate the osteoporosis. It's my husband who has it, not me.

I've never called the pharmaceutical companies but that's a good idea.

Two websites our doctors agree provide good, accurate information are Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. There are other good ones, some from other countries I've found useful.

I find lots and lots of good information online. You just have to be sure it's from a good reliable source. My schedule doesn't allow me much time to go to the library but that's another good place to go. I've bought many books off Amazon too.

Your attitude will go a long way to help you heal. Sometimes it's hard and it's depressing but the most important thing is to keep a positive outlook. I believe in the mind-body connection.

And like you I am a firm believer in sharing what you learn. I love this site for that.

The Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic are excellent online sources for osteoporosis info. The Royal Osteoporosis Society (UK) is another great site for information.

I've read so many books on osteoporosis and one of the best (besides Great Bones by Dr. McCormick and Dr. Lani No Nonsense Bone Guide) is the Mayo Clinic on Osteoporosis. It's a relatively small book but the information is incredibly valuable and best of all, it had a chapter for living with a fracture - no other book addressed this. I got it from our library (I think I've read almost every book out there on OP! Lol). But the Mayo Clinic book really impressed me.

Another tip for living with a fracture is using a metal pooper scooper (bought on Amazon) to replace a dustpan after sweeping. Funny enough, the Mayo Clinic book also states to do not bend to use a dustpan. I really like that the book provided a lot of practical info after fracturing.

That said, I love the tips you provide and this is an excellent thread you started. When I broke my L3 in January, I had to figure out what I could and couldn't do on my own (before I discovered this wonderful site). I avoid potholes, I don't lift anything heavy, I don't put the fitted sheet on the bed (my husband does that, I adjust my side mirrors to observe oncoming traffic when entering a highway instead of twisting and I no longer bend to get things from my lower kitchen cabinets (I rearranged my kitchen to put things at waist level or higher).

two day opportunity for rems in Tustin, Ca
https://sonohealth.janeapp.com/locations/osteostrong-old-town-tustin/book#staff_member/1

Gram 46, Thank you for finding this. I just looked and there are only a few appointment left for the Rems scan on Thursday afternoon and no available appointments on Friday at all. Unfortunately I have a dental appointment tomorrow afternoon( Thursday) - and it is too late to change it to a later date. How did you find this information?
Thanks again,
Lynne

Gram 46, Thank you for finding this. I just looked and there are only a few appointment left for the Rems scan on Thursday afternoon and no available appointments on Friday at all. Unfortunately I have a dental appointment tomorrow afternoon( Thursday) - and it is too late to change it to a later date. How did you find this information?
Thanks again,
Lynne