STOP! Don't do this if you have osteoporosis

Posted by isabelle7 @isabelle7, Jul 7 8:35pm

I am starting this thread hoping people will post things they've done that they have regretted, for one reason or another, when suffering from osteoporosis.

I'm going to start the conversation with a list of things we've learned already, and we are newbies!

1. Lift objects heavier than recommended by your physician (for my husband, that means nothing heavier than 5 pounds right now, with 3 fractures).

2. Don't bend at the waist! He got a fracture bending to empty the dishwasher.

3. Be cautious when driving - avoid rough roads, bumps, and go very slow over speed bumps.

4. We had planned to go on a boating tour (on a commercial fishing boat) on the ocean. After seeing a boat rocking and bouncing over choppy water we decided not to go.

5. Do not slouch when sitting in a chair or couch. If you're going to rest for any period of time on a couch elevate your legs (per our physical therapist).

6. Do not try any exercises until you have cleared it with your doctor, especially before your doctor confirms your fracture is stable.)

Please add to the discussion. I think this could be useful to people, especially people new to this.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

@ldg001

I forgot to mention that I also do Bio-Identical hormones, which my doc said is also a big help with the osteoporosis .

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How strange. My doctor said that bio identical hormones is a waste of time. I have been on Reclast for several years. Last one will be in November. Afterwards, we will look at DEXA scores and decide if I can take a break or move on to Prolia.

How are gauging if the hormones are working?

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@deborahnelson86

Isabelle, I would be cautious about putting feet up if you are sitting on a couch at 90 degrees. That is very hard on your back. A recliner that always keeps your joints at a proper angle would be great but legs should be at 90 degrees if back and hips at 90. That will be less stressful on spine. Otherwise your lower vertebrae have to bear the weight of your upper body and your legs. I would seek another opinion. This info is also from physical therapy.

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@deborahnelson86

I'm trying to visualize what you mean. Do you mean if he's sitting straight up on a couch, not reclined, his legs should be in the same position (not reclined, feet touching the floor)? What about when he reclines the couch? Can he be in almost a laying position?

I've attached a picture of a couch similar to ours. When he's reclining he's like the left side of the couch. Is this position OK? I believe this is what his PT meant that was OK.

Let me know if the picture downloaded. I accidentally did it twice. LOL

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@jasperina

Can you tell me about your gym program, specific exercises you are doing, etc. I am on a similar path and would just like to compare notes. I work out with a trainer-designed program 3 times per week for about 9 months now. Pay attention to nutrition, supplements and so on.
Congratulations on your hard work and good results!

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What supplements are you taking? I get so many different opinions. My definite one is D3 but I hear turmeric is good as well as B12.

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@isabelle7

@ldg001

Would you mind sharing the brand you’re using and which essential oils you find helpful and for what condition.

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I use only Doterra products. What is do when I have a certain problem I google which essential oil is good for such and such, and I read everything I can that comes up. I then go to the Doterra.com site and look for the oil or oils that were recommended and read whatever Doterra has on it, and go from there. I once had a boil, which I had never had and it scared me because I did not want to go to doc, I knew what they would do, lance it. I looked up oils that are good for that, and I happened to have some of them. I got rid of my boil in 3 days. It was unbelievable. I have a book called "Essentials of The Earth" available on amazon, it has tons of information, great, great book. I believe the latest edition is the 11th. It lists all kinds of illnesses and diseases and which oils to use. It also list all the different oils and what they are used for, how to use them and their safety. All oils should always be diluted, some are what they call "hot" and it will tell you about them and how to use. Please do your research, there is much to learn about them.
Good luck,
Blessings

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I take the supplements that are formulated by Keith McCormick from his company called Osteonaturals. I take the Osteo Stim and the Osteo Sustain. I also take the collagen he sells, called Osteo Collagen Pep.
I experimented with different ones for a while but settled on these because they are formulated for bone health.
He has written 2 books about osteoporosis which I have found quite helpful.

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@isabelle7

@cehunt57

Do Prolia and Forteo do the same basic thing? My husband was recently given a prescription for Forteo and he will need daily injections for two years followed by a few years on Reclast, per his endocrinologist. A shot every six months sounds heavenly in comparison. Just wondering if we could have done that instead of the Forteo.

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@isabelle7 I saw my endocrinologist yesterday, had a DEXA bone density scan and a Prolia injection. I don’t know if Prolia and Forteo are basically the same. I just know they both are used to treat osteoporosis. Everybody’s situation is different. I also have diabetes and stage 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD). Before I started Prolia I checked with my nephrologist that Prolia would be ok with the CKD.
If you are interested in considering Prolia, you should ask your endocrinologist how it compares to Forteo and Reclast.

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@susanjane77

How strange. My doctor said that bio identical hormones is a waste of time. I have been on Reclast for several years. Last one will be in November. Afterwards, we will look at DEXA scores and decide if I can take a break or move on to Prolia.

How are gauging if the hormones are working?

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OMG, but then all doc have their different opinions. There are some docs that are not a fan of them. My obgyn was originally not a fan and was completely against them, until she learned more and had a big turn around and now this is mostly what she does. I can say they may not be for everyone, but they made a BIG difference for me. Some women may not be candidates or them, depending on health conditions, especially women's health. I do the BioTe, which are pellets and are inserted in the hip (upper buttocks) area, I do mine every 3 months. You will always get a blood test to see where your levels are and what you need. This site will give you more info on how they work and pros and cons.......
https://biote.com/bioidentical-hormone-replacement-pellet-therapy/faq....
Blessings

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@isabelle7

@ldg001

Thanks for sharing what you’re taking. My husband is the one with osteoporosis from taking prednisone for over a year. He didn’t have a choice and is still on it trying to taper down. Steroids can cause bone issues but no one told us. So by the time we found out it was too late for any hope of treating his with alternatives. Which is my preference.

It’s been a rough year. He first developed PMR in May 2023 and just when he was doing well tapering down the prednisone he developed giant cell arteritis in Feb 2024. He’s been on high doses of prednisone for over a year and it’s taken a toll. He’s 75 and before this he was so healthy. He had the stamina of a 45-year old man. Now he is covered in bruises from the prednisone, he can’t bend down or lift more than 5 lbs until his fractures stabilize and he’s constantly exhausted and falling asleep. The one good thing is he’s no longer in constant pain. Thanks to the prednisone he didn’t develop more serious consequences. So we have to be thankful.

I wish you the very best!!

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OMG, I know exactly what he is going through. I have been on prednisone and it drove me crazy, I could not stay on it, and my doc saw how it was affecting me and took me off of it. Yes, steroids are so bad for us, and I have taken plenty of those injections and try to avoid them if I can. Sometimes they are just not avoidable. I wish you both well.
Blessings

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@isabelle7

@ldg001

When you say weight bearing exercises for your upper and lower body, what kind of exercises are you referring to?

Like you I avoid beef and do intermittent fasting which also works well for me. My husband is the one with osteoporosis. I'm going to look into the Garden of Life calcium. We too take a variety of supplements, all OK's by our doctors.

I'd like to learn yoga and start slow. I am not someone who exercises regularly. I do childcare and spend my days with babies and toddlers so I'm quite active, do lots of squatting and careful lifting. I also love nature so any chance I get I'm out walking.

My husband has always done an exercise routine. He used weights for years and in the last couple years has been using resistance bands. He gets pretty intense with his exercising. I should say he got intense. Now he can't exercise at all, can't lift anything over 5 pounds and can't bend at the waist until his three fractures (and God help us he doesn't have new ones again - he goes for another x-ray next week). Those restrictions will be reduced once his fractures stabilize but the doctor said that might be 6 months to a year. It's driving him crazy not being able to exercise. So we try to walk on trails that have benches available every so often so he can sit and rest his back. He certainly can't do long walks, so we do a lot of shorter ones. It's been rough.

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My gym exercises consist of shoulder press, lat pull-downs, bicep curls, and tricep extensions , incline press, chest fly machine, leg curls, leg extensions, there are just so so many.... sometimes I do the free weights. You need a trainer to be sure you are doing them correctly and not hurt yourself . You always stretch before to warm up and stretch afterwards to cool down. The resistance stretch bands are great. I dread going to gym, but after I'm there I feel great and glad I went. That's the hardest part just getting there. There is a great yoga book "Richard Hittleman's Yoga 28 day exercise plan. I believe you can get it on amazon. Always always start slow and only go as far as you can, with everyday you will be able to do a little more.

Good luck,
Blessings

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@susanjane77

What supplements are you taking? I get so many different opinions. My definite one is D3 but I hear turmeric is good as well as B12.

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My gym exercises consist of shoulder press, lat pull-downs, bicep curls, and tricep extensions , incline press, chest fly machine, leg curls, leg extensions, there are just so so many.... sometimes I do the free weights.
I do what I feel is best for me, Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Calcium and VitD, my main one, Omega 3, VitC, B-complex 100, Ubiquinol QH-absorb softgels, at times I will do Doterra supplements according to my needs, one in particular , Zendocrine for detoxing, both the detoxification blend and complex. For my female health , Nature's Way DHEA and Country Life DIM-plus 25mg.

Blessings

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