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I reversed osteoporosis without drugs
I had my bone quality test yesterday along with another bone density test. This was my third bone density test in 14 months.
My first bone density test was Nov 2021.
I started consulting with different doctors. If I must take meds I would. But I had to get to the truth.
The physician who appeared to know the most is Keith McCormick DC the chiropractor who got osteoporosis at a very young age and really understands it.
That first DEXA scan showed I had mild osteoperosis of the spine, within the margin of error.
So no McCormick said to take the CTX (blood) test and a few others.
CTX was good.
My CTX shows that the osteoclasts are not breaking down too much bone. therefore, my next bone density test shouldn’t show that that I am much worse.
I decided not to wait until 2 years for another scan and took
I took another bone density (aka DEXA) scan 10/2022 to see if that was true about the CTX.
My spine was actually better in that scan and it was now osteopenia.
My hip was a little worse bringing it outside the margin of error. McCormick said this was a tough call so I said to him why don’t I get a bone quality test (that he told me about) and I figured that will buy me a little time anyway lol.
Unfortunately, the bone quality test only measures the spine.
Since it’s unusual for your spine to get better and your hip to get worse, it made me think - what have I done differently since the last test? Why would my spine improve but not my hip? What is my spine doing that my hip is not?
I decided it had to be the Supernatural virtual reality exercise app that I exercise to (on the oculus quest VR helmet). Even though I am striking the air, there actually is resistance, and I push hard to hit it as powerfully as I can.
I decided to put weights on my ankles. Everything I read says weight training should be once or twice a week, and I certainly only did it once.
Back to yesterday and the bone quality (TBS) test and yet another bone density (DEXA) test.
My hip was back to where it was on the first test. This put me back inside the margin of error where I would not have to take medication
This demonstrated to me that the CTX score did in fact mean I'm not losing density quickly.
Yesterday's test shows that my spine continued to improve and my bone density score was no longerosteopenia. It was normal. My bone quality test was great. The tech really loved it and called me over to show me how I was completely in the green meaning It was normal which is a little unusual at my age, 74, altogether.
I may be wrong about supernatural helping.
I’ll probably take the DEXA again in six months because I am anxious to see how the hip does, and if it improves even more.
And if so, I’ll turn myself into a study. 😂
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My osteo specialist just prescribed HTR for me. I'm 63, and my dexa numbers are relatively low. She didn't mention it on my first consultation with her. After asking for an appointment to discuss htr, she prescribed it. She emphasized that htr is a drug, a treatment.
That it can slow bone loss. I'm not sure if she actually recommended it, or was giving me what I asked for... I still have lots of questions for her that I didn’t have the time or presence of mind to ask.
The first time I saw her her recommendation was to go live my life and retest in a year and when I hit Medicare age, if necessary, to consider and anabolic. She likes Evenity.
About HTR, I did ask if by taking it I would live forever... She assured me I would still die---but hopefully would live in good health.
The prescription is taking a long time to get filled. I don't know if my insurance will cover much of it, and I'm still not sure if I'll take it. She said if I didn't like it, or had issues, to just take off the patch....
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1 ReactionBest of luck with your functional medicine doc. Hopefully, he or she is well versed in HRT. You may already know this but transdermal estradiol is safest and if you have a uterus, you must also take progesterone (micronised bioidentical is best) generally given in an oral capsule at 100 mg if you are taking it daily or 200 mg if you are cycling it.
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3 ReactionsHi @sonodeka do you mind sharing the estradiol dose (patch, right?) that your endo prescribed? I'm interested in estradiol dosing from an endocrinologist's perspective. Thank you!
Thank you so much
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1 ReactionThank you so much. I wish you well on this strange journey we are on.
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1 ReactionHi mayblin. To clarify, she's not an endocrinologist, she's a family practice physician who only sees osteoporosis patients now. She's considered the expert in my area and seems up to date with research.
She prescribed CombiPatch, .05mg estradiol, .14 mg nerethi drone.
I'd about decided not to do it before I saw her for the consultation, but she was pretty casual about it, and it seems worth trying as a way to hold onto my bone density... I think I'm pretty low risk for complications from it.
More reading to do...
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1 ReactionAnd you as well! Such a strange journey.
Also about hrt, my doc also emphasized the importance of keeping up with exercise and nutrition no matter the treatment. I certainly wasn't planning to stop.
Awesome! It's so nice to know. Do you or your doc check blood estradiol level or the bone turnover markers?
Yes, she requested many blood tests, including bone markers, but didn't check estradiol level. I asked about it before I ever saw her, but staff told me it hadn't been ordered. Definitely not the level of hormone testing that functional doctors seem to do. I guess she's assuming that at 10 years post menopause I don't have much hormone activity? Also, she said that .05 mg estradiol is the tested therapeutic level for treating osteoporosis, so I don't think she prescribed any lower amount. I think she'll adjust the norethindrone based on how things go. That's the progesterone component. As someone who had a lot of pms, she thought that synthetic version would be better for me. I'll see her again in 6 months.
Hopefully I can handle it without too shock to my system.
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