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.

@naturegirl5

@paulinea Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I also have osteoporosis. It's good to know that your L2 spine compression fracture is healing. I'm curious what your doctor told you. How are you supposed to turn over in bed so as not to cause another fracture?

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My doctor advised to roll rather than a swift twist when turning in bed. It is about turning whole body rather than twisting upper body? I now practise this when getting in and out of car. Hope it's helping.

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@paulinea

L2 spine compression fracture healing well. My biggest fear with severe osteoporosis is turning over in bed can cause fracture if not done correctly!! According to my doctor

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Are you taking osteoporosis meds?

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@meri8181

I too am not taking any medication for my bone loss.
I’m 74, active by doing Pilates and Yoga 3-4 x week, garden, started intermittent gentle jogging wearing a 4-8 lb weighted belt or vest on land and in pool, eat lots of greens daily , lots of protein, take red algae calcium 600 mg daily, extra magnesium, vitamin D3, and B complex. I recently started taking Bone Health Peptides with FORTIBONE. I’ve been to two endocrinologists.
My t-scores aren’t outrageous except for my Femoral Neck is -2.5 .
So far the Dr.s say without taking meds I will NOT gain any bone density.
I’d like to prove them wrong!
I will retest in early spring if 2025 to see if I have improved.
Reading Bone Health guide by Lani Simpson, DC, CCD

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I too am not taking drugs. I think i can feel my bones getting stronger. I will redue my dexscan in January to see what it looks like. Did all the bloodwork Keith McCormick wanted and i think he was surprised at some of thevresults. Been doing Bone Stim Liquescence along with Supra Silica and vitamins. Started PT 6 weeks ago and feeling stronger every day. I too am not taking any medications. We will see what story is in January.

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@meri8181 Lani Simpson's book (No Nonsense Bone Health Guide) is 10 years old and outdated. Lani Simpson herself is taking meds. I attended a master class she gave and she was about to start Tymlos back in 2021. Not sure what she decided.

For people with mild osteoporosis or osteopenia, there is hope that more holistic approaches will have benefit. For those with lower scores on DEXA (below -3.0? -3.3?) we can certainly "feel strong" @pking1952 and fracture. The hard thing about osteoporosis is that it has no symptoms.

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@windyshores

@meri8181 Lani Simpson's book (No Nonsense Bone Health Guide) is 10 years old and outdated. Lani Simpson herself is taking meds. I attended a master class she gave and she was about to start Tymlos back in 2021. Not sure what she decided.

For people with mild osteoporosis or osteopenia, there is hope that more holistic approaches will have benefit. For those with lower scores on DEXA (below -3.0? -3.3?) we can certainly "feel strong" @pking1952 and fracture. The hard thing about osteoporosis is that it has no symptoms.

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Visited with Keith McCormick and did a series of test he wanted - results were very interesting and it is looking more like I need to be treating other health issues which may be the root cause of my bone loss. I, like many of these other ladies on this connect board, have MAJOR drug reactions and am not willing to try them. My physician and I tested Reclast (a one week dosage in pill form) and as expected I had lots of side effects. Can't imagine what a 1 year injection would have done. This is a really complex issue and learning there are so many things to learn. Will report back in January on the updated dexa scan. Thanks for input.

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@pking1952

Visited with Keith McCormick and did a series of test he wanted - results were very interesting and it is looking more like I need to be treating other health issues which may be the root cause of my bone loss. I, like many of these other ladies on this connect board, have MAJOR drug reactions and am not willing to try them. My physician and I tested Reclast (a one week dosage in pill form) and as expected I had lots of side effects. Can't imagine what a 1 year injection would have done. This is a really complex issue and learning there are so many things to learn. Will report back in January on the updated dexa scan. Thanks for input.

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I have two autoimmune illnesses and react to so many foods and meds. But I have no choice (7 spinal fractures). I cannot do oral bisphosphonates so did a 20% dose of Reclast with one hour IV hydration and one hour infusion of the drug itself. I would not necessarily assume a reaction to oral will be the same as to the IV.

If Reclast is being suggested first, perhaps your bones are a lot better than mine!

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@gravity3

Are you taking osteoporosis meds?

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Just starting Teriparatide with some reservation. I am 10 weeks post l2 fracture. Have minimal symptoms. Kept moving, walking, and 3 days bed rest only.

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@paulinea

Just starting Teriparatide with some reservation. I am 10 weeks post l2 fracture. Have minimal symptoms. Kept moving, walking, and 3 days bed rest only.

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Hope the Evenity works well for you. I finished about 2 months ago. Had good results. Now for the "fun" part ....figuring out what comes next and next.

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@windyshores

@meri8181 Lani Simpson's book (No Nonsense Bone Health Guide) is 10 years old and outdated. Lani Simpson herself is taking meds. I attended a master class she gave and she was about to start Tymlos back in 2021. Not sure what she decided.

For people with mild osteoporosis or osteopenia, there is hope that more holistic approaches will have benefit. For those with lower scores on DEXA (below -3.0? -3.3?) we can certainly "feel strong" @pking1952 and fracture. The hard thing about osteoporosis is that it has no symptoms.

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@pking1952 Thank you for your information. I believe I read that about her. Her book might be 10 years old, but I don’t think it’s all outdated.
So what book is most authoritative and current?
I thought I’d contact her to see if she was taking any new patients or if she could refer me.

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@meri8181

@pking1952 Thank you for your information. I believe I read that about her. Her book might be 10 years old, but I don’t think it’s all outdated.
So what book is most authoritative and current?
I thought I’d contact her to see if she was taking any new patients or if she could refer me.

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@meri8181 many of us are using Keith McCormick's book "Great Bones." You can get it online or maybe through a library.

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