1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

How many of you improved your osteoporosis without drug intervention?

Posted by deblb @deblb, Nov 28 8:13pm

I was just diagnosed with osteoporosis and had my first Prolia injection about a month ago. I have never had any health issues, I am 65 and have never been on medication. I was blind sided and of course didn't ask questions of my doctor and had no tests done other than the bone density scan only because it was recommended at my age. I am getting the Bone density report from my doctor, a GP, next week and I want to know what I should be asking her, should I request a referral to an endocrinologist?
I also want to know if anyone has stopped Prolia after 1 injection and is there a risk of rebound fractures? How many of you improved bone density with natural approaches. I am reading that bone density increases with Prolia because the 'dead' bone is not removed and new bone is deposited onto the old bone, not really improving bone quality. There is just so much information out there and hard to know what is fake and what is real.
Thanks for your help

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doreenc | @doreenc | Nov 30 1:24pm
In reply to @sgp55 "I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis in 2021 so I started taking Calcium, D3, K2 as MK7,..." + (show)
@sgp55

I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis in 2021 so I started taking Calcium, D3, K2 as MK7, and Magnesium supplements. I had another DEXA scan in 2023 and the bone density in my spine increased 2% and increased 5.6% in my hip. It's not a huge increase but at least it is going in the right direction. I started taking collagen peptides last year because I have read that they can increase bone density but I won't know if it has helped until I have another scan. My doctor still tells me I need to take the osteoporosis meds but I am still refusing them.

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Wow, that's great! It's definitely going in the right direction. I, too, have refused meds (for now). Do you do any type of exercise? Would you mind sharing the all the brand names and the dosage of the supplements you use?

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1 reply
sridge | @sridge | Nov 30 2:17pm
In reply to @deblb "Did you decide on no medication?" + (show)
@deblb

Did you decide on no medication?

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I am reluctant to have my second dose. I experienced a significant increase in muscle and joint pain that may or may not be related according to my doctors. I still have another month to decide. No easy decisions here. In the meantime I have been working on increasing my exercise and taking the supplements recommended for me.

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1 reply
lilacs777 | @lilacs777 | Nov 30 3:16pm

there are a few websites where you can plugin in the city you live in and it'll tell you how much sun exposure that would generate vitamin D is even possible at your latitude. So iow if you live north of certain latitudes, you can basically assume you'll need to supplement with vitamin D nearly all the time since its barely even possible to get that much sun in some areas.

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sgp55 | @sgp55 | Nov 30 6:07pm
In reply to @doreenc "Wow, that's great! It's definitely going in the right direction. I, too, have refused meds (for..." + (show)
@doreenc

Wow, that's great! It's definitely going in the right direction. I, too, have refused meds (for now). Do you do any type of exercise? Would you mind sharing the all the brand names and the dosage of the supplements you use?

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Other than housework and yard work the only exercise I get is walking. I usually walk 3 - 4 miles a day.

These are the supplements I am currently taking:

Calcium - Bluebonnet calcium citrate 500mg. I also drink 2 glasses of almond milk a day which is another 1000mg of calcium.

Vit D - Nature Made D3 - 1000 IU. Plus 400 IU from the Bluebonnet calcium citrate. I also get about 400 IU of D2 from the almond milk.

Bronson K2 as MK7 - 300mcg

Nature Made magnesium citrate - 250mg

Kirkland B12 methylcobalamin form - 5000mcg - I had a B12 deficiency in the past so I was taking this prior to my osteoporosis diagnosis

Nature Made vitamin C - 250mg

Codeage Collagen Peptides - 1 scoop a day

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deblb | @deblb | Dec 1 10:42am
In reply to @sridge "I am reluctant to have my second dose. I experienced a significant increase in muscle and..." + (show)
@sridge

I am reluctant to have my second dose. I experienced a significant increase in muscle and joint pain that may or may not be related according to my doctors. I still have another month to decide. No easy decisions here. In the meantime I have been working on increasing my exercise and taking the supplements recommended for me.

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thanks, keep me posted. I have to decide by April.

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trehane | @trehane | Dec 1 3:40pm
In reply to @sridge "I am in Ontario and recently had my Vitamin D checked and it was covered under..." + (show)
@sridge

I am in Ontario and recently had my Vitamin D checked and it was covered under OHIP ( our provincial government insurance plan). It may vary by province.

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It is done free if there is a concern about your D level and if after the first test it is low. If it comes out high then in future you have to pay again for the most part.

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midwestbarbie | @midwestbarbie | Dec 1 6:26pm
In reply to @deblb "Thank you. They use to do the test as a standard blood test routine in Canada..." + (show)
@deblb

Thank you. They use to do the test as a standard blood test routine in Canada but they no longer do. I can request and pay for it.

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I think it would be malpractice to not check your calcium and vitamin D level prior to treatment. I don’t see how insurance can refuse to pay for what’s required for treatment.

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1 reply
mlwh | @mlwh | Dec 1 7:03pm

Yes, I have stopped my bone loss and made very gradual improvement over last 5 years. I am 71. I have made many lifestyle changes to include technically sound, gradually applied weight lifting 3x a week, walking on non-lifting days, improved diet which I track online with MyFitnessPal app, reduced stress, and attention to quality sleep. I have one drug intervention, which I did briefly two years ago, and recently restarted, which is transvaginal estradiol. I have posted a chart of my results in a couple threads, and will go see if I can add it to my profile, where it might be more easily found. My doctor was of almost no use when I refused meds, so you need to become an educated advocate, or find help that appreciates your goals and means to achieve them. The references mentioned here have been useful to me, and I think Lani Simpson's book "No Nonsense Bone Health Guide" is a good easy read as a starting point. I find that my improved strength and fitness are very protective, given I am now agile enough to avoid falling. Good luck to you.

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2 replies
windyshores | @windyshores | Dec 1 7:15pm
In reply to @mlwh "Yes, I have stopped my bone loss and made very gradual improvement over last 5 years...." + (show)
@mlwh

Yes, I have stopped my bone loss and made very gradual improvement over last 5 years. I am 71. I have made many lifestyle changes to include technically sound, gradually applied weight lifting 3x a week, walking on non-lifting days, improved diet which I track online with MyFitnessPal app, reduced stress, and attention to quality sleep. I have one drug intervention, which I did briefly two years ago, and recently restarted, which is transvaginal estradiol. I have posted a chart of my results in a couple threads, and will go see if I can add it to my profile, where it might be more easily found. My doctor was of almost no use when I refused meds, so you need to become an educated advocate, or find help that appreciates your goals and means to achieve them. The references mentioned here have been useful to me, and I think Lani Simpson's book "No Nonsense Bone Health Guide" is a good easy read as a starting point. I find that my improved strength and fitness are very protective, given I am now agile enough to avoid falling. Good luck to you.

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@mlwh
It is great to read about someone who has been able to use exercise and other natural approaches to deal with bone loss. Keep us posted.

Just want to say that Lani Simpson's book is more than 10 years old and quite dated, since both Tymlos and Evenity did not exist in 2014. I attended a master class with Dr. Simpson and she was about to go on Tymlos herself, and there was discussion of following Tymlos with Evenity.

For those with osteopenia or mild osteoporosis, there may be hope to manage bone loss. But for those of us with DEXA's below, say, -3.0, it is probably wise to consider meds. My personal experience of fractures has been painful and life-altering.

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1 reply
mlwh | @mlwh | Dec 1 7:25pm
In reply to @windyshores "@mlwh It is great to read about someone who has been able to use exercise and..." + (show)
@windyshores

@mlwh
It is great to read about someone who has been able to use exercise and other natural approaches to deal with bone loss. Keep us posted.

Just want to say that Lani Simpson's book is more than 10 years old and quite dated, since both Tymlos and Evenity did not exist in 2014. I attended a master class with Dr. Simpson and she was about to go on Tymlos herself, and there was discussion of following Tymlos with Evenity.

For those with osteopenia or mild osteoporosis, there may be hope to manage bone loss. But for those of us with DEXA's below, say, -3.0, it is probably wise to consider meds. My personal experience of fractures has been painful and life-altering.

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I agree Windy, The Lani Simpson book is outdated, but the basics are simply presented and easy to read and understand. I agree there are more timely references and sources, but it just seemed to me a great starting point 5 years ago when I began. I don't know if I'd have felt as comfortable starting with Keith McCormick, but we are all different. 🙂

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