How many of you improved your osteoporosis without drug intervention?

I agree with you. It seems like all of us taking these osteoporsis medications are mice in a lab.

Hi @mary1007, I combined your discussion with an existing discussion titled:

"How many of you improved your osteoporosis without drug intervention?"
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-many-of-you-improved-your-osteoporosis-without-drug-intervention/

I did this so you could meet the many members talking about trying to manage osteoporosis with both medications and additional techniques.

I’m certainly no expert, but i am fundamentally sceptical of most supplements. First of all, they are not regulated by the FDA; not that FDA approval makes drugs safe! Secondly, it is very difficult to know what amount of a supplement we need and overdosing can be very dangerous. Thirdly, we need to get our vitamins and minerals from food as they are much easier to absorb.

Regarding calcium, some studies have shown that taking calcium supplements is linked to kidney stones and cardiovascular disease.
The connection between calcium and cardiovascular disease is plausible. Calcium deposits are part of artery-clogging plaque. They also contribute to stiffening of the arteries and can interfere w the functioning of heart valves.

Given the uncertainty about the balance of benefits and risks of calcium supplements, it's probably best to get the calcium you need from dietary sources.

hi Mary

It has been my experience that there are no general practitioners, rheumatologists or endocrinologists who will recommend anything other than lifelong drugs for osteoporosis. I have had osteoporosis for 25 years and I have done much research on osteoporosis, bone drugs, and their side effects. I will never ever take a bone drug. For me, the benefits do not outweigh the risks. I have read several books on this topic, watch many videos, read several clinical trials to help me make this decision. I believe one of the best sources for information are support groups, such as this one. Another great support group is called HealthUnLimited. I just finished a book, which you can download, called Osteoporosis Reversal Secrets by Igor Klibanov. I found it a very good resource.

Thank you for sharing. I, too, have just received a bad report. I don't know what my T- score is but I will find out. Will check back here to see your comments and disclose more info about my case. Thank you again for sharing.

I wish I had stuck to my guns and not taken any of those horrid osteoporosis drugs. I got a reclast infusion and had a terrible reaction and have been very sick. I will get better supposedly it takes a while. There are times when risks outweigh benefits. This was not one of them. Diet and exercise going forward

@annar please let us know if you have had the common "acute phase reaction" (can last a few weeks) which tends not to recur.

For anyone with significant osteoporosis I am wondering why Reclast is being chosen but I may be missing some of the story.

For some, hydration, longer infusion, tylenol and even lower dose of Reclast can help avert the acute phase reaction.

I am sensitive to meds but have been able to make Tymlos, Evenity and now Reclast work for me by making some adjustments with my doctor, mainly in dosing. But with fractures I do not have the choice to stick to diet and exercise!

I have been doing quite a bit of research on bone density and how to improve it. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis about 2 years ago, -2.5 score, which is borderline. I have broken many bones over my life, most having nothing to do with osteoporosis, the first being fractured tibia and fibula when I was 13 years old, and a fractured fibula, same leg, a year later. I am 74 now. The last fracture was about two years ago, while hitching up a camper trailer to my car, I felt a pop, and oh the pain. I had fractured L4, which I am pretty sure is osteoporosis related. I've started on Fosamax, and I hate it. It gives me the worst constipation of my life.

From my research, I've learned that the absolute best way to strengthen bones is exercise, particularly strength training, weight lifting, etc. But now, as of this past spring, I've been diagnosed with breast cancer, Stage 1, Grade 1, hormone positive, and HER2 negative. It was a tiny 6mm tumor found on a routine screening mammogram, and for which I felt nothing. I've had a lumpectomy and radiation, and I am now considered cured, but on an aromatase inhibitor, Letrozole, for the next five years to prevent a recurrence. I have none of the lousy side effects that many women experience on letrozole, except that it will invariably result in bone loss. I need that like a hole in the head.

My point for writing this is I am planning to take the fosomax for a while, as a kickstarter to bone development, but using bone strengthening exercises as my main modality for bone strengthening. In about a year, I plan to completely go off the fosamax. I have read that using fosomax as a kickstarter is a good strategy, as long as you follow through with a consistent exercise program. That's my plan. Hope this helps.