Has anyone improved bone density without meds?

Posted by naomid @naomid, Mar 21, 2023

I have a very problematic dental history and will continue to need additional root canals and implants. I also have Sjogren's Syndrome and want to avoid any drugs that cause rheumatic symptoms. Other issues in my health history make all of the meds risky for me. That said, I work out almost daily, lift weights, maintain a healthy diet, take all the recommended supplements, and get most of my calcium nutritionally. My endocrinologist wants me to take an infusion/injectable drug. I dread the side-effects, yet I'm afraid of fracturing, which hasn't happened over the many years I have had osteoporosis. That said, my numbers are getting worse (-3.2 spine, -3.1 hip). I need to do something more than I've been doing, and am at a loss. I need hope and solutions I can be at peace with. Thanks for any comments or suggestions!

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

@windyshores

@lanikai74 my reading of that article in the WaPo was that they found Vitamin D does not prevent falls. In my mind that is the silliest research focus I have ever seen. How would a vitamin prevent falling?
Granted the study goes into more but the initial description of the study is puzzling!

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@lanikai74
re: the risks of taking Vitamin D and calcium:
Can't access the article.
Is it the amount you take - or is it Calcium
supplements versus dietary - or something else
some studies I've seen, say Vit K clears
calcium from building up in parts of your body where
it can be harmful.

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@bevlevvancouverbc

@lanikai74
re: the risks of taking Vitamin D and calcium:
Can't access the article.
Is it the amount you take - or is it Calcium
supplements versus dietary - or something else
some studies I've seen, say Vit K clears
calcium from building up in parts of your body where
it can be harmful.

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There is a new post on Osteoboston on YouTube re vitamin D. Just posted from this Tuesday

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Someone asked what supplements I'm taking

I probably need some advice here

I'm taking vitabright magnesium glycinate
2 capsules contain 1500 mg, equivalent to 300 mg elemental magnesium which is 80% of NOV

Vitabright vit D3 , it's 4,00 iu, so I take alternate days

Currently have garden of life vit K2 as men a quinine -7, 120 ug, equivalent to 160% so I take alternate days.

Next I have vitabright K2 as MK-7, one capsule provides 100 ug equivalent to 133%

I probably need to take more and some other things too.

Yes I do dead bug and bird dog for spine, maybe not as often as I should. Any other suggestions for spine most welcome.

Thank you for your question and advice

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@sharon31

Someone asked what supplements I'm taking

I probably need some advice here

I'm taking vitabright magnesium glycinate
2 capsules contain 1500 mg, equivalent to 300 mg elemental magnesium which is 80% of NOV

Vitabright vit D3 , it's 4,00 iu, so I take alternate days

Currently have garden of life vit K2 as men a quinine -7, 120 ug, equivalent to 160% so I take alternate days.

Next I have vitabright K2 as MK-7, one capsule provides 100 ug equivalent to 133%

I probably need to take more and some other things too.

Yes I do dead bug and bird dog for spine, maybe not as often as I should. Any other suggestions for spine most welcome.

Thank you for your question and advice

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I also take Ostinol 450 daily…go to their website and read the details. I take bone build from Marcus institute at Jefferson Hospital…it is an mchc form of calcium from bovine bones. There is evidence that this form of calcium has better absorbing properties . I know it doesn’t bother my stomach like some other calcium’s I have taken. Personally I have confidence in this calcium supplement. Hope this helps.

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@nme1985

I also take Ostinol 450 daily…go to their website and read the details. I take bone build from Marcus institute at Jefferson Hospital…it is an mchc form of calcium from bovine bones. There is evidence that this form of calcium has better absorbing properties . I know it doesn’t bother my stomach like some other calcium’s I have taken. Personally I have confidence in this calcium supplement. Hope this helps.

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Can you provide the link to the evidence that mchc form of calcium has better absorption? Curious....

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@loplady

Can you provide the link to the evidence that mchc form of calcium has better absorption? Curious....

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They were ordered by the FTC in 1997 specifically not to make that claim:

“ shall not represent, in any manner, directly or by implication, that:

5. such product is more bioavailable, more absorbable, or more effectively utilized by the body than other forms of calcium, or is superior to or more effective than other forms of calcium in the prevention or treatment of bone ailments,”

Details can be found here:
https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cases/1997/10/d9267.do_.htm

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@oopsiedaisy

They were ordered by the FTC in 1997 specifically not to make that claim:

“ shall not represent, in any manner, directly or by implication, that:

5. such product is more bioavailable, more absorbable, or more effectively utilized by the body than other forms of calcium, or is superior to or more effective than other forms of calcium in the prevention or treatment of bone ailments,”

Details can be found here:
https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cases/1997/10/d9267.do_.htm

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This is my personal opinion on the mchc …for me it does not upset my stomach. That study was years ago as was the woman’s study on hrt which has since been discounted. My numbers have improved but I feel it is a combination of supplements, weightlifting, bioidentical hormones replacement for over 20 years. It is a personal choice. I tried the algae form years ago and had terrible stomach upset but others have wonderful results. Best of luck to all on this journey. Xo

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@nme1985

This is my personal opinion on the mchc …for me it does not upset my stomach. That study was years ago as was the woman’s study on hrt which has since been discounted. My numbers have improved but I feel it is a combination of supplements, weightlifting, bioidentical hormones replacement for over 20 years. It is a personal choice. I tried the algae form years ago and had terrible stomach upset but others have wonderful results. Best of luck to all on this journey. Xo

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Thank you for clarifying your statement that this is your personal opinion.

It turns out that this company was more recently barred by the FTC on making dubious marketing claims:
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/02/ftc-order-bar-zycal-bioceuticals-deceptive-health-marketing
I'm glad that the product works for you, though, and also wish you the best of luck.

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Thank you. I will continue to take the Ostinol.

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@artscaping

Welcome to Connect @naomid. I enjoyed your introduction. This forum is all about sharing and you have a great start. Knowledge is power. Connect will help you become a powerful patient who can advocate for themselves based upon knowledge gained from other members and from their own experience.

I understand your dislike of drugs, injections, and other types of medications that don't sit well with your medical history. I too dislike taking medications of any kind. I prefer being active and busy.

This is your first post so I will make my response brief. To fight off the effects of osteoporosis, at some point we have to face reality. My mother actually never recovered from a fractured hip, created when she opened the door to her apartment to welcome my visit. She never walked again.

I didn't pay attention to reality until I was 75+ years old and realized that I was approaching the time to wise up about bone health. My journey has been difficult with a couple of near disasters. Here is what I learned. Some of us cannot handle injections whether they are once a month or twice a year. They place too much medication in our bodies and we cannot handle it. So..to cut to the chase I had reactions to monthly and semi-annually injections. What I chose to do was begin with a product called Tymlos which is injected daily and builds healthy bone. After two years, my span scores had improved and I was ready to protect the new bone as well as the existing bone.

Then I did succumb to the every six-month injections for bone protection. That was quite the disaster. A sensitive endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic listened, applied his medical knowledge, and changed my medication to a weekly Monday morning tablet which does not overload my body and has no side effects.

So....stay true to yourself and be part of what I call a "shared decision" process in which you work together with your medical professional to meet your special needs. This support group will be very helpful. I am hoping that @windyshores can respond to your greeting. She has encountered fractures, found the appropriate medication, and will be moving on to the protection arena very soon.

May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris

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Hi Chris,
Was one of the injectables Prolia? Or a different drug? And the once a week Monday tablet, is it Fosomax? When you mentioned no side effects I wondered about stomach pain issues.
I am researching now which bone density med is best for me before seeing my ob/gyn to discuss options next week.
I am 73 and have never taken these drugs before trying to build bone without.
In the past ten years I have developed along with osteoporosis, adult onset scoliosis with multiple spine issues~ Lumbar stenosis, thorasic pain, discs compromised, etc. Thanks for any feedback from all! 💎🌀

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