How many of you improved your osteoporosis without drug intervention?

I had bone improvement with Forteo and Tymlos both. I was only on those for five months each. The short course was a financial issue. Still, had improvement in bone health.
Later, (2023-2024), I had 12 months of Evenity. I had significant improvement from Evenity. In June 2024, I had an infusion of Reclast.
I have never had any side effects from any of these drugs other than some achyness the day after my first Evenity shots.
I realize that there could be long term side effects that won’t manifest until later.
I saw how my mother suffered for the last ten years of her life with spinal fractures. Easy decision for me. Gimme the drugs.
The only drugs that have ever affected me adversely are Sudafed (psychosis) and Claritin (euphoria).

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?

Great news! Would you mind sharing the supplement brands you are taking. So many out there!!!! Thank you!

I often wonder how our parents, grandparents, etc. kept on moving without all of these drugs. I was diagnosed 2 years ago with osteoporosis by some lab whose machine & or tech may not be the greatest. Immediately my PCP jumps on the Osteoporosis band wagon w/o testing my PTH for possible tumors. Just shove the pills down the patients throat without asking WHY DZ M have osteoporosis. ALL THE AGED are lumped together with the easy diagnosis without doing an investigation!!! My PCP ordered FOSAMAX for me; it made me sick, the final straw is when my bones locked up into a fetal position. I stopped the meds & my bones, once again became flexible. I changed PCP's. I am now with an internist.

Last week I had to have a number of x-rays on my knees to check the bone structure before knee surgery. I DO NOT HAVE OSTEOPOROSIS, I HAVE OSTEOPENIA as I have had for at least 18 years. I am 80 years old. There's no telling what damage the FOSAMAX has done to my body because last week, Dr. discovered, through blood tests, I have a high white blood count. Could 2 years on FOSAMAX have caused it?

Most of these "walk on water" doctors ought to have their heads examined. They take the easy route to satisfy whom at our expense? The pharmaceutical companies, their big conglomerate medical campuses?

You are correct to think that doctors are quick to dole out medications and treatments. It's what they are trained to do. Big Pharma is alive and well with these drugs providing billions of $ in revenue for these companies. An interesting read: NPR's How A Bone Disease Grew To Fit The Prescription.

Also another good read is the book "Overdiagnosed" by H. Gilbert Welch, MD. While it doesn't address osteoporosis, it's a real eye-opener nonetheless. Here's the book description: "Going against the conventional wisdom reinforced by the medical establishment and Big Pharma that more screening is the best preventative medicine, Dr. Gilbert Welch builds a compelling counterargument that what we need are fewer, not more, diagnoses. Documenting the excesses of American medical practice that labels far too many of us as sick, Welch examines the social, ethical, and economic ramifications of a health-care system that unnecessarily diagnoses and treats patients, most of whom will not benefit from treatment, might be harmed by it, and would arguably be better off without screening." (For the record, I am all for diagnostic tests like colonoscopies, mammos, DEXA, etc. but sometimes the medical community goes overboard.)

Many years ago I was prescribed a statin to control my cholesterol. I thought there had to be a better way. I went plant-based and ate one Brazilian nut a day. My cholesterol dropped 80 points in three months to an acceptable range. Brazilian nuts lower cholesterol levels (however you can't consume too many because of its high selenium content). So I decided to be my own test subject. Six weeks after eating one Brazilian nut a day (plus going plant-based) I had a cholesterol blood test at a local Minute Clinic and my cholesterol had already dropped 60 points. At my 3-month follow-up doctor's appointment, my cholesterol dropped 80 points. The doctor was so pleased that the statin was working and that my cholesterol levels were within normal range. When I told him I never took the statin and instead I went plant-based and ate a Brazilian nut once a day, his jaw literally dropped. He was absolutely stunned I achieved this with a diet change and eating a daily nut. Brazilian nuts combined with a plant-based diet did wonders for my cholesterol numbers. But statins, again, bring in billions of dollars so why the heck would these companies and/or doctors suggest anything as simple as consuming a nut on a daily basis or changing your diet. An interesting read: Brazil Nuts by NutritionFacts.org.

I'm all for medication if needed or when there's absolutely no other way or if it's critical. However, if there is another way, it's only up to us to find it. A doctor won't help other than write a script.

You are correct to think that doctors are quick to dole out medications and treatments. It's what they are trained to do. Big Pharma is alive and well with these drugs providing billions of $ in revenue for these companies. An interesting read: NPR's How A Bone Disease Grew To Fit The Prescription.

Also another good read is the book "Overdiagnosed" by H. Gilbert Welch, MD. While it doesn't address osteoporosis, it's a real eye-opener nonetheless. Here's the book description: "Going against the conventional wisdom reinforced by the medical establishment and Big Pharma that more screening is the best preventative medicine, Dr. Gilbert Welch builds a compelling counterargument that what we need are fewer, not more, diagnoses. Documenting the excesses of American medical practice that labels far too many of us as sick, Welch examines the social, ethical, and economic ramifications of a health-care system that unnecessarily diagnoses and treats patients, most of whom will not benefit from treatment, might be harmed by it, and would arguably be better off without screening." (For the record, I am all for diagnostic tests like colonoscopies, mammos, DEXA, etc. but sometimes the medical community goes overboard.)

Many years ago I was prescribed a statin to control my cholesterol. I thought there had to be a better way. I went plant-based and ate one Brazilian nut a day. My cholesterol dropped 80 points in three months to an acceptable range. Brazilian nuts lower cholesterol levels (however you can't consume too many because of its high selenium content). So I decided to be my own test subject. Six weeks after eating one Brazilian nut a day (plus going plant-based) I had a cholesterol blood test at a local Minute Clinic and my cholesterol had already dropped 60 points. At my 3-month follow-up doctor's appointment, my cholesterol dropped 80 points. The doctor was so pleased that the statin was working and that my cholesterol levels were within normal range. When I told him I never took the statin and instead I went plant-based and ate a Brazilian nut once a day, his jaw literally dropped. He was absolutely stunned I achieved this with a diet change and eating a daily nut. Brazilian nuts combined with a plant-based diet did wonders for my cholesterol numbers. But statins, again, bring in billions of dollars so why the heck would these companies and/or doctors suggest anything as simple as consuming a nut on a daily basis or changing your diet. An interesting read: Brazil Nuts by NutritionFacts.org.

I'm all for medication if needed or when there's absolutely no other way or if it's critical. However, if there is another way, it's only up to us to find it. A doctor won't help other than write a script.

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis in my late 60's. Tried a couple of medications but had reactions that induced me to stop them. Doc wanted to do Fosamax (spelling?) treatments but I had no insurance. I created a treatment plan for myself with help from the web: went on a plant based diet, made sure I drank at least 4 cups of skim milk a day (sometimes flavored with a little bit of chocolate or maple syrup, honey, etc) I made sure I exercised every day...three mile walk in AM and 3 miles in evening plus shorter walks during the day (have a dog who almost mandated these walks - thank you, my pet). Also increased daily activities - started with least amount of effort and kept increasing my time and effort. The only change - bone wise- was that I lost 4 inches - went from 5'10"to 5'6". That really hurt my ego.I had always prided myself on my height - I thought it gave me a regal bearing. Ha! Today I have a few medical problems but nothing I can't deal with or without medication. Anyway, I think sometimes we go looking for drugs to cure and or help us along our health journey and sometimes all it takes is a change to our daily routines - mainly diet and exercise. Initially I had a lot of pain with the osteoporosis but with newly established routine I became much healthier and the pain subsided.