Hesitant to begin drug treatment for my osteoporosis

I forgot to mention dosages Keith McCormick supplement dosage suggested are not high. For example 300mg for ALA and Curcumin, 500 mcg for K2MK4, rather than 15,000 some practitioners suggest to prevent fractures based on Japanese studies. 50 to 100 mcg K2mk7.

Yes, it came to the US and was approved by the FDA a few years ago. It was created in Italy. If you look up Osteostrong locations you can ask when the Rems will be at their facility. Some functional medicine doctors have them in their offices. It will give you a dexa but also the quality of your bones.

I was wondering, did your score get better? Or stay the same. I am 80 yrs female and my Dr has suggested prolia but because of my back pain decided I did not want more pain. She asked Foxmax daily pill for a year but you cannot move for 30 min and stay in sit up position. It can get heartburn. Have you tried that?

I am new here, just as a few minutes ago. I can empathize with not wanting to start drug treatment. I only recently found out I have osteoporosis at age 65. And, for my age, my doctor said my lower spine was severe, but femoral neck of my hip not as bad. In any case, what a shock! But, like you, I have tried not to panic and look at the big picture. I’ve been researching the topic, purchasing books and listening to bone health experts for two months now . . . . I’ve learned that various types of weight training and IMPACT exercises can help increase bone density. But the most important thing I learned is that a DEXA score doesn’t PREDICT a fracture. It just alerts you to having more vulnerable bone density that “could” fracture. But what holds our bones in place, in part? Muscle! And, muscle strengthening pulling at bone stimulates bone growth if there’s enough impact and pull. But I’m likely preaching to the choir, as you sound like you’ve also looked into all of this to take a holistic path, as I am. Balance exercises help us stay up to prevent falls and keep our balance. In any case, this is the first entry I’ve written on here, so just learning about it all. I apologize if I’ve errored in any way. I’ve added new foods to my diet that are helpful, also. I’m sure you know — and I’m like you, that we need to educate ourselves and do whatever we can through education, diet & exercise to prolong any drug interventions. I was given two years to give it my best, without medications — according to my doc, before I get another DEXA to see if there’s any improvement. But The DEXA isn’t the only marker of bone health! There are OTHER tests that help assess bone remodeling — how much bone we are currently losing and how much we’re gaining. This was VERY important for me to know NOW. Once I found out about these tests - I was determined to get them! (even if insurance won’t cover them). My general physician agreed to order these on my account, though it’s not a “routine” test given. I’m waiting on the CTX and P1NP boner marker tests, just to see how much bone I’m losing and how much I’m gaining now. (I had been going to the gym for the past year, I might add). Everyone who has osteopenia or osteoporosis, even without being on medications, should know the health of their own bones, so that you can assess it in 8 months or more to see if the changes you make, make a difference. I’ve learned that what’s important is the RATIO of these tests. I will start another thread on another day about how frustrating it is to find anyone who knows how to interpret these tests!!! The health care system, at least in my area, is lacking in so far as helping those who do NOT want to go on medications — and offering tests to assess bone health like these. I’m not too happy about that and rather frustrated, to be honest! I see you wrote a year ago. How are you doing now?? I have no idea if you can private message people on here, as I’m new at this. Keep on doing what you’re doing and I wish you all the best!

I take a blood thinner Eliquis and I’m not suppose to take some of the other supplements listed above.

There is a thread on osteostrong. It is under osteoporosis section.

Hi there... I'm taking nearly the same supplements. Just started resveratrol and curcumin. The others I've been on for years. My question is, do you think these supplements have helped? Are you holding the line on your DEXA scores? It's a lot of money to spend and I wonder how effective they are.
In addition to the supplements, I exercise hard 6 days a week with free weights and do a lot of speed walking. My DEXA is getting worse but only about -.1 per year, and is about -.2.6 now. I'm very reluctant to take drugs but my doc is really pushing me to get on Alendronate or Fosamax. I'm 73 and small-boned-- 5'1" weighing 105. My trabecular bone score is excellent and my FRAX score says I'm highly unlikely to have a fracture. thanks for any input you may have.

If you decide on starting meds, a question I might ask my (endocrinologist?) is......why not a bone builder first? I'd want to know the prescribing physician's rationale.
It is my understanding that sequencing these drugs is very important and that a bisphosphonate before may blunt the positive effects of a bone builder (tymlos, forteo and evenity).

Hi
What medication was your sister on that caused dbl vision

It is difficult to know how much of a role the supplements played in my slight bmd increase from -3 to 2.6 spine over a 10-month period. I suspect that the bhrt I started about 6 months after the supplements has had the largest impact. Had I not taken the bhrt, I could confirm whether or not these supplements with high protein diet helped. Keith McCormick refers to his patients CTX came down with supplements, diet and exercise alone they're OP was not too severe. I am confident that the bhrt was the main reason for my CTX bone turnover rate reduction from 688 to 138 over 8 month period. It is true that these supplements are expensive, but I reduced the dosages by half after reading Keith McCormick's suggested dosages which greatly reduced my costs. I also order from iherb whose prices are the lowest I've found for good quality. I am small like you at 5'1 and a half, 125 lbs. My REMS Echolight shows my bone quality still quite good as well and I am waiting to have TBS. I don't wish to take medication either and have so far not fractured. It would seem to me that bone quality and stopping further progression is most important. My progression of bmd loss appears to have stopped with a slight gain even. I am hoping to maintain this over the long term sounds like cheap monitoring with bmd scans and bone marker tests.