Has anyone treated their osteoporosis without drugs?

@maryjt

I wonder if you would comment on the question of reclast. Is this the first drug you've been offered?

@lamd
First, I want to say, I am on my second bottle of each supplement (3 of each daily), and the Collegen. I had my blood tested and didn’t see anything significantly different than before I started taking them.

I will have my blood tested every few months (2-3) to make sure the supplements are not effecting me adversely. Normally when I asked my PCP to order blood tested they will put in an order, no questions asked.

I am taking 3 of each Osteosustain and Osteostim supplements per day. I space them out and take with food. The book talks about each one and after reading it I felt these dosages were minimum. We do get some of these in our diets, however I know I don’t get all of them, as I looked up what has boron and some of the other minerals and knew I wasn’t eating enough of them. Prunes (4-5 daily) have boron in them. I don’t eat prunes due to GI issues. I also take the Collegen prep from Osteonaturals and the Whey drink. Keith Mc Cormick (author of Great Bones) on one of the interviews I watched cautions on too much Collagen , so his dosage on the Collagen he offers is 5 gm , so just enough, and it is Fortibone which he states is directly for your bones. Algea Cal has more Collegen and different types of as well as 5 gm of Fortibone.

I won’t be able to get another Dexa scan for almost 2 years. I read “do what you can do” ….. So, at this point I’ll stay with the supplements. McCormick also states if you can, find an endocrinologist that specializes in Osteoporosis. So far I have not been able to find one, so I’ll keep looking for an endocrinologist that will respect what I have to say, and take time to explain and consider different options.

@izziesue
Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I really appreciate it. Do you ask your PCP specifically what to include in the blood tests? I assume calcium, D3, B12, Magnesium…do you include anything associated with K or bone markers, etc? As I mentioned in an earlier post, my PCP refused to order a blood test that includes anything, outside of calcium and D3, associated with supplements or bone health. I have since switched to a new PCP, but honestly don’t know yet if they are willing to expand the annual blood test. Again, thanks. I purchased osteo naturals supplements, but have been leery about taking osteostim. Think I will give it a try.

Like you, I have a small frame, 5'3" and 115 lbs, age 75, with severe osteoporosis, worse area is spine at -4. I was first diagnosed 8 years ago and then my spine was -3.2. I have never fractured. My GP didn't seem alarmed at my T-score and recommended Fosamax, which I declined after reading the side effects and studies that showed that drug didn't offer much benefit as far as fracture reduction. He was okay with my decision and said it was my choice.

I am now seeing an endocrinologist who ran tests which determined my osteoporosis is most likely due to parathyroid and thyroid issues. Because of that, I can't take Forteo or Tymlos. My new Dr also recommended Fosamax, which I again declined. The Dr disagrees with my decision to go drug-free but said it was my decision to make. Since my diagnosis, I take calcium with Vitamin K, Vitamin D and AlgaeCal collagen with Fortibone.

Please before anything else, get the book”Great Bones” by Keith’s McCormick. I am in the exact same position you are in, I have the book and am educating myself on what’s actually happening to my bones, ways to improve bone health without medications if possible (protein increase is a big one) , diet exercise, and tests to insure if you are taking a medication it is the right one for you..if it’s working or not. The endocrinologist I saw had the “bedside manner of a badger”..not my words but others who saw her. I fired her as I read in the book, find a doctor that is willing to work with you not against you…. The book is a great way to start, it was written by a chiropractor who at age 45 suffered 12 fractures and was told he had severe osteoporosis and needed to be on medication for the rest of his life. He is a triathlete and didn’t see that as an answer. Although he isnt against medication if you need it to get you out of fracture risk., his book offers explanations, advice and so much knowledge we wouldn’t (ori would t have) ever known. He is humble and his book as well as the YouTube ( search out his name on YouTube) interviews I’ve seen with him being interviewed have never mentioned his website “Osteonaturals”where he offers some of the supplements he recommends. Amazon and his website have the book. In my opinion it’s a must have.

@shelldct1 Thanks ! I had watched that video !

@lamd
When I requested the blood tests, I simply said (written email) I was taking some new supplements and wanted to be certain that they were not adversely effecting me. So, I specifically asked for a CBC and a Metabolic panel, and. CTX, and P1NP. I had just had blood test run about 3 or so months before. I also asked for a cholesterol test, and an A1C. The A1C is a 3 month analysis of your blood sugar, different than just a “blood sugar” test. I have diabetes in my family so I keep up on that test. When my PCP replied (she is a FNP) she said she’d put in the order for them and that I needed to be aware the P1NP and CTX might not be paid by my insurance. I am still waiting f to see if it’s been paid or not. If you have the CTX and the P1NP Keith McCormick states you must have them fasting, no food (water is ok) first thing in the morning by specifically by 7:30 A.M. when the levels of the CTX will be at their highest.

The endocrinologist I saw poo pooed the test and sounded irritated (even mad) that I had asked for them and said they wouldn’t tell her anything and were “not going to change her prescription recommendations “. She also said when I ask her how she would be able to tell if the Reclast infusions she was prescribing were working for me and she said she would wait two years and do another DEXA scan. I told her I wanted the test done before I started medication and then I would want them done in three months and I felt like it was not a good idea to wait two years to see if a medication was the right one for me. Then I got out of there and I’ll never go back.

@izziesue What a terrible doctor. The point of doing the tests along the way is to see if the medication is working! Why wait two years?? Unfortunately, not every endocrinologist is skilled for treating osteoporosis. I've said it before: the biggest challenge is finding a competent doctor.

Congratulations on your good health except for your DEXA scan. I can sympathize as I have had osteopenia since before age 40. I recently have become borderline for osteoporosis so my doctor put me on Fosamax. My mother-in-law had health issues but had tolerated it well for years so I decided to try it even though I’m very conservative about medications. After about 11 months on it, I experienced severe bone loss and infection in my upper jaw and lost a tooth because of it. What frightened me even more was that I had no symptoms except for a small bump on my gum that went away and then reappeared, which caused me to see my dentist. As a former assistant Manager and dental assistant, this was extremely heartbreaking. My dentist confided in me that Faso Max is the least harmful of all the osteoporosis drugs on the market and thinks the others should be banned. I now have an appointment with my endocrinologist at the end of the month to try to find an alternative. Good luck to you.

More research supporting prunes as a potential solution?
https://melioguide.com/osteoporosis-nutrition/prunes-for-osteoporosis/
Worth a look...