Is Osteoporosis reversible in post menopausal women?

Posted by leeosteo @leeosteo, Jan 28, 2023

I'm relatively new to this support group. I'm post menopausal with osteoporosis. I've been reading various group discussions here and doing a little bit of research via Mayo Clinic, Bone Health & Osteroporosis Foundation (BHOF), WebMd, and Drugs.com.

My simple question is: Can osteoporosis be reversed in post menopausal women (with no secondary medical issues) through diet and exercise?

In reading through this groups discussion on meds it seems the meds only buy you time.

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

Thank you so much for all the info. Unfortunately, I will never be able to lift weight like that bc I have bilateral hip replacements but thank you for telling me ur story and congrats on all ur hard work!

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Profile picture for fearfracture @fearfracture

@goseve Happy to provide any help I can. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis in July 2019 at age 50. I joined a gym in January 2022 at age 53 so as of January 2026, I will have been hitting the gym for four years.

If you go to BetterBones.com and look for Cindi’s story, you can find the list of exercises she did to increase her BMD (note she was on HRT, I am not). From her list of exercises, I do the Back Extension and Farmer’s Carry. The gym I go to has a weighted back extension machine, and I currently do 135 lbs, 3 sets of 10 reps. Note, on everything, I started with light weights and worked my way up. The gym also has back extension equipment that is unweighted. On that I add 30 lbs weights and do 3 sets/10 reps each.

With the farmers carry, I walk around the gym with 30 lbs kettlebells in each hand. Again, I worked up to this.

I use several pieces on weighted equipment at the gym. In addition to the back extension machine, the piece of equipment that I think matters the most is the leg press. I can leg 420 lbs (that’s the max). I usually do 1 set of 10 reps at 365 lbs (using both legs). Then I do 1 set of 10 reps at 195 lbs using just my right leg, then switch and do the same with my left leg. Then I do another set with both legs at 365 or higher. I don’t do 420lbs every time I use the leg press because I want it to be a “shock” to my muscles/bones when I do it (hope that makes sense).

I generally go to the gym 3 times a week.

I also do wall angels for my posture and I walk 20+ minutes a day at least 5 times per week.

Let me know if you want more details.

Have you had BTM (bone turnover markers) labs?

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@fearfracture
I was not able to find Cindy's story to look up her exercises in the
betterbones.com search. Could you direct my query more specifically to view her exercises? Thank you -way to go with your dedication of exercise regime.

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Profile picture for fearfracture @fearfracture

@goseve Happy to provide any help I can. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis in July 2019 at age 50. I joined a gym in January 2022 at age 53 so as of January 2026, I will have been hitting the gym for four years.

If you go to BetterBones.com and look for Cindi’s story, you can find the list of exercises she did to increase her BMD (note she was on HRT, I am not). From her list of exercises, I do the Back Extension and Farmer’s Carry. The gym I go to has a weighted back extension machine, and I currently do 135 lbs, 3 sets of 10 reps. Note, on everything, I started with light weights and worked my way up. The gym also has back extension equipment that is unweighted. On that I add 30 lbs weights and do 3 sets/10 reps each.

With the farmers carry, I walk around the gym with 30 lbs kettlebells in each hand. Again, I worked up to this.

I use several pieces on weighted equipment at the gym. In addition to the back extension machine, the piece of equipment that I think matters the most is the leg press. I can leg 420 lbs (that’s the max). I usually do 1 set of 10 reps at 365 lbs (using both legs). Then I do 1 set of 10 reps at 195 lbs using just my right leg, then switch and do the same with my left leg. Then I do another set with both legs at 365 or higher. I don’t do 420lbs every time I use the leg press because I want it to be a “shock” to my muscles/bones when I do it (hope that makes sense).

I generally go to the gym 3 times a week.

I also do wall angels for my posture and I walk 20+ minutes a day at least 5 times per week.

Let me know if you want more details.

Have you had BTM (bone turnover markers) labs?

Jump to this post

Can you explain wall angels?

Since my readings on the DEXA for hips are different, guess I’ll start single leg leg press. I leg press 140 using both legs, but only 60 with a single leg. Lots of remove for improvement for me

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https://www.themuscletherapy.com/post/wall-angels-your-guardian-angle-of-shoulder-health-and-mobility
If you search for Wall Angels you can find a good deal of info. I’ll explain it the way I understand it and do it.

Are you familiar with snow angels, where you lie in the snow and sort of flap your arms and legs outwards so when you stand up there is an “angel” in the snow. Wall angels are similar but you do them standing up against a wall and try NOT to mark up the walls 🙂

You sort of sit against the wall, with your tail bone mid/upper back, the back of your head and shoulders pressed up against the wall. You place your arms down by your sides with the backs of your hands pressed against the wall and then slowly “flap” your arms moving them up above your head and then back down by your sides. I do 30 of those and then I do 30 with my arms bent by my sides so elbows at my waist, back of hands pressed against wall then move my arms up the wall sort of straight up.

Hope that helps.

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Profile picture for dtevis @dtevis

@fearfracture
I was not able to find Cindy's story to look up her exercises in the
betterbones.com search. Could you direct my query more specifically to view her exercises? Thank you -way to go with your dedication of exercise regime.

Jump to this post

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Profile picture for tillymack @tillymack

@tillymack If you decide to try HRT please let us know how it goes.

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With all the research I’ve been doing ,
Reversing osteoporosis at this time is NOT reversible. Especially without medications. And even then only Fosamax stays inside our body for maybe 2-3 years after stopping, then expect decline in bone density.
I think all the others decline immediately after stopping.
Diet, exercise, supplements, lifestyle choices, all impact our bones by slowing down bone loss.

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Ive had osteoporosis for close to 20 years and have tried all medications available up to 2023. I decided to go off medications and try exercises with weights. After 2 years my bones did not lose density. They didn't gain either so I've upped my routine and hope that in 2027 they show improvement.

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Profile picture for mmariejonez @mmariejonez

Ive had osteoporosis for close to 20 years and have tried all medications available up to 2023. I decided to go off medications and try exercises with weights. After 2 years my bones did not lose density. They didn't gain either so I've upped my routine and hope that in 2027 they show improvement.

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@mmariejonez Can you share which exercises? I have to be careful as I had a nasty trip/fall almost w years ago at L1; already had one at L2 but this last one has worsened the scoliois, has me bending forward; can't sit, stand nor walk upright - now getting spasms. Dr. wants me to try Prolia but these meds terrify me. I will b e 92 in December. Doc said seeing as I have these fractures and osteoporsis in spine I should expect more.

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Profile picture for goodquestion @goodquestion

@mmariejonez Can you share which exercises? I have to be careful as I had a nasty trip/fall almost w years ago at L1; already had one at L2 but this last one has worsened the scoliois, has me bending forward; can't sit, stand nor walk upright - now getting spasms. Dr. wants me to try Prolia but these meds terrify me. I will b e 92 in December. Doc said seeing as I have these fractures and osteoporsis in spine I should expect more.

Jump to this post

@goodquestion
Most of them involve weights. From how you described yourself that doesn't seem appropriate. Have you asked your doctor about alternatives to prolia?
I would strongly suggest you see a physical therapist who would probably be able to help you with some of your issues. Note that I am neither a physical therapist or a medical person.

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