Dr. Doug Lucas Has anyone here paid money to work with Dr. Lucas?

Yes I went from severe osteoporosis ( fracturing ribs with lying supine ) , pushing heavy cabinet -to being able to lift weights safely - now doing water aerobics and lifting weights at the gym ! I told the group I wouldnt do meat protein. ( I’m part of the Harvard Nurses Health Study ) and Walter Willett , MD , MPH says a plant based diet it best -Dr Lucas said -“ just keep doing what you are doing ( diet wise ) - So , through Power Plates Machine , bio- ID HRT, diet , supplements, good sleep - by Gods grace I am now much stronger and can safely lift weights ! Changed my life ! Praise God

@oopsiedaisy Can you share what you have done for your osteoporosis and has it worked at increasing bone quality and density?

@karenjaninaz Until I saw an endocrinologist I had never heard of strontium. However, her mention of it was negative. She said some people use strontium but it is not proven to reduce fractures. so I perhaps misinterpreted her reason for mentioning it. Maybe she was actually trying to give me an alternative to pharmaceuticals. @karenjaninaz can you tell me, were these studies on strontium independent studies using RCT? Did they actually prove a reduction in fracturing? Can you provide the link to the study(ies) please.

The Influence of Strontium on Bone Tissue Metabolism and Its Application in Osteoporosis Treatment
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8235140/
The Effects of Strontium Ranelate on the Risk of Vertebral Fracture in Women with Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa022436
@mybones1

@mybones1 I have had two separate MDs, an orthopedist that specializes in bone health and performs REMs tests and a rheumatologist say not to take strontium or bonafide. Both said they could lead to other complications. One had two patients develop lupas after being in Bonafide. Just passing on the information.

@mnurse7 Thank you for your post. May I ask when you say 'severe' osteoporosis what your T score is/was? Did you take any medication along with your diet, HRT, supplements, etc.? I was just diagnosed with severe osteoporosis with a T score of a-4.2 at 58 yrs and of course my Dr. is pushing me towards taking meds which I do no want to do! What specific supplements and dosage do you take? Feel free to message me directly, would love to talk to you more in depth. Thank you!!

@br03
Too much to write here -please private message me.
ID yourself as from Mayo Clinic chat - kind regards

@mnurse7, kind of you to offer your regimen of supplements. As you and others know, everyone's diagnosis of osteoporosis and bone status is different.

For this reason, I remind everyone that all information shared by members on the Mayo Clinic Connect is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the community. The information shared can help people to have informed discussions with their providers.

@br03, I can understand your not wanting to take medications if they are not necessary. Lifestyle approaches are really important including exercise, diet and supplements. However, there can come a time in the progression of osteoporosis when medications are less of a risk than fractures. You mention that you have severe osteoporosis.

Here's what Mayo Clinic experts want people to know. Osteoporosis treatment may involve medicines along with lifestyle changes. Get answers to some of the most common questions about osteoporosis treatment.
- Osteoporosis treatment: Medications can help https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoporosis/in-depth/osteoporosis-treatment/art-20046869

I hope you'll work with your doctor to address your concerns about medication and if and when they may be necessary for you. 🙂

@mybones1 Sure!

I've used an approach that includes diet, exercise, medication, and supplements. I've been on this journey since I was diagnosed in 2014 at age 53 with osteopenia. At that time, my lumbar spine was -1.3 and my left hip was -2.

I had already been on bHRT (estrogen + progesterone) for two years so I continued that. I had also been lifting weights and exercising regularly so also continued with that. My diet was already good (plants, high quality protein, moderate carbs) so I continued with that. I started taking a Cal-Mag 1:1 ratio supplement and K2.

After four years of watching, my left hip was measured at -2.8 so I was started on Fosamax. I took the drug for just over five years. It improved my bone mineral density in my spine but didn't change my hip, which did stay stable and did not deteriorate further.

Unfortunately, just after the five year mark, I had a compression fracture at T8 while bending over a bathtub and pressing down very hard on my ribcage. I had no idea what had happened - thought I had pulled a muscle. The fracture was discovered on xray four months later when the pain had not subsided. I had already stopped the Fosamax for a drug "holiday".

After that, I was started on Tymlos then moved to generic Forteo after Cigna revoked my pre-auth for Tymlos. I had side effects on the Forteo so I stopped taking it. At this point, I finally requested a referral to an osteoporosis specialist, who performed a thorough investigation of all possible sources of osteoporosis.

I've been on Evenity for 10 months and will have a follow up DEXA scan in July. I haven't fractured again and my health has been good. I do have some joint pain from the Evenity but am still able to exercise. I take Tylenol or Advil to help.

I judge my success on avoiding fracture. My BMD has been pretty stable over the years, yet I still fractured. It's been 2.5 years since my fracture and I hope to continue to avoid another one.

Interestingly, I recently learned that it appears that I have idiopathic hypercalciuria which means I lose too much calcium in my urine. I found this out after seeing the endocrinologist and doing two 24-hour urine calcium tests. This could be the reason my osteoporosis progressed over the years even though I was addressing all the recommended lifestyle changes.

@colleenyoung Thank you for your thoughtful note and for helping create such a supportive space . I really appreciate the time and care you put into moderating the community.

I just wanted to clarify my intent in participating and connecting with others. My goal is never to take anyone’s shared experiences or information as medical advice, but simply to learn from others’ lived experiences. There is a lot of wisdom in this community, and hearing different perspectives helps me feel more informed and supported as I navigate this diagnosis.

I fully respect that each person’s medical decisions are their own and that treatment choices should be made with one’s healthcare provider. For me, the value of the group is the shared encouragement, perspectives, and sense of community.

Thank you again for fostering such a positive environment, I’m grateful to be part of it.