Severe osteoporosis at 76: Is it too late for help?

@andieg You are an inspiration for continuing to seek natural alternatives to osteo. It makes me optimistic that it can be done.

I've only recently heard about red light therapy. Can you please tell us a little more about your experience with it? Like, how long you've been doing it, and how often, and the benefits?

I appreciate that @squitirogloria 💕

I purchased a medical grade red light therapy pad intended to reduce pain in August, 2024. It was 1/2 off (even the “medical grade” ones often are).

You may have seen advertisements for red & blue light therapy masks with pictures of people wearing robot looking masks (😂) to address wrinkles & blemishes . Mine resembles a heating pad with dimensions of about 7” x16”.

I don’t mention the brand I purchased because
a. There have been improvements since I purchased 19months ago
b. Your research may lead you to different conclusions.

I recommend considering researching some on what medical grade red light is/how it works, how it can treat pain and, what types of products are for what conditions; for example, the face masks often include blue light and address acne and other skin conditions.

I decided to get a red light pad after reading several accounts from people in EDS /chronic pain FaceBook groups who said they were helped by the red light therapy. So I researched some and found while many “research studies” were done by the companies themselves (common when a product is new), I saw /read enough positives / promising information that I decided to pull the $300 out of savings to get.

I’ll add that I believe independent studies are underway. And, my sister said after her dermatologist did a laser treatment to address the pervasive pre cancer on her face, they followed it with red light therapy. ! I think the anti-inflamitory benefits may be generally accepted now (but don’t quote me!).

The type of pain red light seems to address may vary, & seems to be more muscle related. And I don’t believe it’s a miracle cure, but it helps put me to sleep after using on my neck and back and, sometimes it helps with my hip pain. At the very least it feels good to me as it seems to be a deeper penetrating heat than a heating pad. But again, everyone is different.

I believe most red light therapy pad product companies recommended to use it 15min at night every night for 2 weeks, I think, then 3x per week?

In terms of bone benefits- there are no scientific studies and I only saw one or two mentions which were claims from a manufacturer so I am very skeptical, but choose to be hopeful. 😊

Hope my babbling helped a little 🫣😊

My advice: Seek a 2nd opinion. That was so wrong for your doctor to tell you that. It is never too late in life....

@stayingalive I really don't understand your doctor's comment. At just about your age (73) I was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis. I was prescribed Tymlos (which is like Forteo, both bone-building drugs), and now my spine is well into the osteopenia range (and my hip very close). Like others, I urge you to see another doctor.

Second third or fourth opinions are important when dealing with a chronic health problem especially when the current doc has no more ideas as to how to treat. Once I started this fun journey I saw my primary care (she ordered the standard at age 65 dexa) who referred me to endo, talked to gynecologist (mine does not treat osteoporosis) she sent me to a rheumatologist and I saw the orthopedic practice (had a hip replaced 10 years ago) as their website says they treat osteoporosis (they actually do not). All said to take the meds. One would have treated differently; endo started me on fosamax and now I am 7 months in on Reclast. Because of the possible side effects (not much yet) if there is not huge improvement I can’t see the point of another infusion. Because of the lack of info from the docs I had no idea drugs may not do a thing. I didn’t know enough to even ask. I naively thought meds would greatly improve osteoporosis otherwise why do we take them? To stop getting worse? Perhaps that is a win.

@jozer

Were you ever prescribed an anabolic med?

Concerned about that response. I started on evenity after being told I had severe osteoporosis and was at risk for fracture. I have had 10 shots, 2 more to go. Just turned 76 in Jan. My early January 2026 scan showed significant improvement in hip and other areas. Now discussing what to go on to lock in the gains, as he said. Either prolia or reclast. I’m researching pros and cons of each.
Definitely get second opinion and follow up with pcp as well.
And keep questioning anything that just doesn’t seem right!

@gravity3 nope wasn’t really discussed or offered. Current endo said he doesn’t like prolia but didn’t hear about anything else except reclast which scared me as it was a once a year drug! So he started fosamax, after minor gains in that he scheduled Reclast and I did it. A rheumatologist I saw when I made the rounds of getting other thoughts said she would have started me on bone builders. Medicine is a very creative field, some docs do one thing some another. And the best choice is?

I am 78 with severe osteoporosis. Have been attempting to do on my own through all of the normal channels but my numbers this year have forced me to accept going on Evenity per discussion with my endocrinologist
Spine 5.3 and most of the other numbers in low 4.0 range
Question..to those with success..did you continue to take AlgaeCal plus or did you follow another supplement regime.
Thank you

@jozer Great post, thanks! Although your question was rhetorical, I cannot help but note that a partial response can be found in the below presentation. It is by Dr. Michael Lewiecki to doctors & researchers at the Osteoporosis Foundation of New Mexico annual symposium in 2025. Parts are quite technical and I had to pause the video and zoom in to study some of the charts and graphs.

Treat-to-target for osteoporosis