Has anyone improved bone density without meds?

@goseve I have maintained my Forteo gains and possibly even gained density on HRT as my most recent Dexa was -2.5, showing an increase from the last 7ish years of a steady -2.9. My Dexa was done on a new machine and coupled with the fact that I have arthritis (which can imitate increased bone density), I take these numbers with a grain of salt. But I'll take them happily and with a hopeful belief that they are accurate! HRT has definitely helped me maintain my Forteo gains but I also do a whole lot of work. Daily exercise is a half hour of core strengthening plus either a high energy dance class or weights at the gym. In addition, I have a whole foods, gluten free diet and calculate my nutrition on Cronometer to make sure I meet my daily nutrient goals. I no longer take calcium supplements due the potential risk of calcifications of the arteries and meet my needs with food. It's hard and attentive work but worth it, not just for bones but for general health. I wish you all the best!

@teb Hi Teb. Thank you so much for answering my question. I am so afraid of taking Fosamax bc I have needed dental implants in the past and I might need two more in the future and I cannot have the implants if I have taken Fosamax. So, after your treatment with Forteo, you just took HRT? I am on a .075 transdermal estrogen patch, do you think that will hold my gains when I finish my Forteo. These drs are saying it will not but I don't think they know much about. Oh, one last question. I have read horror stories about the side effects of Forteo. Can I ask you if you had bad side effects from Forteo? I cant thank you enough for all of your help and wish you the best of health!

@goseve Hi Teb. I meant to say that I don't think the drs know too much about HRT.

@goseve I can't really say whether HRT will maintain or increase your bone density. It was my follow up drug of choice after Forteo and it was effective for me but not in isolation as previously mentioned in that I also addressed my osteoporosis with very targeted nutrition and abundant exercise, specifically with weights. It's the combination of all of the above that worked to maintain/gain bone density for me.

Finding a knowledgeable practitioner to manage your HRT is challenging but there are more and more providers getting educated about it as the public demand has increased. It is also challenging to find an endo who is knowledgeable about osteoporosis drug options and sequencing, etc, so you really have to do your own homework. I had to request (demand) Forteo and the same with HRT as my follow up as it was 7 years ago before the boom of HRT re-acceptance. Forteo was great for me as I had no side effects but I did have slight loss in the second year so it's important to monitor your bone markers throughout.

Thank u so much for all the info and for your kind reply. It was truly
appreciated and very informative.

@dulu I just ordered Algaecal bone builder pack this past weekend. I am praying for a positive outcome. I’ll check back.

I drink a lot of milk (albeit lactose free). The doctor is happy with that. I do need to keep taking extra Vitamin D because my levels barely stay in the normal range.
If I had it to do over again, I would not have waited 10 years refusing medication after my initial osteoporosis diagnosis. I would have gone straight to an anabolic. The bisphosphonate I eventually took for 5 years worked for the first few years, but by the end my spine deteriorated to -3.6. The problem is, once deteriorated, you can build bone, but it won't have the same amazing engineering as the original, and that's where denser bones don't necessarily equate to avoiding fractures. The bone gets denser, but not structurally great. Hindsight is 20/20.

@dulu
Strontium is the primary mineral responsible for causing a falsely high or elevated bone density reading on a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan.Because strontium has an atomic weight nearly twice that of calcium, it absorbs much more X-ray radiation. When people take strontium supplements, the mineral replaces a small amount of calcium in the bone matrix. The DEXA machine interprets this increased X-ray absorption as a massive spike in calcium density, resulting in a falsely inflated T-score. Studies indicate that roughly 10% of the measured bone mineral density (BMD) increase can be an artifact of the strontium itself rather than a true physical gain in bone mass

I am 64 and just found out I have -3.3 in my spine. I have always been physically active and eat fairly well, but I know my Mother also had osteoporosis, so I’m thinking it is hereditary. I just went to PT to start a program of exercises that focus on strengthening muscles and building bones. I am giving myself a year to see if I can make improvements this way since I would rather not take the meds. Time will tell. All the best to everyone dealing with this!