What's the evidence on Calcium and Vitamin D for bone density?

I saw a new endocrinologist last week. We had a nice long talk and I told him the story of why I have osteoporosis. We discussed all my health issues and he was overwhelmed! I told him I was not interested in taking Prolia, Fosamax, or any of the drugs that "build bone." I told him I am coming at it from a nutritional and hormonal way (I'm on low-dose estrogen and progesterone, and also Human Growth Hormone for a lifelong deficiency due to pituitary tumor). STILL he insisted on bringing up the idea of me taking Reclast if my next Dexa Scan comes out bad. What is it with doctors they cannot hear? I did a lot of research - enough to know those drugs are not for me. My body is very sensitive and I had side effects from Fosamax. By the end of 45 minutes, I knew that he didn't have as much general knowledge as me about osteoporosis (I'm not kidding and I'm not bragging - I expected more!).

Oh butch - I'm so sorry to read about all the fractures! I think you DO have osteoporosis. Has anybody checked your parathyroid? I have been to at least half a dozen endocrinologists, and not one of them has known much about osteoporosis. They are pushing those drugs that promise to grow bone. Heck, you might want to try one of those drugs - I just want you to be sure and do a lot of research about those drugs first. The truth that I have found is that those drugs give the appearance of bone growth - but one month after you go off the drug, all that "bone growth" disappears. It also costs a lot of money. I think it is like strontium - it gives the "appearance of bone growth." I joined an osteoporosis support group on Facebook that is very lively - lots of great posts and videos and late-breaking medical news. Very cutting edge. Those women are on a mission! They put me in touch with some women who took those bone growth drugs and got osteonecrosis (bone death) in their jaws. Just speaking to those women scared me into thinking long and hard about taking those drugs. I decided to give supplements, hormones, and good eating a try. I am taking calcium, vitamin D3, vitamin K2 (MK4 + MK7), a good multivitamin and a good vitamin C, boron, flaxseed oil, magnesium, and I'm taking beef collagen when I can. I am also taking a very low dose estrogen patch and taking progesterone - and you might want to talk to your doctor about that if you are fracturing. I was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor that robbed my body of Human Growth Hormone and that is why I got osteoporosis. My Dexa scan came back at -5.7 (severe osteoporosis begins at -2.5). What works for my body may not work for your body - and you should always run any changes by your doctor first.

My best advice is to find one good doctor. Then ask that doctor for referrals. If you have a gynecologist, ask that doctor for a referral to a good endocrinologist or other doctor that can help with osteoporosis. If you live near a big town with a teaching hospital, go there. It's a shame you aren't closer to someplace like Mayo. I really think you have it; with all those fractures you're having, something is wrong. You CAN build bone by doing what I'm doing. I'm doing what all the other women on the FaceBook support group are doing. Many of them have posted their before and after Dexa Scan scores, and many of them have made drastic improvement. One woman started at -3.7 and is now at -1.9 after two years of eating right and taking supplements. There are posts like that every day. You do not. need an MD to become informed. Read everything you can find about osteoporosis and keep digging for more information. The latest big news is Vitamin K2 (MK4 + MK7). You can buy that in any drug store or even off Amazon. There are books about Vitamin K2 now. It seems very promising. (Especially for people who are worried about taking calcium and getting a kidney stone or heart attack. Vitamin K2 tells the calcium to go to the bones - not the arteries or kidneys.)

One thing I know is that you have to fight hard to find a good doctor. And you need to be as informed as you can possibly be because there are a lot of bad people out there ready to take your money and not deliver any help. Once I started reading more about the human body, I was able to make better decisions, and my doctors are very amazed with the positive improvements I have made in my life. It's YOUR body - you have to figure out how to make it happy or it will break down on you. Best of luck to all of us!

I work with an endocrinologist that is very knowledgeable about osteoporosis as that was the main reason I was referred. However, I go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and from what you said, it sounds like you may be in Tennessee, which would be very far away.

@butch24350 I recently faced that myself, having just been diagnosed with osteoporosis from a DEXA scan. I generally go to Mass General for most of my specialists (I live in southern NH). I went through their list of endocrinologists and rheumatologists (they also treat osteoporosis and my PCP actually told me to go to a rheumatologist) and checked to see which ones mentioned osteoporosis. I already had an endocrinologist for diabetes and hypothyroidism who I coincidentally had an appointment with last week and discovered that he too treats osteoporosis. I expect he is very good, he said he spends an hour for the first osteoporosis appointment because there is much to go over, but since I am post-transplant he thought too that I might be better off at Mass General.
If you are not near a large medical facility with lists of doctors that you can review, you may just need to call the doctors in those two specialties who are in your area and ask if they treat osteoporosis, or find their website and see what it says.
Sometimes asking other people who have they used can be the best way to find good doctors too but that is not always reliable. Some people may like certain doctors or find them good while others do not.
There are also rating sites like Vitals and Healthgrades where you can check ratings. I find those are not very reliable unless the doctor has a large number of ratings. If the doctor only has one or two it's too subjective.
I presume if your doctor suggested that you see an endocrinologist you probably have osteopenia at least. Your doctor is on top of things to suggest you see an endo. My PCP was not which may be why my osteopenia advanced to osteoporosis -- I never had a repeat DEXA scan and six years went by.
JK

Also, I will tell you a few things I do for pain. Diclofenac Sodium Topical Gel 1% - I rub this on anything that hurts. I have rheumatoid arthritis in my hands and I use it like hand cream. Magnesium is a great muscle relaxer. CBD from cannabis, not hemp. I swear that CBD relieves my pain as well as any of the strong pain meds my doctor prescribes. (I jjust cannot afford it.) Herbs I use for arthritis: turmeric, Devil's Claw (check to be sure you won't have a drug interaction), Corydalis (although less now) and organic wild lettuce capsules when I need sleep. I'm one of those strange people for whom magnets work. I wear hematite beads around my ankles and wrists and it helps with the arthritis in my hands and feet. Sometimes I put hematite beads under my back in bed. Someone gave me a magnet mattress. It only works on some people. If you want to find out if you are one of them, buy a cheap hematite bracelet off Amazon or somewhere and wear it for a day or two. That's how I found out it works for me. I also wear arthritis gloves a lot - and they have really helped to tame my Reynaud's. Finally, I have my doctor write a prescription for lidocaine patches. I have one on my back and two on my arm as I write! Tomorrow my arm and my lower back will be numb. I thought I had a compression fracture in my back, but the L5 has just moved out of the spinal column and has relocated somewhere else. It is very painful but I think there is nothing to be done for it. (At least it wasn't a fracture.). Remember to breathe, and also remember to get enough rest. Ice is your friend.

@parrotqueen
Hi,

I agree with you about the drugs as I have had osteoporosis for years and have been on Fosamax and Boniva in the past with little or no results . Most Doctors focus just on the bone problem without taking the whole person into account....their overall health, lifestyle and eating habits. A blood test is essential to check the D levels. Mine were low recently and I upped the dosage. I am starting a VitD3 +K2 regime in a powder form....mix with water. My eating habits are great but found that foods high in oxalates prevent calcium form reaching the bone and have eliminated most from my diet. Was surprised to see spinach was so high in oxalates. I do go to 3 weekly gym classes for seniors with emphasis on core, balance and weight bearing. I have upped my walking routine. I have no major organic health problems , no fractures so consider myself a good candidate for NOT taking any drugs .
As you said, you need to do research. Doctors and other practitioners go into a panic when they see the dexascan numbers because, generally, that’s all they see.

FL Mary

@imallers Hi I did go to shop.com but my Dr wants me to take 1200mg of calcium so am looking for a powder with this in mind. @contentandwell I became allergic to the bone meal powder I told you about my gums began to swell much better now but still some there . Right now I have the calcium pills but do want to get a liquid of powder calcium

@imallers Hi I did go to shop.com but my Dr wants me to take 1200mg of calcium so am looking for a powder with this in mind. @contentandwell I became allergic to the bone meal powder I told you about my gums began to swell much better now but still some there . Right now I have the calcium pills but do want to get a liquid of powder calcium

@lioness
Until you find a reputable liquid or powder form how about crushing the ones you have into a powder and mixing in water or putting each crushed pill into something like applesauce.

FL Mary

Hey there Lioness - good to see you again. I'm glad to know they make back braces with magnets inside. Could you tell me where you found it? I am a little concerned because I am extremely petite and my body is about three-fourths legs. I don't have much of a waist. My trunk is very very short. I'm concerned I will get a back brace and it will squash my breasts because of the short torso. I'm SO sorry to hear you had a reaction to the bone meal powder. I use food-based calcium tablets from Rainbow Light. In the past I have used Garden of Life food-based calcium. The selection on Amazon is pretty good, but you could also check places like iHerb or Vitacost. When something goes wrong with my body (such as the L5 thing), I try to get to the bottom of it and correct it or treat it. I've got quite a collection of herbal and natural medicine books not - also nutritional healing. My main goal is to get my gut healed and then go from there. Good luck on your quest for new calcium. There used to be a product called Neocalglucon. I gave it to my birds when they were laying eggs. It's a very old product - it's been around for at least 50 years that I know of. Don't forget the vitamins D3 and K2 and magnesium! Keep us posted, okay? I'm getting excited - I will have another Dexa scan done sometime around April. I haven't been consistent with my vitamin regimen until the past year - so I hope that is long enough for a positive change. Let me know about the back brace because I need to get out there walking but it is very painful now. I also have two herniated discs in the lumbar area. UGH. All those years in five inch heels (because I was short, I always wore the highest heels I could find).

@lioness
Until you find a reputable liquid or powder form how about crushing the ones you have into a powder and mixing in water or putting each crushed pill into something like applesauce.

FL Mary