What helps improve osteoporosis without medication?

@kathleen1314, Congratulations on your improved Dexa scores!
I've read a bit about strontium citrate and will ask my doc about it at my next visit. I've not heard of bioidentical hormones so could you elaborate a bit more or provide a good site for more info on that? Thank you for your post.

Bioidentical hormones are hormones that are chemically identical to what the human body produces, unlike synthetic or hormones taken from horses.

Here is one site that has some information.
https://www.zrtlab.com/blog/archive/hormone-therapy-confusion/
Here is a posting with lots of links:
https://www.inspire.com/groups/national-osteoporosis-foundation/discussion/bioidentical-hormones-ku5csb/
In addition, here is a posting of research links for strontium
https://www.inspire.com/groups/national-osteoporosis-foundation/discussion/strontium-studies-and-research-articles/
Local Compounders, pharmacies that make up meds for individuals based on specific prescriptions for just one person, will know and work with doctors that prescribe hormones for you based on your individual tests and needs.

Dear JK, Wow, what a journey you've been on. Understatement! My heart is heavy reading your story.

I too take daily Prednisone and then before that IV steroids with PO tapers, for lungs and connective tissue disease inflammation. I hate the drug. It has caused cataracs, fractures (osteoporosis) and other health problems.

My Endos over the years have wanted me to take osteoporosis meds but after much research and many consults, I can't allow myself to take any of the toxic drugs.

I can't imagine being in more pain than I am already in. The side effects can be brutal and described as "debilitating severe" muscle and joint pain, flu-like symptoms, stomach upset and even Femur fractures and a femur tumor although rare. And, if I am understanding it correctly, none of them do the two things we need, which is removing of the old dead bone and rebuilding new bone. They either do one or the other. And some of them you can only take for so long and then because they are so toxic you need a vacation from them for a certain amount of time.

I do not mean to discourage you in any way. This has been very recent with me and I have the best endocrinologist in the world who has been willing to discuss every potential issue over and over again with me.

Each must make their own decision for what is best for themselves. I was so shocked to learn that my recent bone density study showed my spine is 13% worse and my hip 14% worse and they say that anything greater than 2% change is considered significant. I already had severe osteoporosis and had three broken pelvic bones one broken rib and a few smaller.

I had lost a bunch of weight on a very low calorie diet which really hurt me and I didn't realize it for a few years. Now I have changed my diet and added the things that you mentioned you take in regard to supplements. I learned that I must have fat with the meal for the Vitamin D that I take with a meal to do its work helping absorb calcium. I have a wonderful nutritionist now who has taught me so much! I have changed the plant-based bone supplement I was using because it had strontium in it. I have learned that strontium is a very heavy Adam and if it is taken with calcium your body will absorb the strontium and not the calcium. Therefore, the strontium should be Taken 2 hours before or after calcium or calcium supplements.

So much of what I have learned is here on connect. There is so much to learn about this horrible disease!

I will uphold you in prayer that God gives you discernment in which direction to go regarding your osteoporosis medications. I will also be praying that your decreased dose of prednisone does not in any way cause you problems with your transplant. I do not know what your transplant is but I assume you are taking it for anti-rejection?

Take good care of yourself, it sounds like you are and many blessings and warmest wishes, Sunny flower 😊🙏

Hello! I hope and pray the Actonel works well for you and that you have zero unwanted side-effects. Please keep us posted on how you are doing.
Many, many blessings and warmest wishes, Sunnyflower 😊🙏

Thx Kathleen. Hope you are doing well. Take care, Sunny

Here is a posting on Inspire with lots of information about bioidentical hormones
https://www.inspire.com/groups/national-osteoporosis-foundation/discussion/bioidentical-hormones-ku5csb/
Bioidentical hormones began an "item" after the WHI report which evaluated progestins (man made progesterones) and man made estrogens and estrogen from horses. This report showed a higher level of cancers and heart disease tied to these hormones. So these bioidentical hormones were begun to be safer and more effective.

Bioidentical are usually plant based, yam. and engineered to be chemically identical to what our bodies produce naturally.
Bioidentical usually are topical or vaginal....frequently are made for you personally by a compounding pharmacy. I know of no report tying balanced bioidentical hormone therapy to cancer, heart disease. Still, I have seen lots of research that says that estrogen always need to be balanced by progesterone for cancer prevention. Plus, hormone therapy needs to begun earlier rather than later for especially heart health.
Compounding pharmacies are the best place to go to ask for the names of hormone specialists in your area who prescribe bioidentical hormones. Also progesterone and estriol may be ordered off Amazon from large compounding pharmacies. Realize most of these off the shelf hormones will have preservatives in them in order to last longer on a shelf...not horrible but necessary to understand in making a decision whether to buy from a compounder or thru a mail order facility.

I will say that hormones are not easy. They need to be monitored regularly, and if you use them you need to listen to your body. One good thing about hormones is if they are "off" they are not silent they will speak out very loudly in symptoms.
That is why I prefer to use a topical hormone or a vaginal hormone. Something which I may change quickly if needed. In addition, I prefer never to use an oral hormone because of it definitely going thru the liver. Plus, many oral hormones are not bioidentical they are the dangerous progestins etc reviewed in the WHI report.

Yes bioidentical hormones may be complicated, but this is one very,very effective way to combat osteoporosis. It is also a "weapon" that has a time date; you need to begin hormone therapy sooner rather than later. So procrastination is not your friend when it comes to hormones.

I hope this helps...please feel free to message me personally with any questions.

@kathleen1314, I have a Zoom visit scheduled with my doctor today and will ask her about prescribing bioidentical hormones and supplements for osteoporosis. Thank you for taking the time to share these informative, helpful links and your own experience with them. As a G.P., I don't know her level of expertise with osteo and may ask for a referral to a specialist...possibly Endocrinologist ?

hi fiesty,
I don't know your age or have long you have been in menopause, which is important for bioidentical hormones; Doctors fear beginning hormones after patients have been in menopause for too many years because of the fear that plaque may have built up and then have the risk of breaking loose when hormones are restarted and arteries may become more pliable.

all people with osteoporosis need to consult an endocrinologist; there are numerous diseases and conditions which may cause or impact osteoporosis .An endocrinologist should run a wide range of tests cking the parathyroid etc.
I also believe that everyone with osteoporosis needs to consult a hormone specialist....endocrinologists seldom ck sex hormones, but a hormone specialist should ck all hormones. You may find the name of a hormone specialist who works with bioidentical hormones by calling your local compounding pharmacy; that is a pharmacy that makes medicine, including hormones, just for you individually.

Let me throw out that I do not think anyone should take a progestin, a man made progesterone, which is usually a pill taken by mouth. The WHI report that spoke to the dangers of hormones was mainly speaking about progestins.
Plus, I do not think anyone should take an estrogen without progesterone. Some doctors says you don't need the progesterone if you have had a hysterectomy, but you probably still have your breasts, and you still have the cancer risk.
Research seems to show that about 50 mg progesterone daily for at least 3 weeks a month holds protection from cancer. I use it topically and vaginally.

Obviously, I am not a doctor. What I know is gleaned from reading research papers and consulting with my own doctors. We all have to make personal decisions about what is best for us, to read the research and consult with our doctors.
Good luck my friend!

@fiesty76 Please definitely get a referral to an endocrinologist or a rheumatologist. Both specialities treat osteoporosis and since that is their speciality they know more than a GP or Internist knows.

I chose an endocrinologist over a rheumatologist simply because the rheumatologist I was considering had some reviews that said she was impatient if she had to repeat herself. Having a hearing disability I often have to ask doctors to repeat.
JK

Thank you, @kathleen1314, for your additional information and recommendations. I am 77yrs, so long post menopausal.

I do know of one compounding pharmacy here and appreciate your pointing me in that direction as well. And with prediabetes, ckd, hi b.p. and COPD, I heartily agree that my best next move will be to ask my pcp for a referral to a good endocrinologist.