What helps improve osteoporosis without medication?

Posted by imatine @imatine, Dec 4, 2020

Hello, did anyone here try to heal from osteoporosis away from all the prescribed medications we all know of? Did you try following a specific diet? Excercise? Meditation, etc. ? Thank you

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@fiesty76

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.

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fiesty I am not one to recommend BigParma meds especially before other avenues like strontium citrate are explored....but evista is a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM). that is a man made drug that is used for osteoporosis to mimic estrogen....worth investigating....but I personally would use strontium citrate first....at least it is a natural product that the body recognizes and knows how to use, even though you will have to use it at a pharmaceutical level. To briefly talk about strontium, the current research seems to show that in works in the bone in areas where calcium does not exist in new bone and replacing 1 in 10 molecules of calcium....but it does it in a way that allows a joining or scaffolding effect to allow hydration and something called "sacrificial bonds" which makes the bone less likely to fracture...allowing for a 49% lessening of fracture risk ...here is a link to a compellation of research on strontium ck out especially section https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352187220300334?via%3Dihub#bb0450

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@imatine

@ess77 wishing you well too 😊👍🏼

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Hello, imatine. I just saw you asked me a couple questions in your reply??? 12/05.

I'm so sorry for missing them....I'm not on any meds for osteoporosis. l was first diagnosed with it at 35. At that time, I was on oyster shell calcium, the doc thinking it would be the best type of calcium. There were no treatments at that time no meds yet. 'Treatment' was to lose weight, add calcium to diet, take the supplements and exercise, which was almost impossible for me at that time. Basically, all the things Sue mentioned in her reply.

I did what I could and as directed, until I finally saw a rheumatologist....previous doc was neurologist! Don't know if rheumatologist were invented then! When I saw the rheumatologist, couple decades later, he diagnosed fibromylagia, also.... or at that time, female/anxiety/head issues.

But, I just had a bone scan and I have osteopenia now.

Boke all my toes, several more than once, as I have a tough time lifting my feet up going up stairs. Have for many years, & I'm always bare foot, so toes get hurt. They also don't heal well.

Last year I broke, at different but overlaping times, several litttle bones in both feet. After the second foot was broken, I was put in a walking cast for that foot, too. So, I was in 2 different casts and different designs from the same ortho doc, at the same time. For several days and nights.

Then, I was simply not capable of handling that situation. I was having some early heart failure. So, I...being me....said, 'Enough!' I couldn't do it. It was too much, more pain & I felt really awful getting worse and it was just too much. So, I took both casts off, put them in the closet and told my feet to heal! A ccouple of weeks later I was in the hospital with heart failure....edema mostly in my feet and legs.

You get the jist of this story. It got better with the attention I gave it with supplements, etc. Then, other things took over the front page and now, at 73, I'm just full of stories like a little ole' lady. I suppose I am.....an older, middle-aged woman. Blessings. Elizabeth

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@kathleen1314

fiesty I am not one to recommend BigParma meds especially before other avenues like strontium citrate are explored....but evista is a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM). that is a man made drug that is used for osteoporosis to mimic estrogen....worth investigating....but I personally would use strontium citrate first....at least it is a natural product that the body recognizes and knows how to use, even though you will have to use it at a pharmaceutical level. To briefly talk about strontium, the current research seems to show that in works in the bone in areas where calcium does not exist in new bone and replacing 1 in 10 molecules of calcium....but it does it in a way that allows a joining or scaffolding effect to allow hydration and something called "sacrificial bonds" which makes the bone less likely to fracture...allowing for a 49% lessening of fracture risk ...here is a link to a compellation of research on strontium ck out especially section https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352187220300334?via%3Dihub#bb0450

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Kathleen, thx for the great info! Each time I read your messages, I learn even more! Thank you!!! Sunnyflower @fiesty76

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@sueinmn

Here are the common themes on a variety of sites like NIH, National Osteoporosis Foundation, WebMD, Harvard Health:

It is difficult, but possible to improve bone strength, easier to stop loss.

The best non-drug treatments for slowing/stopping progress of osteoporosis are:
- Good diet with adequate protein (huge issue for older women, who tend to consume too little).
- Adequate levels of Calcium, Magnesiun, Vitamin K, Vitamin D3 & Zinc.
- Weight bearing exercise (walking, power walking, weight-training, stair climbing.) Swimming and biking may be good for cardio, but not as good at promoting bone strength.
- Avoid excess caffeine & alcohol which may promote bone loss (ie more than 4 cups of coffee a day.
- Stop smoking.

Alternative therapies are not scientifically proven to work, or may have side effects and should be discussed with your doctors, these include: red clover, soy, black cohosh, and other herbal supplements.

Finally, in addition to the traditional medications like Fosamax, there are now some biologics available which my be appropriate and less difficult to tolerate.
Sue

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I turned 70 in Nov. Before my back went to pot, I was a very active person. Walking dogs 5 miles a day, competitive skating, doing agility with my dogs, bike riding, etc. My doctor tried me on various drugs, Alendronate, Calcium/Potassium, and another one whose name I forgot, (I have a list of drugs I can't take), and I'd have to look up. I had a bad reaction to all of them. Now he wants me to get an injection of something. I'd have to go to a medical facility. The injection takes about 15 minutes, and I'd feel like I have the flu for about a week. A few weeks ago, I read that this is made from shellfish, mainly shrimp. I did not think to write down the name of the drug or the site where I read this on. I am allergic to shellfish. Any suggestions?

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@cyndem

I turned 70 in Nov. Before my back went to pot, I was a very active person. Walking dogs 5 miles a day, competitive skating, doing agility with my dogs, bike riding, etc. My doctor tried me on various drugs, Alendronate, Calcium/Potassium, and another one whose name I forgot, (I have a list of drugs I can't take), and I'd have to look up. I had a bad reaction to all of them. Now he wants me to get an injection of something. I'd have to go to a medical facility. The injection takes about 15 minutes, and I'd feel like I have the flu for about a week. A few weeks ago, I read that this is made from shellfish, mainly shrimp. I did not think to write down the name of the drug or the site where I read this on. I am allergic to shellfish. Any suggestions?

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Hi,
I would not take it! I tried several osteoporosis drugs before my endocrinologist gave me Prolia. It caused constant pains in my legs which were worse when I laid down. It also caused hair loss. My hair has receded about 1-1 1/2" all around my face! I quit the drug after 2 shots and about 6 months later feel great! I take ergocalciferol, Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 all prescribed by the same physician. Before you take any drug go to a computer search for the name of the drug and the suspected symptoms, for example - prolia and hair loss. Do NOT go to the prolia web site as they do not recognize all side symptoms.
I wish you luck and be wary of anything the medical profession tells you - do your own research.

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It is hard to respond without knowing the drug that is being suggested, which sounds like either Prolia or Reclast. It is also hard to respond without knowing your bone density results. The problem with Prolia is that once on it, you really cannot stop or avoid medications in general, because there is apparently rapid rebound bone loss once you stop. Also drugs like Forteo, Tymlos and Evenity, which actually grow bone, work better when Prolia and biphosphanates like Reclast have not been used (but insurance requires trying them first!). Some of us waited too long to take medications or had sensitivities that made them difficult, and in my case, after finally suffering the pain and disability of spinal fractures, I no longer care if I feel sick a few hours a day or if I go bald or whatever- I am sticking with Tymlos!

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@sewcouture

Hi,
I would not take it! I tried several osteoporosis drugs before my endocrinologist gave me Prolia. It caused constant pains in my legs which were worse when I laid down. It also caused hair loss. My hair has receded about 1-1 1/2" all around my face! I quit the drug after 2 shots and about 6 months later feel great! I take ergocalciferol, Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 all prescribed by the same physician. Before you take any drug go to a computer search for the name of the drug and the suspected symptoms, for example - prolia and hair loss. Do NOT go to the prolia web site as they do not recognize all side symptoms.
I wish you luck and be wary of anything the medical profession tells you - do your own research.

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The doc that I had for many years and listened to me retired about 15 years ago. Since then, I've had some real bozos for docs. Thanks to technology, I've been able to do more research. I've only been seeing this doc for 2 years and I know he's pulling his hair out because there are so many drugs I can't take or won't take. My doc wanted me to do the prolia thing but I ruled that out within minutes of seeing the side effects. I have been taking Vitamin D3 for years which has helped a lot with my back pain. I started taking Super Vitamin B Complex several years ago. That seems to help some. Plus, Centrum Silver for women. I also drink almond milk and the high protein shakes. I also take magnesium. I tried Vitamin K but that caused tremendous pain in my legs so I stopped that. I think at one time I had too much calcium. For at least 65 yrs. I would ache whenever the weather changed. My parents said it was growing pains. HA! The pain really got bad through the years. My body felt like it was going to explode, and at the same time it felt like there were hundreds of knives on my bones trying to cut the muscles and tendons. Then I started steroid shots for pain. For 5 years. That worked. I guess it ate a lot of my calcium though. I noticed I no longer have a bunch of little bumps going up and down my shins. I can honestly say I'm enjoying not being able to forecast the weather by the degree of pain I'm in. Now, if I could get rid of the fibromyalgia and bulging disc, I'd be so happy. Thanks for the advice. It's appreciated.

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Here is my Osteo journey: Look for a clinic that does Echolight sonagrams scans. Echolight is used in Europe and is now FDA approved. It measures bone strength as well as density without radiation and cost $80-$125 Then with your endocrinologist determine why you are losing calcium. I had a kidney issue where the kidneys were ‘spilling’ calcium rather than absorbing it for my bones. . Also, look for Osteogenic loading equipment which is based on Wolff's law of how the body builds bones. Developed by the German anatomist and surgeon Julius Wolff in the 19th century, states that bone in a healthy animal will adapt to the loads under which it is placed. If loading on a particular bone increases, the bone will remodel itself over time to become stronger to resist that sort of loading. Endocrinologists know this law, but prescribe medicine rather than weight bearing exercise. I asked my doctor to prescribe physical therapy, which gave me a daily bone exercise program for bone strength. I can get an Echolight scan (in Asheville NC) every 6 months to monitor progress and use the Osteogenic equipment (at a near by bone clinic) to stimulate bone growth. Bone loss is slow and so is rebuilding. Meds are designed to either stop the loss or build new bone. The bone may be denser but not always stronger.

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@sewcouture

Hi,
I would not take it! I tried several osteoporosis drugs before my endocrinologist gave me Prolia. It caused constant pains in my legs which were worse when I laid down. It also caused hair loss. My hair has receded about 1-1 1/2" all around my face! I quit the drug after 2 shots and about 6 months later feel great! I take ergocalciferol, Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 all prescribed by the same physician. Before you take any drug go to a computer search for the name of the drug and the suspected symptoms, for example - prolia and hair loss. Do NOT go to the prolia web site as they do not recognize all side symptoms.
I wish you luck and be wary of anything the medical profession tells you - do your own research.

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Hi @sewcouture and @cyndem I find a good website for researching supplements is http://www.examine.com and drugs is Worst Pills, Best Pills.

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@tsc

Hi @sewcouture and @cyndem I find a good website for researching supplements is http://www.examine.com and drugs is Worst Pills, Best Pills.

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Thank you. I usually enter the name of the drug in my search bar and find the results that way.

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