1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

Has anyone improved bone density without meds?

Posted by naomid @naomid, Mar 21, 2023

I have a very problematic dental history and will continue to need additional root canals and implants. I also have Sjogren's Syndrome and want to avoid any drugs that cause rheumatic symptoms. Other issues in my health history make all of the meds risky for me. That said, I work out almost daily, lift weights, maintain a healthy diet, take all the recommended supplements, and get most of my calcium nutritionally. My endocrinologist wants me to take an infusion/injectable drug. I dread the side-effects, yet I'm afraid of fracturing, which hasn't happened over the many years I have had osteoporosis. That said, my numbers are getting worse (-3.2 spine, -3.1 hip). I need to do something more than I've been doing, and am at a loss. I need hope and solutions I can be at peace with. Thanks for any comments or suggestions!

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kirstenlheld | @kirstenlheld | Jun 7, 2023
In reply to @ripley "When you research calcium supplements, check out New Chapter Bone Strength Organic Red Marine Algae Calcium,..." + (show)
@ripley

When you research calcium supplements, check out New Chapter Bone Strength Organic Red Marine Algae Calcium, highly rated on Amazon. It has D3, K1, K2, Magnesium and trace minerals. A 40-day supply from Amazon is about $32. For AlgaeCal, a 30 day supply costs $53.

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Thanks so much. This supplement stuff can get super expensive. I'll ask Dr, McCormick if he's heard of that one.

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ripley | @ripley | Jun 7, 2023

Both brands use Red Marine Algae calcium complex. New Chapter lists it as Lithothamnion, and AlgaeCal's website calls it Lithothamnion superpositum.

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leeosteo | @leeosteo | Jun 7, 2023
In reply to @kirstenlheld "I just got my latest DEXA to see if things were getting worse. My last one..." + (show)
@kirstenlheld

I just got my latest DEXA to see if things were getting worse. My last one before this was last September. This one, on the same machine showed my lumbar spine to be -2.9, my left hip to be -2.1 and my right hip to be -1.9. Each of these is exactly one point lower than the last time and it says this is not statistically significant, which immediately made me wonder what is considered to be statistically significant. We're getting ready to move to Asheville, NC from Baltimore, so by definition, a year from now, it will be a different DEXA machine. I am due for a phone consultation with Dr. McCormick on July 19th. Hopefully after that and another consultation with a different endocrinologist, I'll be ready to make a decision about medication. I've heard really good things about AlgaeCal, so I'll be interested in his opinion about that. In the meantime, my almost constant ache in my lower back and left hip reminds me everyday that I have both erosive osteoarthritis and osteopenia/osteoporosis. It makes me more fearful of lifting heavy things or doing simply moving than I have ever been. And here we are in the midst of packing. Ugh!!

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kirstenlheld, I'd be interested in Dr McCormick's take on AlgaeCal. Could you share his response with this group after your discussion with him? Personally, I'm a little hesitant using Algae related supplementals. There's no oversight over the ocean and who knows what's been dumped into the ocean or other water sources.

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3 replies
kirstenlheld | @kirstenlheld | Jun 7, 2023
In reply to @leeosteo "kirstenlheld, I'd be interested in Dr McCormick's take on AlgaeCal. Could you share his response with..." + (show)
@leeosteo

kirstenlheld, I'd be interested in Dr McCormick's take on AlgaeCal. Could you share his response with this group after your discussion with him? Personally, I'm a little hesitant using Algae related supplementals. There's no oversight over the ocean and who knows what's been dumped into the ocean or other water sources.

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I will definitely update everyone on this site once I've had my consultation. The problem with all supplements is that they are largely not regulated, so you have to have a high amount of trust in the manufacturer that what they say is in the bottle actually is. What this also translates to is that often it is the much more expensive, not off the shelf, lines of supplements that have a higher reliability score, if you will. One line that I have a great deal of trust in is Anabolic Laboratories. Their products are standardized just like prescription medication is so you know that if it says you are getting 240mg per pill, you actually are. You can find some of their line of products on Amazon and other sites, and I know my chiropractor carries them as that is where I found ProEnz originally (it's a mixture of Turmeric, Bromelein, and other anti-inflammatory herbs/spices that made a difference in the pain from my arthritis in less than a week of continuous use. It did the same for my mother. But, you can't buy directly from the company, so if you're interested in one of their products, you've got to hunt around for where you can get it.

Most recently, I have turned to the brand Wellena for many of my supplements, but when it comes to osteoporosis, you won't know for months or years if something is really helping or not. I started taking Maca root for peri-menopause/menopause symptoms for example and noticed a big difference in a matter of weeks. Since then, I've stuck with the brand I started with for that as I could see that it was working and therefore, I could probably trust the brand. Much more difficult with bone density issues, I'm afraid.

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windyshores | @windyshores | Jun 7, 2023
In reply to @kirstenlheld "When I last had X-rays on my hips in 2020, I was told there was no..." + (show)
@kirstenlheld

When I last had X-rays on my hips in 2020, I was told there was no arthritis in them at that time, which frankly surprised me. I had X-rays done of my spine last fall after getting the DEXA showing it had progressed to osteoporosis, and at that time, there was no sign of fracture. I think, and "think" being the crucial term, that the discomfort is arthritis related or muscular from one leg being slightly longer than the other, but without having another X-ray, who knows. If it continues I'll have to find out since there are some days when the ache in that hip becomes real pain. One thing I've learned from other people who had hip replacements done is that they wish they'd had it done sooner than they did. So far, it's not keeping me from doing certain workouts or otherwise limiting my movements, but if it starts to, then I won't wait.

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@kirstenheld I had similar pain in left hip and lower back and did a lot of PT to no avail. I finally saw this great ortho (not a surgeon) who showed me the x-ray and how a bone spur was sticking out. When I lie down it presses on a nerve and/or muscle and then the pain radiates for a few days. Don't know if this is helpful. I am trying not to sleep on that side!

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1 reply
ripley | @ripley | Jun 7, 2023
In reply to @leeosteo "kirstenlheld, I'd be interested in Dr McCormick's take on AlgaeCal. Could you share his response with..." + (show)
@leeosteo

kirstenlheld, I'd be interested in Dr McCormick's take on AlgaeCal. Could you share his response with this group after your discussion with him? Personally, I'm a little hesitant using Algae related supplementals. There's no oversight over the ocean and who knows what's been dumped into the ocean or other water sources.

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New Chapter says their calcium is USDA certified organic plant calcium and is "sustainably harvested from the coast of Iceland". I've been using it for several years. My DEXA scan in 2021 showed my T scores remained stable with my scores from 2 years previous. I am due for another scan this November.

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1 reply
kirstenlheld | @kirstenlheld | Jun 7, 2023
In reply to @windyshores "@kirstenheld I had similar pain in left hip and lower back and did a lot of..." + (show)
@windyshores

@kirstenheld I had similar pain in left hip and lower back and did a lot of PT to no avail. I finally saw this great ortho (not a surgeon) who showed me the x-ray and how a bone spur was sticking out. When I lie down it presses on a nerve and/or muscle and then the pain radiates for a few days. Don't know if this is helpful. I am trying not to sleep on that side!

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That's very helpful. I have bone spurs in the neck and on several fingers already so I wouldn't be surprised at all if there's one on that hip. If that's what it is, maybe they could shave it down like they did my bunion. I am still hopeful it will resolve on its own or at least won't get much worse while we're in the midst of moving.

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1 reply
windyshores | @windyshores | Jun 7, 2023
In reply to @kirstenlheld "That's very helpful. I have bone spurs in the neck and on several fingers already so..." + (show)
@kirstenlheld

That's very helpful. I have bone spurs in the neck and on several fingers already so I wouldn't be surprised at all if there's one on that hip. If that's what it is, maybe they could shave it down like they did my bunion. I am still hopeful it will resolve on its own or at least won't get much worse while we're in the midst of moving.

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Since that wonderful ortho explained and showed me the x-ray, my hip is so much better. I have really gotten used to not sleeping on that side. Luckily my bone spur does not affect sitting. (Of course now I am focusing in PT on pain elsewhere...no shortage of that!) I hope that your problem is similar in the hip!

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windyshores | @windyshores | Jun 7, 2023
In reply to @leeosteo "kirstenlheld, I'd be interested in Dr McCormick's take on AlgaeCal. Could you share his response with..." + (show)
@leeosteo

kirstenlheld, I'd be interested in Dr McCormick's take on AlgaeCal. Could you share his response with this group after your discussion with him? Personally, I'm a little hesitant using Algae related supplementals. There's no oversight over the ocean and who knows what's been dumped into the ocean or other water sources.

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@leeosteo McCormick may sell calcium in his office. It might be on his website.

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ans | @ans | Jun 8, 2023
In reply to @ripley "When you research calcium supplements, check out New Chapter Bone Strength Organic Red Marine Algae Calcium,..." + (show)
@ripley

When you research calcium supplements, check out New Chapter Bone Strength Organic Red Marine Algae Calcium, highly rated on Amazon. It has D3, K1, K2, Magnesium and trace minerals. A 40-day supply from Amazon is about $32. For AlgaeCal, a 30 day supply costs $53.

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I just viewed a live stream by Margaret Martin PT, well respected in the osteoporosis world, and she specifically said she wouldn’t recommend any of the ALGE type Calcium supplements due to the toxicity in the oceans. That was a new one and disappointment for me as I’ve been using an Algae Cal supplement with other nutrients, as you’ve stated, for the past 3 and 1/2 years.

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