Has anyone improved bone density without meds?

I was diagnosed @ Mayo with severe osteoporosis of the spine. The doctor suggested Evenity. The black box warning scared me to death. I was on an estrogen patch after an hysterectomy for thirty years. No osteoporosis at that time. Then had knee replacement surgery and was told by surgeon to remove patch due to clotting issues. I am about to go back on the patch. I know it doesn’t rebuild bones, but not enough research has been done on Evenity. Would alendronote be a drug I could use? Or do I have to take a stronger drug prior to the one you take on Mondays?

@naomid radiation is still on the websites for these meds as a contraindication. My endocrinologist is flexible. If I were you I might ask about doing just 6 months, since that is when Forteo and Tymlos create the most bone growth. For Evenity I was told 4-6 months of maximum bone growing. I have no idea what a doc might say!

Here are two sources of info; I am sure there are more:
https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/tymlos-side-effects#side-effects-explained
"Due to the possible risk of bone cancer, doctors will usually not prescribe Tymlos for people who are already at high risk. This includes those who have:
a metabolic bone disease besides osteoporosis, such as Paget’s diseasea history of bone cancer or another cancer that has metastasized (spread) to the bones
received radiation therapy or external beam treatment that involves the skeleton."

However for both there may be exceptions:

See the conclusion of this study:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34608566/
"Conclusion: Despite radiotherapy being a relative contraindication to teriparatide use, there may be a role for teriparatide in select cases where osteoporosis is complex and severe and where other treatment options are not suitable or have been exhausted. The risks vs. benefits of prescribing teriparatide in this population should always be carefully considered, and both the patient and treating oncologist should be educated on the potential risk of osteosarcoma development when teriparatide is continued during radiotherapy."

My pharmacist called me and insurance covers an estrogen patch only. Less side effects with just estrogen. I will try it. I had hysterectomy at 40 and was on patch for thirty years and no osteoporosis. Took patch off when I had knee replacement surgery as surgeon was worried about clots. I did take it off and now osteoporosis. I’m going back on patch. I now have severe osteoporosis, and know it doesn’t rebuild bone, but could maybe stabilize them. Evinity has black box warnings, as that’s what doc recommended at Mayo.

@judy58 Tymlos and Forteo do not have black box warnings anymore. Will your doc prescribe one of those? Evenity is really new...

Windyshores, thank you for being so generous with your time and research. Forteo still sounds quite risky and I doubt that my endocrinologist would approve. In addition, one has to go on a relay drug after completing a course of forteo. My severe dental issues render all oral drugs and prolia very problematic for me. I honestly never know when I'm gone to need the next root canal or implant. I am going to continue with the Marodyne
low intensity vibration platform, collagen with Fortibone, daily exercise and careful intake of calcium through nutrition, plus extreme caution in terms of fall risk the next 9 months. At that time I am going to request another dexa scan along with TBS. If there is any further bone loss, I will reconsider at that time. I also plan to keep following all the research in hopes that some better options will become available. Thank you again for being there for all of us!

Not sure if your aware of it but everything we take has warnings on the bottle or pkg. Even sweet n sour sauce has a warning. Can cause cancer. Tylenol. Liver damage , kidney damage . You name it. Not sure what to take any more

Hi timely,
Oh, how I wish I had the ultimate exercise program to recommend! (Sigh....) All I can do at this point is share what may be helpful.
Like you, dealing with the joys of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, with scoliosis being the cherry on top! After "ignoring" my scoliosis since being diagnosed in my early twenties with idiopathic adolescent scoliosis, too late I discovered the scoliosis has not been ignoring me. It has gone from mild to moderate, and now complicated by sarcopenia. The OP has been hand-in-glove with the muscle wasting.
I've been working with a PT who specializes in the Schroth method for treating scoliosis. Since making her aware of my OP diagnosis, she has made helpful modifications to my scoliosis exercises, adding some hand weights to my regimen. I strongly suggest that you work with such a specialist, because as you know, scoliosis involves a 3D rotational disfigurement, and each case is somewhat different. I have dextro thoracolumbar scoliosis and must use a supportive towel roll for some of the floor exercises. It would be great if there were a video series that addressed the unique needs of those diagnosed with both scoliosis and OP.
Because scoliosis sufferers are at increased risk for sarcopenia, I have added 5 mg of creatine to my daily supplement intake. (If our muscles can't support our frame, then that puts added stress on our already weak bones!) I use my Marodyne LIV machine twice each day to promote my bone density and muscle mass. And so many other daily interventions...

Thank you. I will look into these tomorrow. I have a full evening planned and should start to prepare. Have a nice evening.

Hi thiisnthat:

Please keep in touch:

I started PT last Thursday and did tell the PT about my scoliosis.
I seem to have one leg longer than the other and wore shorts to the meeting. So PT is aware.

Good point about lack of muscle strength. I am going to be working on that.

Did not even realize that I need a specialist.

I did get a referral to her so will try to work with her and do all my research of exercises provided by her online to make sure that they are ok. She said that I would need 2 months of PT.
She gave me 4 exercises to do.

Seems the burden of patients and doctors is for patients to check everything in every field.

Do not even know if there is a specialist locally for this, even though in a major city.
I told her (PT) that my goal is to do weight bearing exercises. ( This is for osteoporosis...)

I am getting a treadmill next week with rails on the sides for balance. It can go very slowly too...

Will check out all your information. Many thanks.
timely. 🌺🌺🌺🌺

I am not sure where we all are at this point. I will NOT do any injectables ever. My husband tells me that there is a lab near us who will do a blood test without my physician's script. Think I'll do that next week and see what the read is. Takes about three days and they email the results.

Maybe we all need a blood test to see what's missing or what we have been taking that is too much. If you live in an urban area I'm sure you have such a lab available. Good Luck all. Another day...on my way to get ready to go out this evening. Ciao for now.