Treating Osteoporosis: What works for you?

Hi, I came upon a book called "SaveourBones" Program by Vivian Goldschmidt, and read how these bisphosphonate drugs are not safe, serious side effects from these drugs. I take Vit. D 200mg. plus I try to get my calcium from food, almond milk, yogurt, cheese, green leafy veggies I'm praying this will help me with this osteoporosis.

Great source of knowledge you mention and great exercies

I am also taking Curcumin, specifically Curamed extrastrength and it has helped a lot with pain. Thank you for the Traumeel information. I am waiting to see if I find an alternative to Prolia which my endocrinologist has advised.

I totally 'get it'. I had broken ribs sneezing, broken clavicle reaching for the phone...The shock....at 35 I fractured my T9 playing volleyball on July 4th. Really I was only raising my arms above my head. After multiple weeks of therapy and little relief of pain and back spasms I saw a spine specialist. He took an X-ray (1st one) and I found out about the fracture (Sept 10). I had my initial DEXA scan with -2.9 spine and -4.7 hips. Premenopausal and no history of osteoporosis. Started on Fosamax daily...worked for a while then tapered off...then 2 years of Forteo (worked wonderfully and wished I could have remained on that for longer but not suggested), then Fosamax weekly....At this time I was diagnosed with Systemic Mastocytosis because of the severe numbers on my scans and spots on skin. I was sent to Mayo and saw 3 doctors, many tests and a bone marrow biopsy (having extra mast cells in bones)...causing more brittleness. My osteoporosis specialist at home gave me a 'drug holiday' since I'd been on medication for so long and at a younger age. Plus with the diagnosis at Mayo...I ended up with chemo (Interferon) 3 x a week for 3 years. Then 2 years ago I slipped and broke my pelvis in 5 spots and was told no surgery since I have 90 year old bones. So after 11 weeks began Prolia. I am on the end of my 2nd year. Really was the only thing left for me to use. Hasn't worked as well as Forteo...but could be age as I'm now 60. I have had NO side effects from any of the medications.

Hi Mary
Have they checked your blood calcium again , was it still high ? If so , did they test your parathyroid hormone level ?

Jan

I agree Kara , Calcium supplements should only be taken if ones serum calcium is low. Long term research shows /We know for a fact that Vitamin D replacement helps slow down or at times prevent progression of osteoporosis

What I have read on the Mayor Clinic Connect website makes me more skeptical than ever about bone-building medications, which are expensive, inconvenient, controversial and perhaps even experimental.

I spent hundreds of dollars each year on Fosamax (even though I got the generic from Canada - since the generic had not been approved by the FDA yet). Fosamax never did what the doctor who first subscribed it said it would do. I'm just lucky I didn't end up with a broken femur bone after being on it 8 or so years. My bones didn't stabilize until after I stopped taking Fosamax!

Thank you for that information. I have come to the same conclusion especially reading several different places about Calcium and the classification of drugs like Fosomax. I have been taking the generic of Fosamax, Alendronate, but no more.

After having a compression fracture of a spinal disc last January, my doctor wanted me to on Fortea. I would mean daily injections for 2 years and an out-of-pocket cost of more than $6000 over the two years. He was not happy when I said "no". I am considering Prolia which is covered by Medicare (injections by a doctor every 6 months for 2 years) but at the end of that time, one has to go on a bisphosonate (Fosamax is in that class) or any bone density increase from Prolia is (I read) quickly lost. I really don't know what to do.

Forteo was great for me. Built up bone mass that I didn't have. Even the reps for the rx were impressed with my results and used them as an example. I would still be on if I could. I've never been told of the 2 yr limit on Prolia. I will have my 2nd shot for 2016 in Dec. and I have not been told that. I will have to ask my doctor at Mayo. Forteo was covered by my insurance.