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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riverpark | @riverpark | Nov 5, 2023

I took Forteo daily injections for 28 days and had side effects that only worsened over that time. I took medicine at 7p.m. Thinking that was best. All night I had sharp stabbing pain in my legs and knees. I can say I felt that my spine felt stronger and I hated to stop but couldn’t tolerate the long bone discomfort and fatigue, headaches. My doctor or pharmacist ever contacted me as to what I could do.😟

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bbones2023 | @bbones2023 | Nov 5, 2023
In reply to @susyt "After 5 years of Risedronate, my new doctor wants to put me on Prolia, because my..." + (show)
@susyt

After 5 years of Risedronate, my new doctor wants to put me on Prolia, because my lumbar spine degraded these past two years to -3.6. I asked him if it is good at targeting the spine. He said, "None of them target a specific area." It sounds from you post that Forteo might work better on the spine than other meds? I thought a doctor in the past told me some are better at certain areas than others. Thanks for any advice anyone might have from other doctors or pharmacists.

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I have read on other people's responses that some drugs seem to target the hip area and others would target the spine. You may have to do a little reading through all of the comments, but I think you might find that helpful as well as the papers written by the pharmaceutical company.
Some seem to show significant improvements and others are improvements but minor.
What I didn't realize is that what you have built up. You then have to maintain some way so it is definitely a lifetime commitment with the various various br drugs. Best of luck!

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windyshores | @windyshores | Nov 5, 2023

#susyt Forteo and Tymlos are good with spine. Evenity probably as well. All three are bone-builders.

Are you seeing an endocrinologist? With a score of -3.6 I would think you would be on one of those three bone-builders, not Prolia (or a bisphosphonate). Can you get a second opinion?

I chose Tymlos because I am sensitive to meds and the dose is adjustable. Every person reacts differently to meds. I have had a 20% gain in my spine and have gone from -3.3 to -2.5.

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timely | @timely | Nov 6, 2023

I was told that I could not take any of the tablets as I have arrhythmias.

I just walked away when the NP suggested Prolia.....

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windyshores | @windyshores | Nov 7, 2023
In reply to @timely "I was told that I could not take any of the tablets as I have arrhythmias...." + (show)
@timely

I was told that I could not take any of the tablets as I have arrhythmias.

I just walked away when the NP suggested Prolia.....

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@timely I have afib, a serious arrhythmia, and did fine with Tymlos. But for a bisphosphonate I will do a 20% dose of Reclast to see how I do.

What tablets are you referring to?

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1 reply
windyshores | @windyshores | Nov 7, 2023

reposting because of a typo!

@susyt Forteo and Tymlos are good with spine. Evenity probably as well. All three are bone-builders.

Are you seeing an endocrinologist? With a score of -3.6 I would think you would be on one of those three bone-builders, not Prolia (or a bisphosphonate). Can you get a second opinion?

I chose Tymlos because I am sensitive to meds and the dose is adjustable. Every person reacts differently to meds. I have had a 20% gain in my spine and have gone from -3.3 to -2.5.

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timely | @timely | Nov 7, 2023
In reply to @windyshores "@timely I have afib, a serious arrhythmia, and did fine with Tymlos. But for a bisphosphonate..." + (show)
@windyshores

@timely I have afib, a serious arrhythmia, and did fine with Tymlos. But for a bisphosphonate I will do a 20% dose of Reclast to see how I do.

What tablets are you referring to?

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I was told by the Osteoporosis Nurse Practioner that I can take none of the 3 tablets for osteoporosis as I have arrhythmia.

She said that I can take only Prolia.
I said that Prolia has many side effects which she denied...
I refused and walked out of there.

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timely | @timely | Nov 8, 2023
In reply to @jennifer28 "Many doctors and scientists suggest there is little point taking collagen as the body simply breaks..." + (show)
@jennifer28

Many doctors and scientists suggest there is little point taking collagen as the body simply breaks it down through digestive processes. Recommendation is to take foods that support your body in building collagen.

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Well, that is interesting.
But it would take a lot of food with collagen to make anything happen.

I take collagen tablets and they prevent knee pain and take away wrinkles.
So, the tablets are doing something.

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evieinnz | @evieinnz | Nov 8, 2023
In reply to @naomid "Thank you so much, Chris. I so appreciate what you've shared. I hope you're free from..." + (show)
@naomid

Thank you so much, Chris. I so appreciate what you've shared. I hope you're free from suffering too. These decisions are so hard. I'm glad it worked out for you to take the oral meds. I can't take them at all due to serious GERD. I wish there was something available without all of the horrible side effects. And I wish there were more researchers working on better ways to treat this disease.

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Hi Naomid. Sorry to hear your story. I have joint probs too. Drs here in NZ don’t seem to help, so interested in all this advice.I notice you have GERDS. I’ve had to stop eating for 2 weeks because of this plus now have GAVE. Wonder where it will all stop!! But I stopped aspirin and had been taking heartburn and reflux tabs for years which weren’t helping anyway. So stopped that as well. Omeprazole can cause GAVE (Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia ).
So I took herbal tea with Slippery elm; aloe Vera, ginger and cinnamon every morning first thing. Heart burn has decreased big time. No breads/pastries cakes and biscuits. No gluten or dairy. Lots of filtered water. Good luck!! Be thinking of you. Evie 🤗

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susyt | @susyt | Nov 8, 2023
In reply to @windyshores "#susyt Forteo and Tymlos are good with spine. Evenity probably as well. All three are bone-builders...." + (show)
@windyshores

#susyt Forteo and Tymlos are good with spine. Evenity probably as well. All three are bone-builders.

Are you seeing an endocrinologist? With a score of -3.6 I would think you would be on one of those three bone-builders, not Prolia (or a bisphosphonate). Can you get a second opinion?

I chose Tymlos because I am sensitive to meds and the dose is adjustable. Every person reacts differently to meds. I have had a 20% gain in my spine and have gone from -3.3 to -2.5.

Jump to this post

At first he said time for a bone builder. Then he backtracked and said Prolia , but I too am wondering why not an anabolic.

That's great results you have had!!

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