Improve bone density and strength without medication?

Posted by plav @plav, Dec 20, 2023

Any luck improving bone density and strength without medication? It seems the medications only mildly help ... and they only help some patients; some studies show the slight improvement in density does not mean quality bone was built. I'm not comfortable with moving forward with the treatments just because "that's what we give patients with osteoporosis". There seems to be no room for education or discussion, or research into actual results or other options.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

thank you for your insight.
helps a lot.
curious about the GY's.
am 75 now and would like to do less GY's because of that and the osteoporosis but don't know what to ask the radiologist.
did you do chemo also?

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@teb

so sorry you have to wait so long. That's really stressful. Maybe best to wait on the hormones until you have more information or you've found a provider who specializes. In the meantime, do all you can through exercise, a whole foods diet and supplementing any shortfalls to give yourself the best shot at maintaining. Wishing you all the best!

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Thanks @teb. I hope you enjoy the upcoming holidays. I bought a Marodyne as a gift to my bones, so hopefully that combined with all the other stuff you mentioned will be enough to maintain until I can get my tests and see a specialist 😊

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I’ve been following the comments about osteoporosis for a few weeks. I recently found out I have osteoporosis and am 70 years old Endocrinologist, primary care doctor recommended Actonel and rheumatologist recommended Prolia but said Actonel is ok fir me also. . I haven’t read anything here about Actonel. I know of the jaw bone dangers and really don’t want to take it, but does anyone have experience with this medication?
Thanks

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@szf10

I’ve been following the comments about osteoporosis for a few weeks. I recently found out I have osteoporosis and am 70 years old Endocrinologist, primary care doctor recommended Actonel and rheumatologist recommended Prolia but said Actonel is ok fir me also. . I haven’t read anything here about Actonel. I know of the jaw bone dangers and really don’t want to take it, but does anyone have experience with this medication?
Thanks

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@szf10 if your bone density is severely low, I hope you can take one of the bone builders: Forteo, Tymlos or Evenity. My docs don't use Prolia because it is so hard to get off of it. If you do Actonel I think people take it for 5 years, so then what? Many of us are using a bone builder first and then "locking in" gains with a bisphosphonate like Reclast (Actonel is also a bisphosphonate). I have been told that doing a bisphosphonate first will render bone builders less effective if I needed them in the future, and that the proper sequence is bone builder then bisphosphonate.

If your bone density loss is mild and your DEXA score is not too bad, you might be able to do Actonel.

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@koleke

Thank you for that information! He has rated Forteo an A++ but says I don't qualify for it. When I was 18 I had a ruptured eardrum and had it replaced. There were complications and they did a series of radiation directly to the ear drum. He said that is considered radiation therapy so I should avoid Forteo. Next best is Evenity. Still undecided...

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I also wanted to go on Forteo but cannot because of radiation. I am going to try Evenity. My Dr said people have good results. I haven't been able to build bone natural ways. It is scary to go on Evenity but osteoporosis is scary too.

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I have another question for everyone. Have you heard that once you start Prolia you can never stop because the fact that your bones will have a drastic setback?

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@koleke

I have another question for everyone. Have you heard that once you start Prolia you can never stop because the fact that your bones will have a drastic setback?

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@koleke you can stop Prolia by going on Reclast or another bisphosphonate, but preferably Reclast because it is an infusion and more potent.

However, this is tricky in terms of timing which needs to be individualized using blood tests, according to Keith McCormick's excellent new book "Great Bones." You might be able to get it at a library and it is available online.

Prolia and Reclast are both antiresorptives so if used for too long, there are some risks of jaw necrosis and atypical femur fracture.

Antiresorptives affect the effectiveness of bone builders like Forteo, Tymlos and Evenity so it is better, I have been told and read, to start with a bone builder first.

My docs don't use Prolia because of the risks of going off, or even missing a dose, for some people anyway. But if I were 85 I would consider it and stay on until the end of my life!!

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@koleke

I have another question for everyone. Have you heard that once you start Prolia you can never stop because the fact that your bones will have a drastic setback?

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This issue has been discussed many times in various discussion groups. Suggest you use the "Search Function" at the top of the page and review those postings. There is a wealth of info.

If you have a more particular concern and it is not addressed in these various discussions, a more specific question can then be framed.

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@koleke

I have another question for everyone. Have you heard that once you start Prolia you can never stop because the fact that your bones will have a drastic setback?

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Two endocrinologists told me that. They said there are four osteoporosis meds you can’t ever go off of, and that’s one of them.

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@cpd54

My scores are like yours. But I haven’t had a fracture. I’ve had 3 doctors tell me not to take drugs, an orthopedic surgeon, a functional medicine doctor and my dentist. My planned course of action is for 2 years try to do everything possible to up my scores without meds. Then have another dexa and see. My daily supplements are recommended by my FMD. Calcium citrate or malate- 1000 mg daily( I take Osteo-K by NBI), D3 5000 IU (I was significantly low), a B complex, Magnesium 2:1 ratio to calcium (I take citrate and glycinate), Vit K2 (I’ve done a lot if research on this one. FMD said up to 45 mg. That’s MK4. There is also MK7 that I take every other day at 182 mcg.), Boron 3 mg, Copper .9mg, Zinc 15 mg , Manganese- 1.8-23 mg, selenium 55 mcg. A lot of these I get with my multi vitamin.
She also recommended yoga, fast walking, stomping and whole body vibration for exercise.
You will find TONS of info and opinions about osteoporosis when you start researching. To me, you do what s best for you based on your health and comfort. I’m not comfortable taking the drugs. I’ll reassess after my next Dexa. Also there are other tests, P1NP and CTX, you can do to determine the action of your bone building.
I would suggest reading Dr Keith McCormicks books as well as Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox by Kate Rheaume-Bleue. Also I’ve just started watching Dr Doug Lucas on YouTube.
Good luck in your journey.

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Dr. Doug Lucas has some excellent information on his YouTube channel

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