Improve bone density and strength without medication?

I have had luck in building bone in my spine by weight lifting. Started light of course and worked my way up. My hip/femoral has stayed roughly the same over the past 7 years with leg exercises... squats, jumping-not high- with straight leg, weighted marches. I also changed my diet for the better to include bone building foods, such as broccoli, fatty fish/salmon/saudines, kefir, arugula, 1 brazil nut a day, raisens and a couple prunes a day, good amount of protein depending on your activity level, and of course fruit-blueberries, apples. See Dr. Doug on YouTube, he has a lot of recommendations on diet.

@plav what they told you is not true, it is an oversimpification. Maybe your docs don't want to go into details? If you go off Prolia, there is risk of an abrupt drop in bone density and risk of fracture. In fact I read that even if there isn't a significant drop, the fracture risk still goes up. I believe I read that in McCormick's book "Great Bones."

As I wrote before, you can transition to Reclast but the timing is very important to get right. Too early and the Reclast doesn't work and too late, fracture risk has already gone up. Docs I know (and McCormick) can use the CTX blood test to determine the best timing.

Maybe you can go back and discuss this with your doc(s).

I’ve just started watching him. I’m even considering doing his 3 month program. Thanks for the info …

I will check out utube. I am 70.

I am also 70

There is a wealth of information about Prolia on the Facebook Self-help group Prolia (Denosumab) side effects/effets secondaries support group. They have an entire library of studies and articles dedicated to helping people be more aware prior to taking this medicine.

Wonder what the other drugs were that they told her.

I think what the doctors were trying to convey is once I start on any of four specific medications, I need to stay on "an osteoporosis medication" indefinitely (not necessarily the SAME medication). The endocrinologists were suggesting Reclast since that can supposedly be stopped without having to take another medication. But, at my last appointment the endo suggested starting with Evenity, then Reclast after. I am researching options and looking for "reasons" for each to see if they fit my situation. It seems most doctors "always use" a specific medication without considering if the issue is with osteoclast or osteoblast activity. If I agree to a medication, I would need to know the specific medication is what "I" need based on my health and test results since the wrong medication for a patient can actually have a negative impact. When the doctor just prescribes "the usual" without more in depth testing or conversation, I am cautious ..., and that leads me to research for myself. I am hoping insights from this group will be helpful.

I fear that too many doctors do not fully make patients aware that treating osteoporosis is a lifetime commitment, both mentally and financially. I had to point blank ask the NP at the fracture clinic if I would be making a lifetime commitment. She had mentioned ReClast after a year of Evenity but had to be pinned down on how many years of ReClast might be in my future. And for these expensive drugs, paying for them could pose hardships or stressing about payments could take its toll. I want to know in advance what I am undertaking. Add in that with a drug like Prolia, one cannot just stop.

@normahorn part of the problem is insurance companies that want us to try anti-resorptives first because they are cheaper, and it is so much better to do bone builders before anti-resorptives.