1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

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.

lynn59 | @lynn59 | Dec 30, 2023
In reply to @sallyj2 "Also, I don’t know how long ago you smoked or how much, but between a cardio..." + (show)
@sallyj2

Also, I don’t know how long ago you smoked or how much, but between a cardio ct scan and an echo, cardiologist should be able to tell you the state of your heart. Many doctors have stopped prescribing statins, especially for women. Second opinion maybe?

Jump to this post

I have an irregular heartbeat (benign) so I’ve had an echocardiogram to make sure all is okay but I’ve yet to have a CT scan. I told my cardiologist I was reticent to go on a statin as my cholesterol is only slightly elevated so I’m scheduled for a CT scan in September 2024. I don’t want to wait that long so I might try to get one privately in the States (I’m from Canada and since it’s not an emergency, I’m a very low priority).

REPLY
gravity3 | @gravity3 | Dec 31, 2023
In reply to @rn40 "After taking Evenity with minimal improvement, I have decided to get a rebounder (in home, small..." + (show)
@rn40

After taking Evenity with minimal improvement, I have decided to get a rebounder (in home, small trampoline) to try to get in some mild impact to hips. I am also researching OsteoStrong. They have studios with equipment to mimic impact activities to strengthen bone

Jump to this post

I believe that there is an osteostrong thread on this site.

REPLY
susanfalcon52 | @susanfalcon52 | Dec 31, 2023
In reply to @kallettla "I also wanted to go on Forteo but cannot because of radiation. I am going to..." + (show)
@kallettla

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.

Jump to this post

It is scary to go on Evenity. I will get my 8th Evenity shots this week. It has been uneventful, but it was scary at first.
Now, I’m focusing on being scared of Reclast which may be next for me. 🙂

REPLY
2 replies
rjd | @rjd | Dec 31, 2023
In reply to @sallyj2 "Also, I don’t know how long ago you smoked or how much, but between a cardio..." + (show)
@sallyj2

Also, I don’t know how long ago you smoked or how much, but between a cardio ct scan and an echo, cardiologist should be able to tell you the state of your heart. Many doctors have stopped prescribing statins, especially for women. Second opinion maybe?

Jump to this post

This is the first time I have heard that 'doctors have stopped prescribing statins, esp for women.'

Could you please advise about the source of this information?

REPLY
2 replies
awfultruth | @awfultruth | Dec 31, 2023
In reply to @susanfalcon52 "It is scary to go on Evenity. I will get my 8th Evenity shots this week...." + (show)
@susanfalcon52

It is scary to go on Evenity. I will get my 8th Evenity shots this week. It has been uneventful, but it was scary at first.
Now, I’m focusing on being scared of Reclast which may be next for me. 🙂

Jump to this post

I like your sense of humor Susan. I'm only 3 shots in with Evenity but absolutely no side effects so far. I'm hoping to get to your position of the next med to worry about after a couple of more shots.

REPLY
awfultruth | @awfultruth | Dec 31, 2023
In reply to @rjd "This is the first time I have heard that 'doctors have stopped prescribing statins, esp for..." + (show)
@rjd

This is the first time I have heard that 'doctors have stopped prescribing statins, esp for women.'

Could you please advise about the source of this information?

Jump to this post

RJD, I didn't make the post about docs stopping with statins but there are a number of doctors and researchers who believe statins for cardiovascular disease are a big mistake. My favorite person challenging LDL and statins as the origin and cure for CVD is David Diamond. Others include Uffe Ravnskov and Malcom Kendrick. They have books and youtube talks and so forth. They are 3 of the co-authors of a 2018 paper "LDL-C does not cause cardiovascular disease: a comprehensive review of the current literature". The full author list was: Uffe Ravnskov 1, Michel de Lorgeril 2, David M Diamond 3 4, Rokuro Hama 5, Tomohito Hamazaki 6, Björn Hammarskjöld 7, Niamh Hynes 8, Malcolm Kendrick 9, Peter H Langsjoen 10, Luca Mascitelli 11, Kilmer S McCully 12, Harumi Okuyama 13, Paul J Rosch 14, Tore Schersten 15 16, Sherif Sultan 8, Ralf Sundberg 17. So there are doctors and researchers who don't think statins are worth it if you try to balance the small margin of benefits with the side effects that many people have.

REPLY
1 reply
sallyj2 | @sallyj2 | Dec 31, 2023
In reply to @rjd "This is the first time I have heard that 'doctors have stopped prescribing statins, esp for..." + (show)
@rjd

This is the first time I have heard that 'doctors have stopped prescribing statins, esp for women.'

Could you please advise about the source of this information?

Jump to this post

Two cardiologists, a family practice doctor, and an endocrinologist in Austin. I’ll try to find pub med or nih articles. You might beat me to it, if cholesterol is over 1000, that would be different.

REPLY
kallettla | @kallettla | Dec 31, 2023
In reply to @susanfalcon52 "It is scary to go on Evenity. I will get my 8th Evenity shots this week...." + (show)
@susanfalcon52

It is scary to go on Evenity. I will get my 8th Evenity shots this week. It has been uneventful, but it was scary at first.
Now, I’m focusing on being scared of Reclast which may be next for me. 🙂

Jump to this post

There is no fabulous treatment. I find them all scary!

REPLY
violetangel1111 | @violetangel1111 | Dec 31, 2023
In reply to @honeb279 "Definitely the prunes. She was on FOSOMAX for nearly 10 years and no improvements. After the..." + (show)
@honeb279

Definitely the prunes. She was on FOSOMAX for nearly 10 years and no improvements. After the first year on prunes and noticeable improvement in bone density, commented on by hospital. Two years later next bone density another increase. I must emphasis she ate the four prunes nearly every day, eating now and then I doubt would have worked for her.

Jump to this post

Thank you for your encouraging post. I have been eating 2 prunes a day for the past year and will increase to 4 a day. You give me hope!

REPLY
3 replies
honeb279 | @honeb279 | Dec 31, 2023
In reply to @violetangel1111 "Thank you for your encouraging post. I have been eating 2 prunes a day for the..." + (show)
@violetangel1111

Thank you for your encouraging post. I have been eating 2 prunes a day for the past year and will increase to 4 a day. You give me hope!

Jump to this post

I am hopeful it will work for you. I think a regular serving is 5, nut my wife is small in stature so she takes a little less. If after your next bone density your density does not improve, consider increasing it to 5. Good luck and happy new year.

REPLY
1 reply
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.