New to osteoporosis and overwhelmed

@criss I assume you know that strontium, if taken at 680 mg anyway, makes bone density looks better than it is on DEXA scans. Apparently a radiologist can use a formula to compensate. After 5 years of use it might have a significant effect.

Strontium replaces calcium in the bones and is denser, heavier, so it makes bone density look denser too. (I find the Algae Cal Strontium Boost somewhat misleading since it promises a refund if DEXA doesn't improve, but doesn't explain why.)

Thanks for the long term story of Algae Cal. It’s proof that you can rebuild bones without drugs.

@cpd54 I don't think that any story about Algae Cal with Strontium Boost is proof that you can rebuild bones without drugs, unless the DEXA scan result is adjusted for the relative density of strontium vs calcium. And in the UK and EU strontium IS a drug, and one that was suspended at one time due to cardiovascular risks. It is now used very selectively.

I take New Chapter Bone Strength, another calcium supplement sourced from algae (red marine algae). Each serving contains 5.5mg of strontium, as it's naturally included in the algae. I'd like to know how much strontium is in AlgaeCal Plus, for comparison, but couldn't find the amount on the label or website. Does anyone know? AlgaeCal recommends taking their Strontium Boost (680mg strontium), but I'm concerned about the safety and how it might affect my DEXA scans.

New Chapter daily dose is 3 slim tablets. In addition to the trace amount of strontium, each serving contains Calcium, D3, K1, K2, Magnesium and Vanadium. It's sold on Amazon if you want to find the amounts of each. I've been taking this for 6 years and my osteoporosis levels have remained stable.

Hello,
I am 78 years old and was diagnosed with osteoporosis in my spine two years ago. I have been vey careful as I had compression fractures at that time. I did not have a family Doctor at that time. I cannot take Fosamax as Ihav tried it and the side effects are bad.
I recently got a family Doctor who sent me for a Dexa test. My results are left femoral neck T 3.6 and my all over hip score is T2,5. Strangely my spine which gives me lots of bother is T2.0 . I have pain radiating down my left Larg at times. I have terrific back,pain . I have been told no pain with Osteoporosis, Well…. I have pain. Cannot vacuum but get pain.
Anyway , I will see my Doctor to discuss this in three weeks somobviouly not an emergency. I am doing excessive research on osteoporosis and am coming to the conclusion that at 78,year I am too for treatment ..not with the side effects. I am not,looking for a long life. I will be quite happy Togo when it is my time.
Any advice ?

score

My understanding, after lots of research, is osteoporosis itself isn’t painful, but the damage that can happen from weak bones is. My goal at 71 is to prevent future damage by getting/keeping my bones as strong as possible. I could not tolerate fosamax and have been doing Reclast, a bisphosphonate infusion, for 3 years. I was at osteoporosis everywhere, and now at osteopenia in all but one hip.

My mother had very painful spinal compressions that were extremely painful from around age 80 until she passed at 93.

I don't think I’ll ever get my bones up into the normal range. And I'm okay with that. But I do want to do everything i can to keep the bone I have strong. Without treatment my bones continue to lose density. I don’t want to live my last 10 years or so in major pain. So I do infusions.

Wishing you the best as you move forward with deciding - treatment or not.

@triciaot: My osteoporosis is being treated with Evenity (9th month injections today); I am considering Reclast infusions when my 12 month Evenity treatment ends. Will you share how you feel after the Reclast infusions (are there things I can do to prevent side effects? I have read some horror stories about Reclast, but wonder if it might be my best option. I await your reply…

@dbamos1945 My first 2 infusions gave me mild flu like symptoms starting the next day and lasting 1 1/2-3 days. Symptoms of mild body aches, headache, just a yucky feeling. I probably would have gone to work during this time if i needed to, but I’m retired. No other issues for the rest of the year.
I drank a lot of water the morning of, and started taking 2 Tylenol on a regular schedule. I did not take Tylenol after 24 hours. I tend to avoid taking pills if I don't really need them. I continued to drink extra water afterwards.

With the third infusion I had some pain in both eyes and feeling mildly nauseous within one hour. It seemed gone by the time I got home, 45 minutes. The next day I had some lingering, very mild pain in one eye only, happened to be on the same side as the injection. Then I had an even milder version of the flu symptoms. And have had no other issues since.

Rare ocular issues are a known side effect of Reclast. I had 24 hour conjunctivitis with Fosamax, an oral bisphosphonate, and that was part of the reason to switch to Reclast. Reclast is often given in a series of three annual infusions. I was actually surprised when my endocrinologist indicated she may recommend more Reclast in the future. I have a DEXA scan in May so we’ll see how my bones look then. I think the issue is that the Reclast has worked so well for me, and experience has shown that I tend to continue to lose bone density if I’m not taking something.

My eye reaction was mild, and it went away quickly, so I will consider taking Reclast again if recommended, but I’ll check with my ophthalmologist to make sure he thinks its safe beforehand. Eye issues are not a common side effect. I don't think I've read about anyone here mentioning it. I don't usually have any problems with my eyes, its a conundrum, and you may not ever have this problem.

@triciaot: Thank you so much for sharing your experience with Reclast Osteo Treatment. I believe it is the choice I will make. I’m a cancer patient so the ill-effects you mentioned seem like a piece of cake. I am curious about the odd eye issues (maybe some have headaches& others eye aches?!?).
I thank you for your detailed info and wish you continued great bone density & good health! 🙂

As I dig deeper into this chronic disease I also wonder if our bones are ever expected to get in the "normal" range? So many pieces of information to the osteoporosis puzzle you just can't get during a 15-minute endo appointment. I am of the opinion that although there is a so called "normal" number for bone health how do we; and how can we (whether we do drugs or not); achieve that. It seems to me that post menopause with the resulting lack of estrogen achieving the number of a healthy 30-year-old women's bone number would be impossible. I was so uninformed when diagnosed that I thought with treatment you would improve and stop meds! Now I read that some people; after taking powerful medication with possible powerful side effects, (I understand possible not probable) one may have zero improvement? Wow. So, there is the possibility that the only reason we take these powerful meds is to maintain our poor numbers and not get worse?