Has anyone improved bone density without meds?

I've used a Multi Collagen Protein supplement by Horbaach that has 5 types of collagin. From 2019 to 2021, my DEXA scores remained unchanged. I stopped using it for a while this year and have my next scan in two months. Through all these years, I also take calcium supplements.

Hi @elanatree, I've been taking alendronate for two years. During that time, for a year and a half, I took high dosages of prednisone for a serious autoimmune disorder. My recent dexa scan showed improvement to my spine, out of osteoporosis, but my hips slightly worse.
My doctor was perplexed, then thought the prednisone might explain it. She suggested I get a personal trampoline and use it 10 minutes a day to improve my hips.
I just purchased one and started working on it. It takes some adjusting to because it recruits a lot of muscles I'm not used to using, so I decided to building up to the 10 minutes gradually. I found a YouTube video from Earth and Owl with a rebounder program for this, "Rebounding for Chronic Illness."
Dr. Alyssa Kuhn has some stomping workouts for osteoporosis. You can Google her videos, and Dr. Loren Fishman has an ongoing study of yoga poses he selected to improve bone density, "Twelve Poses vs Osteoporosis." It can be found on YouTube as well.

@ginger123 you wrote "osteoarthritis." Did you mean osteoporosis or do you have osteopenia and arthritis?

I have osteoporosis and osteopenia. Probably arthritis, too !

Hi, when I passed the threshold from osteopenia to osteoporosis, ProLia was recommended to me. I too have dental issues and a root canal and extraction were 2 procedures that stopped me from taking ProLia. I really was not eager to take any drug. I was in a situation where my doctors wanted to wait a year after taking ProLia to do a bone scan. It had been 2 years since I had been diagnosed, and since there was an order for the scan, I went ahead and self-scheduled it. (Kind of a rebel move, but I wanted to know where I stood). The numbers did deteriorate, but I didn't really know how to interpret them. I found an excellent endodontist to determine if I needed a root canal. Fortunately, I did not so I chose to start ProLia. Hopefully I will not need a dental procedure and this drug will have the desired effect. It was not easy for me to decide to take it. I take enough medication. I am putting my faith in my Mayo endocrinologist, who I met with and he went over every one of my medications and the interpretation of the difference in bone loss from 2 years prior. It's a journey for me, as I age, to make decisions and this was a tough one for me. I don't think I'm having side effects, but it's only been a couple months. I suspect this might not be too helpful to you, but I do empathize with you and what you are going through.

I think we each need to do what feels right for us. And you sound at peace going on Prolia. At some point I may end up making the same choice. Good luck to you.

I never heard of collagen peptides. I will have to look into that. One thing I found out recently was that anti-seizure medicines, like Lyrica, which I was on for peripheral neuropathy, and statins, which I’ve been on for 20+ years for high cholesterol, are very hard on bones and can cause osteoporosis. I went to see a holistic chiropractor, and with his help I have been off Lyrica for seven months and my PN symptoms have not returned.

Thank you for the new rabbit hole to explore - the effect of cholesterol and statins on osteoporosis. A quick glance seemed to provide conflicting info That may be resolved by further reading.

Thanks. Please Keep me posted on your next scan.

More than one study has shown that the higher your dose of statins, the greater your chances of getting osteoporosis. I had been taking 40 mg until my new cardiologist switched me to 80 mg shortly before I found out I had osteoporosis. Even though my lipid levels were very good, he was of the opinion that no amount of statins is too much and he wanted to get my bad cholesterol down even more. But when I found out I had osteoporosis I emailed him and told him I wanted to go back to 40, that I didn’t think taking 80 was worth the risk. He agreed! It wasn’t just the statins alone I was concerned about, it was the fact I was taking.3 different medicines that all are proven to show an increase in osteoporosis.