Has anyone improved bone density without meds?

@oknowwhatpixie what test for bone markers

@bfowler
Did you have bone markers tests run before starting? If so having them done again now would give you a sense if the HRT is helping.

@kar50 hello there. I have not been on this site for so long because 10 weeks ago, I had a partial knee replacement and I’ve been busy with PT and recuperation. I have to say everything went well and I’m now out of pain. As far as osteoporosis. I took actinol years ago for three months. I got such bad side effects that I knew I could not go on any of the conventional drugs. I have been on bioidentical hormone cream for 29.years at that point. These creams and hormones are given through an integrative medicine doctor. I am very happy with the hormones and I switched to the pellet testosterone therapy and estradiol pellet as the doctor said they would have more impact on my bones. So far, I feel like a different person. This has been two years and my numbers have gone down. My spine went into the normal range and my hip is in the osteopenia range. The highest number I had was -2.8in the hip, which is now 2.0. I have increased my weightlifting through the years… I do Pilates three times a week with a trainer for years and I have changed my diet and I am eating much more protein. I am not drinking alcohol at all anymore even a toast at a wedding …there’s so many negative things in reference to bones that I said no more of that…I take a multivitamin I take vitamin k …Ostinol 900… vitamin d…b12.. everyone is different when it comes to their feelings on hormones and I went on the bioidentical creams when I was 48 and went into menopause. I am now 69 years old and have never had any problems or been in the hospital other than this knee replacement bone on bone 10 years. . As
Far as Ostinol I really don’t know …there are so many factors involved that it’s just another aspect of what I’m doing. There has been very good research done on Ostinol. I am trying everything I can to avoid any kind of osteoporosis drugs through the pharmaceutical industry. This is just my personal opinion. Good luck with your search for your next step. Stay well.

Welcome to Connect @naomid. I enjoyed your introduction. This forum is all about sharing and you have a great start. Knowledge is power. Connect will help you become a powerful patient who can advocate for themselves based upon knowledge gained from other members and from their own experience.

I understand your dislike of drugs, injections, and other types of medications that don't sit well with your medical history. I too dislike taking medications of any kind. I prefer being active and busy.

This is your first post so I will make my response brief. To fight off the effects of osteoporosis, at some point we have to face reality. My mother actually never recovered from a fractured hip, created when she opened the door to her apartment to welcome my visit. She never walked again.

I didn't pay attention to reality until I was 75+ years old and realized that I was approaching the time to wise up about bone health. My journey has been difficult with a couple of near disasters. Here is what I learned. Some of us cannot handle injections whether they are once a month or twice a year. They place too much medication in our bodies and we cannot handle it. So..to cut to the chase I had reactions to monthly and semi-annually injections. What I chose to do was begin with a product called Tymlos which is injected daily and builds healthy bone. After two years, my span scores had improved and I was ready to protect the new bone as well as the existing bone.

Then I did succumb to the every six-month injections for bone protection. That was quite the disaster. A sensitive endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic listened, applied his medical knowledge, and changed my medication to a weekly Monday morning tablet which does not overload my body and has no side effects.

So....stay true to yourself and be part of what I call a "shared decision" process in which you work together with your medical professional to meet your special needs. This support group will be very helpful. I am hoping that @windyshores can respond to your greeting. She has encountered fractures, found the appropriate medication, and will be moving on to the protection arena very soon.

May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris

@kar50 hello there. I have not been on this site for so long because 10 weeks ago, I had a partial knee replacement and I’ve been busy with PT and recuperation. I have to say everything went well and I’m now out of pain. As far as osteoporosis. I took actinol years ago for three months. I got such bad side effects that I knew I could not go on any of the conventional drugs. I have been on bioidentical hormone cream for 29.years at that point. These creams and hormones are given through an integrative medicine doctor. I am very happy with the hormones and I switched to the pellet testosterone therapy and estradiol pellet as the doctor said they would have more impact on my bones. So far, I feel like a different person. This has been two years and my numbers have gone down. My spine went into the normal range and my hip is in the osteopenia range. The highest number I had was -2.8in the hip, which is now 2.0. I have increased my weightlifting through the years… I do Pilates three times a week with a trainer for years and I have changed my diet and I am eating much more protein. I am not drinking alcohol at all anymore even a toast at a wedding …there’s so many negative things in reference to bones that I said no more of that…I take a multivitamin I take vitamin k …Ostinol 900… vitamin d…b12.. everyone is different when it comes to their feelings on hormones and I went on the bioidentical creams when I was 48 and went into menopause. I am now 69 years old and have never had any problems or been in the hospital other than this knee replacement bone on bone 10 years. . As
Far as Ostinol I really don’t know …there are so many factors involved that it’s just another aspect of what I’m doing. There has been very good research done on Ostinol. I am trying everything I can to avoid any kind of osteoporosis drugs through the pharmaceutical industry. This is just my personal opinion. Good luck with your search for your next step. Stay well.

I cannot understand why women are not followed for osteoporosis beginning at menopause to get a baseline and then retested annually. It used to be every five years. At my last annual check up I mentioned to my doctor I hadn’t had a dexascan in a while. She said we don’t test every 5 years any more. I was 70 at the time. Because I asked, she ordered one. My osteoporosis had progressed obviously and she wanted me to take one of the biophosphates. I didn’t want to do that due to side effects, one being possible fracture of the jaw. I’m currently taking a calcium supplement called Algaecal made from algae, a food source and absorbed better than the other calcium supplements. Additionally, I also exercise with ankle weights, climb stairs, walk and run and getting back to tennis. And incorporate as many high calcium foods as I can daily. I’m asking for another dexascan at my next annual.

I had the exact same situation and my primary, the endocronogist and others tried to scare me into meds. I would not budge. I work out with a trainer 3x a week, I walk and I take algaecal plus NO STRONTIUM. I have another Dexa WITH TBS on June 2. I also had a REMS scan. Do you know about that?

@lindamaegirl What is a REMS scan ?

Hello, I have a similar situation. And Because I got a new (& better) doctor last year, I've been encouraged to take some medicine. The options seem to be Reclast or start Forteo (which is a tier 5 in my drug plan!). I have supposed extreme osteoporosis, am 83, and have a slowly re-starting work-out regimen. I've fallen a few times in the last few years but no broken bones so far. I'm sensitive to all pharmaceuticals, and as I age the importance of COMFORT increases. If you have a review of everything you've learned so far, I'd love to see it. Thank you, and Good LUck!!
Sarah