Treating Osteoporosis: What works for you?

I found out I had osteoporosis at 57. I was shocked as I've been health conscious for 30 years and a dancer so I regularly exercise. My endo advised me to go on bisphosphonates and my naturopath advised me to go on hormone replacement. I absolutely refused both options. I was going to research restoring my bone density naturally, improve my diet even more, increase my exercise and track my nutrition to make sure I was getting the appropriate nutrients in the right amounts. I gave it 100% effort and told my endo to give me 2 years to show my results. Epic fail. I went from -2.8 to -3.2 with all the loss continuing in my spine. I decided to finally go on Forteo as I felt that at least as parathyroid hormone, it was something familiar to the body and that it specifically targeted the vertebrae. It worked and I had no side effects and my density went from 3.2 to 2.9. Interestingly, I had the most gain the first year and towards the end of the second year, unfortunately a slight loss. After Forteo, you must go on something to maintain the gain or you will quickly lose it. That was also a tough decision. I ultimately decided to go on a low dose hormone replacement and that has helped to stabilize. Again, I made that difficult choice as I felt it was the most natural thing to put into my body compared to the alternatives. The studies that demonized hormone replacement are under greater scrutiny and there are many that now believe they provide more benefit than risk (although there is greater risk if you have heart disease or breast cancer or a genetic predisposition). Ultimately, I wish I had done something years earlier. I mistakenly felt I could do it naturally and that was not possible. If I could do it all over again, I would have gone on HRT in my early 50s as my naturopath suggested and that likely would have prevented the osteoporosis altogether. Alternatively, once diagnosed, had I gone on Forteo at that point, I technically would have been out of osteoporosis. Can't do it over but my mistakes inform my decisions moving forward.

Jump to this post

I found out I had osteoporosis at 57. I was shocked as I've been health conscious for 30 years and a dancer so I regularly exercise. My endo advised me to go on bisphosphonates and my naturopath advised me to go on hormone replacement. I absolutely refused both options. I was going to research restoring my bone density naturally, improve my diet even more, increase my exercise and track my nutrition to make sure I was getting the appropriate nutrients in the right amounts. I gave it 100% effort and told my endo to give me 2 years to show my results. Epic fail. I went from -2.8 to -3.2 with all the loss continuing in my spine. I decided to finally go on Forteo as I felt that at least as parathyroid hormone, it was something familiar to the body and that it specifically targeted the vertebrae. It worked and I had no side effects and my density went from 3.2 to 2.9. Interestingly, I had the most gain the first year and towards the end of the second year, unfortunately a slight loss. After Forteo, you must go on something to maintain the gain or you will quickly lose it. That was also a tough decision. I ultimately decided to go on a low dose hormone replacement and that has helped to stabilize. Again, I made that difficult choice as I felt it was the most natural thing to put into my body compared to the alternatives. The studies that demonized hormone replacement are under greater scrutiny and there are many that now believe they provide more benefit than risk (although there is greater risk if you have heart disease or breast cancer or a genetic predisposition). Ultimately, I wish I had done something years earlier. I mistakenly felt I could do it naturally and that was not possible. If I could do it all over again, I would have gone on HRT in my early 50s as my naturopath suggested and that likely would have prevented the osteoporosis altogether. Alternatively, once diagnosed, had I gone on Forteo at that point, I technically would have been out of osteoporosis. Can't do it over but my mistakes inform my decisions moving forward.

Jump to this post

Thanks. I can buy freshly grown wheat grass juiced so will try that. And I find that adding fresh apple or pineapple makes almost anything drinkable. I used to juice a lot and need to get back in the habit. I've been adding broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables to my diet.

I do get concerned about cleaning the vegetables. A restaurant owner suggested, first, soaking all fresh produce in basin of water with a few ounces of vinegar for 15 minutes. Then rinsing thoroughly. Anyone have any other ideas for cleaning produce before eating it raw...besides growing it yourself?

Jump to this post

Thanks. I can buy freshly grown wheat grass juiced so will try that. And I find that adding fresh apple or pineapple makes almost anything drinkable. I used to juice a lot and need to get back in the habit. I've been adding broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables to my diet.

I do get concerned about cleaning the vegetables. A restaurant owner suggested, first, soaking all fresh produce in basin of water with a few ounces of vinegar for 15 minutes. Then rinsing thoroughly. Anyone have any other ideas for cleaning produce before eating it raw...besides growing it yourself?

Jump to this post

I hope you continue to feel free to post :-). We're all trying to navigate the various treatment options and many people have serious issues with the drugs which, themselves, can have serious issues (side effects).

There is a lot of 'information' about many medical issues which turns out to be incorrect and disproven over time. Conversely, there are medical protocols, including drugs, later found to be ineffective (or more effectivde).

So I take anything I read as 'possibly true' and just research it further until the weight of the evidence, and my doctors' thoughts, lend it significant validity.

There are things that may not have strong scientific support that I'm nonetheless willing to try if the risk of trying them is negligible or non-existent. An example would be adding a lot more cruciferous vegetables to my diet as studies suggest they may be highly anti-carcinogenic against certain breast cancers. Even if they don't prove to be so, they help reduce cholesterol and have other benefits so I waive the standard of 'proof of effectiveness' that I would otherwise want. I think of health as a work-in-progress and some trial and error...

Jump to this post

@windyshores - Again, it is good to hear that you find Tymlos of help. And thank you for the updated information about cancer risk.

I am a newbie to all this, gathering information here and from library books which is where I got the 2019 Calton book, probably written before the cancer risk was debunked as you mentioned. I lack the energy to retype more text - my primitive method.
Yes, being frightened affects our health. Not being attentive to risks and finding oneself regretting unwise decisions made in haste can also be bad for our health.
I think it best I simply read, rather than write posts.

Jump to this post

i juice all green tase terrible but after you see what it does for a few days you will not Quit i am 73 and look like 45 no wrinkles and great for mental clarity & pain
i have been doing wheat grass for 35 years 2 0z that what started me doing vegetable juice. After doing wheat grass for 4 days you will not believe your mind and body but you need a special machine for wheat grass
I juice kale collar greens swiss chard beets 1 beet a day no more cucumbers celery carrots ginger bock choy broccoli (don't tase good but it is GREAT GREAT for you)

Jump to this post

Thank you for your thoughts! It's enough to make your head spin. I feel like we are all a bunch of guinea pigs. I do remember reading about staggering calcium with oxylates, but don't know if I could get my hands on it anymore. Perhaps if you take enough calcium with oxylates, some will not be bound to the oxylates and flushed out of your system so it can be absorbed. Makes you wonder about spinach and other green leafies that have calcium and oxylates.

I know my GI Dr.'s practice has a nutritionist on staff - for GI, not for osteoporosis, but I'm thinking of setting up a consult. I'll let you know if I find out anything more.

Jump to this post