I reversed osteoporosis without drugs

Posted by sheilad1 @sheilad1, Dec 28, 2022

I had my bone quality test yesterday along with another bone density test. This was my third bone density test in 14 months.

My first bone density test was Nov 2021.
I started consulting with different doctors. If I must take meds I would. But I had to get to the truth.
The physician who appeared to know the most is Keith McCormick DC the chiropractor who got osteoporosis at a very young age and really understands it.

That first DEXA scan showed I had mild osteoperosis of the spine, within the margin of error.
So no McCormick said to take the CTX (blood) test and a few others.
CTX was good.
My CTX shows that the osteoclasts are not breaking down too much bone. therefore, my next bone density test shouldn’t show that that I am much worse.

I decided not to wait until 2 years for another scan and took
I took another bone density (aka DEXA) scan 10/2022 to see if that was true about the CTX.
My spine was actually better in that scan and it was now osteopenia.
My hip was a little worse bringing it outside the margin of error. McCormick said this was a tough call so I said to him why don’t I get a bone quality test (that he told me about) and I figured that will buy me a little time anyway lol.

Unfortunately, the bone quality test only measures the spine.
Since it’s unusual for your spine to get better and your hip to get worse, it made me think - what have I done differently since the last test? Why would my spine improve but not my hip? What is my spine doing that my hip is not?

I decided it had to be the Supernatural virtual reality exercise app that I exercise to (on the oculus quest VR helmet). Even though I am striking the air, there actually is resistance, and I push hard to hit it as powerfully as I can.

I decided to put weights on my ankles. Everything I read says weight training should be once or twice a week, and I certainly only did it once.

Back to yesterday and the bone quality (TBS) test and yet another bone density (DEXA) test.
My hip was back to where it was on the first test. This put me back inside the margin of error where I would not have to take medication
This demonstrated to me that the CTX score did in fact mean I'm not losing density quickly.
Yesterday's test shows that my spine continued to improve and my bone density score was no longerosteopenia. It was normal. My bone quality test was great. The tech really loved it and called me over to show me how I was completely in the green meaning It was normal which is a little unusual at my age, 74, altogether.

I may be wrong about supernatural helping.
I’ll probably take the DEXA again in six months because I am anxious to see how the hip does, and if it improves even more.
And if so, I’ll turn myself into a study. 😂

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

My periods ran from age 15 to 45 but I did get hormone therapy due to out of whack hormones. My Gyn said mine was the most out of whack he had seen.

Maybe most of our bone loss occurred early and we have stabilized. That might be consistent with our BTM.

BTW, my wrists are the same size as yours.

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@normahorn in my experience there was a big drop in bone density at menopause and then a slower rate after that. Same thing happened with an anti-estrogen drug for cancer: large drop at the start and then slower rate afterward. Not sure why but maybe the body adjusts? For me it never stabilized but the rate of drop definitely went down.

@fearfracture that is quite a story! I look at trends in DEXA and bone markers rather than absolute values.

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@saraabrooks

SWIMMING. I am now going 3 x week. On anastrozole, but EVERY OTHER DAY. I found the following Medical Library site. So far, they believe swimming helps osteopenia and osteoporosis in that swimming strengthens the muscles around the bones. The cushioning helps stop fractures. No published clinical trials yet, but all the facts show evidence of positive reaction to swimming.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7245678/#:~:text=Swimming%20may%20increase%20bone%20density,in%20the%20pathogenesis%20of%20osteoporosis.

I'm afraid of osteoporosis since I am already verging into osteopenia territory. I am 78 years old and 219 lbs. Down from 251 a year ago. Intermittent fasting. Yep, it works. Sara

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How long do you fast?

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When I first went on intermittent fasting it was before I realized I had breast cancer. It started early last spring and I would try not to eat after 2:00 p.m. in the afternoon. If I got too hungry I had a salad with broccoli beets celery and sometimes chopped onion which I love. I put on any kind of salad dressing but lightly. I got up early in the morning and still do like 5:00 a.m. and I must admit I ate like a horse. And I find I have to have meat somewhere in there I would eat an early breakfast eggs of course sometimes with bacon and refried beans. The pinto beans are really loaded with the minerals and then I know that they have iron. That's all I know about that. I'm not a nutritionist. I know what makes my body feel good by about 10:00 I was having hamburger or ham or leftover pork chop. I tried to stay from wheat products and that includes bread and buns etc. Of course I never ate or drank soda pop or a lot of candy or anything like that. Sometimes I would eat lunch or sometimes you could call pre-dinner at at around 1:30 or 2:00. To get through the evening I would drink a lot of water but no water after 6:00 p.m. if it got really bad around 5:00 I would have a cup of hot cocoa made with melted Bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate chips a little sugar and once that's pretty hot I add the milk heat it all up and stir .

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@saraabrooks

When I first went on intermittent fasting it was before I realized I had breast cancer. It started early last spring and I would try not to eat after 2:00 p.m. in the afternoon. If I got too hungry I had a salad with broccoli beets celery and sometimes chopped onion which I love. I put on any kind of salad dressing but lightly. I got up early in the morning and still do like 5:00 a.m. and I must admit I ate like a horse. And I find I have to have meat somewhere in there I would eat an early breakfast eggs of course sometimes with bacon and refried beans. The pinto beans are really loaded with the minerals and then I know that they have iron. That's all I know about that. I'm not a nutritionist. I know what makes my body feel good by about 10:00 I was having hamburger or ham or leftover pork chop. I tried to stay from wheat products and that includes bread and buns etc. Of course I never ate or drank soda pop or a lot of candy or anything like that. Sometimes I would eat lunch or sometimes you could call pre-dinner at at around 1:30 or 2:00. To get through the evening I would drink a lot of water but no water after 6:00 p.m. if it got really bad around 5:00 I would have a cup of hot cocoa made with melted Bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate chips a little sugar and once that's pretty hot I add the milk heat it all up and stir .

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I do intermittent fasting also. I usually eat dinner at 5:30 pm, and then don’t eat until lunch at noon the next day. There are times I am feeling more hungry at 10 am and will have a hard boiled egg. The protein helps me feel full. I do drink a lot of water, which our body, especially the bones need. I don’t limit it at any time. I have felt much better, more energy. Drinking water when you feel hungry helps curb the hungry feeling.
I may have some vegetable sticks around 3 pm. On Friday or Saturday evening I allow myself some snacking of popcorn or small dish of ice cream. I may have a cookie after lunch at times. I started this fasting off and on for a couple of years, and now getting consistent with it.

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@kirstenlheld

What is a CTX blood test?

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Biochemical markers of bone metabolism have been used in medicine to evaluate and provide treatment to patients with metabolic bone diseases like osteoporosis. It is a marker of osteoclast activity, used to assess the level of bone resorption (helps you determine how are you progressing on your meds)

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@saraabrooks

When I first went on intermittent fasting it was before I realized I had breast cancer. It started early last spring and I would try not to eat after 2:00 p.m. in the afternoon. If I got too hungry I had a salad with broccoli beets celery and sometimes chopped onion which I love. I put on any kind of salad dressing but lightly. I got up early in the morning and still do like 5:00 a.m. and I must admit I ate like a horse. And I find I have to have meat somewhere in there I would eat an early breakfast eggs of course sometimes with bacon and refried beans. The pinto beans are really loaded with the minerals and then I know that they have iron. That's all I know about that. I'm not a nutritionist. I know what makes my body feel good by about 10:00 I was having hamburger or ham or leftover pork chop. I tried to stay from wheat products and that includes bread and buns etc. Of course I never ate or drank soda pop or a lot of candy or anything like that. Sometimes I would eat lunch or sometimes you could call pre-dinner at at around 1:30 or 2:00. To get through the evening I would drink a lot of water but no water after 6:00 p.m. if it got really bad around 5:00 I would have a cup of hot cocoa made with melted Bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate chips a little sugar and once that's pretty hot I add the milk heat it all up and stir .

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I say this with love, but that sounds terribly unhealthy and maybe even disease causing. I recommend going organic, non-GMO, no red meat, no processed food. Organic pasture raised eggs and organic no-nitrates bacon if you must do bacon. I have studied this for years. Even some doctors and nutricionists are sadly unaware. I’m sending this in love, not judgment, open conversation, not close it.

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@llynch17056

I say this with love, but that sounds terribly unhealthy and maybe even disease causing. I recommend going organic, non-GMO, no red meat, no processed food. Organic pasture raised eggs and organic no-nitrates bacon if you must do bacon. I have studied this for years. Even some doctors and nutricionists are sadly unaware. I’m sending this in love, not judgment, open conversation, not close it.

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Thank you for your concern. I tried vegetarianism long time ago. My daughter has been a vegetarian since she was 14 and she is now 51. When I tried vegetarianism I felt very weak and my energy left me. I tried all the tips for vegetarianism and protein alternative, but going without meat was impossible.. I have meat at least four times a week. Many times it is organic and I buy organic produce, always. The meat I eat comes locally sourced and I live in wisconsin. I'm still alive at 78. We all have to make choices that feel good or help us in any way. I m a blood type O positive. We are hunters from a long time ago. My daughter is not a blood type of any kind. She is an A or B I'm not sure. She takes after her father. She seemed to adapt to vegetarianism really easily. I found the book Eat Right For Your Type and I found it extremely helpful. That was a while back. But thank you for your reply it was very kind of you.

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@saraabrooks I tried going vegan for 6 months and I think it’s
what lead to my health problems. I now eat lean meat, dairy, some vegetables and fruit, no grains. Like you pointed out, everyone must eat to what suits them.
I also do IF. I eat nothing after 6pm (started this because of horrible GERD at night while eating Vegan) and nothing before 10 am. I try to stay away from highly processed foods and sugar. Just got my labs back and I’m okay in most places.

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@saraabrooks

Thank you for your concern. I tried vegetarianism long time ago. My daughter has been a vegetarian since she was 14 and she is now 51. When I tried vegetarianism I felt very weak and my energy left me. I tried all the tips for vegetarianism and protein alternative, but going without meat was impossible.. I have meat at least four times a week. Many times it is organic and I buy organic produce, always. The meat I eat comes locally sourced and I live in wisconsin. I'm still alive at 78. We all have to make choices that feel good or help us in any way. I m a blood type O positive. We are hunters from a long time ago. My daughter is not a blood type of any kind. She is an A or B I'm not sure. She takes after her father. She seemed to adapt to vegetarianism really easily. I found the book Eat Right For Your Type and I found it extremely helpful. That was a while back. But thank you for your reply it was very kind of you.

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My experience with vegetarianism and veganism was the same. I didn’t feel well at all.

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