More on Supplements and “Natural”

Regarding the post...

When I first started researching osteoporosis, I saw many articles about various supplements, not just calcium but copper, silica, Vit K, boron, strontium, zinc, magnesium and even probiotics. I saw the collagen and AlgaeCal articles. It's almost overwhelming after awhile...overdone. I have a friend (who doesn't have osteoporosis) who practically lives on supplements and takes high doses of Vit C, glucosamine chondroitin, fish oil, Vit E, tart cherry, melatonin, and on and on. Every supplement you can think of, he takes.

Supplements are expensive too, and it's concerning that someone is gobbling down a "mixture" of all sorts of supplements without really knowing if they are effective.

Regarding calcium, my friend who has "mild" osteoporosis in her hip was told to take 1500 mg of calcium every day--about half is in food sources. Her follow up Dexa scan showed "stable". But NOT improved. She is happy with these results and isn't exploring medication at this time.

I have severe osteoporosis and already tried a period of "natural" treatment without any luck. I'm now taking medication. I've had 2 doctors tell me that severe osteoporosis can't be improved using just supplements (or even HRT, but I'm too far past menopause for that anyway). Supplements might help maintain what's there but won't build the bone back. So if you have osteopenia or maybe just mild osteoporosis, perhaps supplements will maintain what's there. But perhaps not. I learned that there are underlying condition that CAUSE the osteoporosis in the first place. So the underlying condition has to be addressed. Taking supplements will not address the underlying issue (whether it's autoimmune or other problem).

I personally gravite towards supplements because of my body and the way in which it reacts. Indeed, my Vandy neurologist stopped prescribing drugs for my vaccine induced neuritis and went the supplement route. Seems there is a genetic component which some people have that cause an over reaction to most products but especially to anything which the body does not have receptors to recognize which covers most pharma drugs.

The body is made with receptors which recognizes minerals and vitamins or supplements; the word used for this discussion. That does not mean that there are not dangers with the use of anything basically which we ingest or us. For example, my over reactive body reacted to Vit k at the levels which doctors prescribe vit k to combact plaque and direct calcium to the bones. So I can not use Vit k at those increased levels, but lower levels work well for me.

I honor other's choices to take pharma drugs and realize that their bodies and their decisions are different from mine and that decision stems from all the things that make them who they are. I do not lecture them or list all the dangers and black box warnings to the pharma drugs which they choose to take to try to treat their diseases. If asked what the dangers are I will list them, but I understand the hard decision which they are making and try not to make it harder for them.

There is lots of room for you on this site to gently warn of some side effects which you might see would be helpful, without as you say "getting on a soap box".

I do think that you would find more peace if you found that feeling of honoring in yourself towards others who choose a different route than you do. Indeed, there is lots of room for all of us to honor one another and celebrate with one another in our choices.

Regarding the post...

When I first started researching osteoporosis, I saw many articles about various supplements, not just calcium but copper, silica, Vit K, boron, strontium, zinc, magnesium and even probiotics. I saw the collagen and AlgaeCal articles. It's almost overwhelming after awhile...overdone. I have a friend (who doesn't have osteoporosis) who practically lives on supplements and takes high doses of Vit C, glucosamine chondroitin, fish oil, Vit E, tart cherry, melatonin, and on and on. Every supplement you can think of, he takes.

Supplements are expensive too, and it's concerning that someone is gobbling down a "mixture" of all sorts of supplements without really knowing if they are effective.

Regarding calcium, my friend who has "mild" osteoporosis in her hip was told to take 1500 mg of calcium every day--about half is in food sources. Her follow up Dexa scan showed "stable". But NOT improved. She is happy with these results and isn't exploring medication at this time.

I have severe osteoporosis and already tried a period of "natural" treatment without any luck. I'm now taking medication. I've had 2 doctors tell me that severe osteoporosis can't be improved using just supplements (or even HRT, but I'm too far past menopause for that anyway). Supplements might help maintain what's there but won't build the bone back. So if you have osteopenia or maybe just mild osteoporosis, perhaps supplements will maintain what's there. But perhaps not. I learned that there are underlying condition that CAUSE the osteoporosis in the first place. So the underlying condition has to be addressed. Taking supplements will not address the underlying issue (whether it's autoimmune or other problem).

@ccps101 Thank you so much for sharing your journey and information/experience. I also have autipoimune disorder and grateful for anabolic bone builder. Forteo worked well for me and now Teriperitide for a booster. May I ask you which anabolic medication you choose and what you will take for maintenance afterwards?

@followheart87 what is the underlying issue?

I am taking a supplement that has really helped me. It's Creatine, I talked it over with my three doctors and my oncologist is on Creatine. Do your research and ask your doctors!! They will give you advice. Creatine is given to body builders. I am 74 and no body build but wanted to recover from Chemo and having a hard time getting over brain fog and fatigue, also had lots of bone issues while on chemo. I am 5 weeks out from last chemo treatment and I am beginning to feel like my old self again. It is wonderful, but don't take my word for it. Do your research and make sure this is right for you.
Real sea sponge to exfoliate dead skin, works
Hydrating shampoo, to keep hair coming back healthy giving it moisture.
Eye drops for my dry eyes, yes even your eyes suffer Relief is what I use.
These last three things have made my lack of hair, feel great, and skin getting rid of dead dry skin cells makes your skin feel great!

Good Luck with everything!

@beachesanddreams thanks. I appreciate that. I think I come from a different perspective with three autoimmune diseases or conditions, either terminology. I was DX with my first one which is very rare over 15 years ago, with only one medication. Autoimmune diseases tend to run in packs and my rheumatologist was actually really surprised it took 10 years for the others to come on. The rare one is often silent at first. The others much more symptomatic. The most recent one is also quite rare, only a few specialists here and there and also tiny pool of meds. So this is all a long winded way of saying because OP is silent until a fracture, I agree that people tend to ignore. And big mistake! I’m thrilled to be taking a bone builder now, so glad I had that option and got ahead of it. I think you are right, people will look back when they fracture with regrets and a much scarier future. But because I have experienced really scary stuff I just took it more or less in stride. I knew when I was DX with RA (and that is very painful and life altering) if I didn’t get ahead of that asap I would be in horrible shape. When I started treatment I couldn’t dress myself. Now am doing great. I look at friends who had cancer. I can’t see any of us saying “oh I want to treat this ‘naturally’”. When that basically doesn’t exist anyway. People afraid of hormones in anabolics but they have no trouble popping a NSAID? Sorry not “natural”. Anyway, I think all my experience plus the fact I live with all types of up and down issues like all autoimmune patients, a racing heart for a half hour is NOTHING. So because of all that I am also not hyper focused on what I feel. Just get on with it. And the irony is, lol, because of the anti inflammatory properties of my anabolic I feel great! So not trying to be dismissive of people’s side effects but I do think going into this with a super positive, grateful attitude helped and has been like, pfft, piece of cake. When you’re at a place where you can’t dress yourself where I was with RA a little X or Y seems easy. Keep hanging in there. I will pop in here and there but found it incredibly frustrating with the “natural” talk. Cheers.

I am tired of the one size fits all drug treatments. Maybe I would be more open to pharmaceuticals if treatment plans were based on what would best benefit me as the patient instead of treatment plans that are based on how much money the insurance companies can save. Maybe side effects wouldn't be so bad if medication was dosed based on the patient and not on how cost effective it is to package the medicine.
If a patient has to deal with osteoporosis for 25-30 years why aren't treatment plans approached with a long term view.
How can you trust your medical team when they are constrained by the insurance companies.

Just frustrated with this and is why I decided against osteoporosis medications.