Confused by doctor options to choose, including Keith McCormick

Posted by stacibw @stacibw, Apr 2, 2024

I’m still learning and navigating my Osteoporosis diagnosis and trying to get my healthcare providers lined up. I’m 51.

I have a PCP who I will only be using as a “sick doctor” going forward. She is aware of my diagnosis and is not up to date on care or treatment.

I have a neuro-kinetic therapist who I work with (recovering from a back injury) who is extremely knowledgeable in osteoporosis exercise. So I will continue to work with her for strength building.

I have a gyn who is not knowledgeable about osteoporosis and referred me to a local endocrinologist.

Those are all of my current health care providers.

Here’s where I’m getting confused….

I really am drawn to Keith McCormick. I prefer functional medicine but like that he also is incredibly knowledgeable about meds and doesn’t hesitate to use them when needed. I have no problems with video appointments.

I have a consultation with the Mayo Clinic in July - the endocrinology team.
They will review my case and decide if they will provide a treatment plan for my local docs or if they will accept me as a patient. So that’s up in the air.

There is a local functional doctor, who specializes in healthy aging and osteoporosis that I am considering.

The endocrinologist that my gyn referred me to doesn’t have an opening until August.

My questions….

Do people use Keith McCormick to completely manage osteo? Or do you also have a local endocrinologist and they work together? Furthermore, when McCormick orders labs, is that done at a local lab or through my regular doc? Thinking costs…..and insurance (I have Cigna - too young for Medicare) for all of those lab tests.

Does anyone have a functional doctor that manages osteoporosis in collaboration with Keith McCormick?

Does anyone see a dietician? I eat a whole foods plant based diet, so am realizing that I am deficient in quite a bit of protein and calcium according to “Strong Bones” teachings. Both of the functional med doctors have nutritionists on board that could help with that.

I’m so overwhelmed just choosing providers! What do you suggest?

Cost does matter - it isn’t the driving factor at this point (understanding and knowledge is the highest priority now).

As of now - I’m flying solo until the end of July, when I meet with Mayo. Wish I had some solid medical guidance before then, but so far have not been able to get earlier new patient appts.

What are most people doing - especially those who have seen or talked to Keith McCormick for a consult or care?

The more I read, the more confused I get. I have time to make decisions, but half a year will have passed before I actually see someone, let alone make any decisions about care. Need to get my ducks in a row.

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

Profile picture for loplady @loplady

Wow, really cannot understand how this can happen as you stated above "I was told by two doctors and McCormick".... These doctors MUST have looked at your numbers, whether they be blood work, Dexa, TBS and advised and/or spoke with you. Did they just advise/consult with you without looking at these? Trying to understand without going back and finding all your posts. I look at this site on and off and today was an on day. Be well, I'd be irate....

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Hi @loplady
Just to clarify.... it is not my post that said, "2 doctor's and McCormick ..... "
But it was 3 specialists and my G.P. Spoke to the pain specialist today at my appointment; he was thunderstruck. [thankfully this did not affect my present treatment program there.] He too is following up on this.
I am making appointments to visit each of my specialists and G.P. for discussion - perhaps we will see how/what happened.
My own suspicions are when moving back to Ontario, there was a possible 'glitch' in the records.
But that does not explain why no one seemed to notice the bone scan results.
Regardless of solving the mystery, it is more important that my records reflect the correct information!
I have very happily deleted "Osteoporosis" from my already too long list of diagnosis.

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My error, not sure how I got that confused with the other person's post. Thanks for correcting it...

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I’d like to thank the person , whoever it was , (I think it was @gently) that posted the link regarding “Long Term Effects of Bisphosphonates” . As I’m just starting Forteo and already looking and thinking about what path to take , depending how I do on Forteo , when 2 years is up!!!! Thanks again !!! And if anyone sees any more recent publications about this topic to PLEASE post them !!!!! Good luck to all!

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Has anyone in this group contacted Dr. Keith McCormick (or any other osteoporosis specialist that practices alternative medicine) for a second opinion? If so, did you find it was helpful? Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance for your help.

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Profile picture for detective10 @detective10

Has anyone in this group contacted Dr. Keith McCormick (or any other osteoporosis specialist that practices alternative medicine) for a second opinion? If so, did you find it was helpful? Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance for your help.

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HI @detective10 I have consulted with McCormick for many years (18 I think) and met with him in person twice.,. His first book was "A Holistic Approach to Osteoporosis" and his recent book is "Great Bones" (700 pages) as you probably know. McCormick did medications for his own osteoporosis (Forteo then Fosamax I believe) and is not anti-medication so not sure he is "alternative." For osteopenia or milder osteoporosis his more natural approach might be helpful but for scores that are more severe, or if we have fractures (I have several) he is very helpful on medication regimens.

I still see my wonderful doctor and use McCormick as an adjunct. My main endo does not do bone markers so a few times I have asked my PCP to order them after meeting with McCormick. McCormick is a chiropractor dedicated to osteoporosis.

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Profile picture for detective10 @detective10

Has anyone in this group contacted Dr. Keith McCormick (or any other osteoporosis specialist that practices alternative medicine) for a second opinion? If so, did you find it was helpful? Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance for your help.

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Yes, I interviewed him for my podcast. He’s amazing
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/critically-speaking/id1463016517

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Profile picture for detective10 @detective10

Has anyone in this group contacted Dr. Keith McCormick (or any other osteoporosis specialist that practices alternative medicine) for a second opinion? If so, did you find it was helpful? Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance for your help.

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Hello @detective10, I combined your discussion with an existing discussion titled, "Confused by doctor options to choose, including Keith McCormick" - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/newbie-confused-by-doctor-options-to-choose-including-keith-mccormick/.

I moved your discussion here so you could meet the other members talking about alternative treatment options and trying to decipher what is beneficial and what is not. Osteoporosis in particular is susceptible to a lot of false treatment options and programs and deciding which is which can become murky.

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Profile picture for yogagirl57 @yogagirl57

I have an appointment with Dr. McCormick on 5/15. I can't wait. My endocrinologist was only interested in giving me Fosamax. My primary sided with her. She (endo) never even asked me anything about me. I'm a yoga teacher and have been doing cardo and weights since my early 20's. I am 67. I have been very disillusioned for sure. Overwhelmed. I came across Dr. Mccormick, and I like that he will send you for lots of lab tests if you require them. Nothing even close to the medical profession (from my experience). He has a very good reputation so hoping to start to make progress. I commend you for getting that appointment with Mayo Clinic. Can I ask where you started with them to obtain that appointment or did you just call them? I wish you success in your endeavor and July will be here before you know it! You've made progress already just be getting that appointment!

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Hi - I am wondering if you might provide an update about your 5/15 appointment with Keith McCormick. I “just” found him after doing 8 months on Evenity. I’ve done yoga all my life and am really struggling with joint pain that I believe to be related to Evenity. I’m your same age. I’m thinking he might be great for an opinion on that and also the next step after Evenity. I appreciate any and all information 🙂
Take care and the best of luck to you…..

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Profile picture for ans @ans

To all, I’ll say Windy shores has summed up the med options well. I personally saw an endo after a fragility spine fracture and I’ve been an athletic active person my whole life- but realize now my activities weren’t the kind that you need to do to really impact your bones. Anyway, the endo though really discussed all the drug options in detail and based on my preference to not mess with Evenity cause it’s so new recommended Forteo. They knew nothing when I asked about what wt bearing or other exercises I should be doing. Did say to look up Margaret Martin on YouTube. I did that. Then from there really drilled down in my effort to learn as much as I could to make a decision I felt comfortable with. I saw Clint Rubin right out of the gate talk about the Marodyne , and his sister , Janet, I believe, who is an endocrinologist at a well known NC university. Interesting to hear them discuss Op from both their perspectives. Bought McCormicks Great Bones book . He said in there if going to an integrative / functional dr to make sure Osteoporosis was their specialty . He gives a list of questions to actually ask when you call their offices to see if the one you choose is a good choice or not. I did that. Felt none of them really were and very expensive for first visit with long wait time. All of them talked about one follow up visit - which stunned me -the eval of 1 1/2 hr and a follow up. What??? !!!Looked at price between those people and McCormick himself and price was comparable, or less to talk with him, so decided to do that. I mean all that time I was researching and trying to get a TBS along with my DEXA so I’d have that info before seeing him. That was a difficult process , but I accomplished it . Before meeting with McCormick I had my 6 month follow up up with my Endo who now had changed cause the initial one was a Fellow and had since moved on . When I saw the new Endo I had already done a significant amt of research and knew quite a bit. We had a great discussion and I told her that I’d read McCormicks book, of which she’d never heard of , and I also told her I had an upcoming initial consult with him and asked her if she’d work with him and me together. She seemed to go along with it. I told her bluntly that until I felt good enough with my knowledge of the options I wasn’t rushing into any med. I since have met with McCormick another time with just some quick calls to his office for some clarification, Anyway , all along this way I’ve been to Margie Bissinger’s Osteo Symposiums now 2yrs, and joined her Happy Bones Happy Life community where you get a few guest lectures each month , a question and answer session, and a Happiness Training Lesson . McCormick and many higher level people are her guest lecturers. I’ve gone to be evaluated and observed the Onero Program based off of Belinda Becks LIFTMORE research .Though not doing it per say because the closest one is 3 hrs away . And though McCormick and I had decided I’d start Forto just after the 2024 new year - many tests and hurdles jumped and just this past Friday I was trained for the Forteo shot and have done it now 2 days at home on my own . NO PROBLEMS - NO DIFFERENT FEELINGS AT ALL. Hope that continues!!! I am positive and will say I also just finished a very intensive root causes of osteoporosis program with Kim Millman . So with taking the anabolic and with my more full understanding of how to live my life from a metabolic way I feel I should have all things working for me . And just to say this I choose Forteo because I fractured my spine , my hips are pretty good AND I had no interest at this point doing Evenity as it has not been out on the market long with any far reaching history!!
That was quite a rant , but maybe helpful to someone!!!
Good luck to all navigating this issue!!

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Picking this up a year later. Detailed information ideal for my analytical brain. Just diagnosed with OP and collecting data and information. Need more facts to make an educated decision. Thanks.

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Profile picture for ljmeassell @ljmeassell

Picking this up a year later. Detailed information ideal for my analytical brain. Just diagnosed with OP and collecting data and information. Need more facts to make an educated decision. Thanks.

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Here is a video interview with Dr. McCormick where he describes an overall approach to osteoporosis. This includes nutrition, exercise, and possibly medication.

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