hello - this is the first time I've posted on this forum since my recent DEXA result that reveals I have osteoporosis.
On looking through the medication options, there seems to none that are safe in relation to their side effects namely, Bisphosphonates which I'm not inclined to take as I've already digestive problems.
I did find another medication, Parathyroid hormone [PTH] that even with side effects seems less than that of Bisphosphonates so is there anyone on this forum on [PTH] - and what is your experience taking it?
Your input much appreciated!
You can try the natural methods. Walking lots but even better using Nordic poles, maybe wearing a weighted vest, both provide exercise with weights to strengthen your bones. You will be on Calcium and VitD3 but apparently if you add Vit K2 this assists the calcium to get directly into the bones. Increasing the amount of calcium and Vit D in your diet. Milk, cheese, Dark green leafy veg, oily fish, especially those like sardines where you eat the bones.
Look for Anhaga on here, she is the expert on natural methods to avoid Biphosphonates.
Do you have your tscores which tell you how bad your osteoporosis is because there are degrees. For example, -2.5 is not too bad and -2 is only osteopenia.
Bone broth can be added to the list already provided as well as avocados and cucumber skins.
Stress should be avoided as well.
Hello Diana
I have just seen your post and am in a similar position not sure what to do about treatment . There is lots of info on diet , supplements, exercise , etc. I do not want to take the ALendronic acid and have been advised by a knowledgeable friend that hrt patches for a few yrs until I am 60 would be useful as I had an early menopause. Some people on this forum say hrt not the best idea. So unfortunately I have no solutions at present - these forums are so useful tho as you realise there are many women trying to figure it out . Wishing you well on your journey .
......yes it is difficult Jane to decide what to take for the best apart from researching HRT more on its benefits and side effects because bisphosphonates do cause oesophageal complications, some serious as well as other unwanted side effects that can affect the jaw-bone with some patients. Here's to finding the best solution - be well!
.....yes I do, here are my 'T' scores :
'T' scores as follows:
Spine -2.3
Spine [L2, L3, L4] -2.6
Hips -1.8
NOF -2.6
Forearm -2.7
....some good ideas here. walking I used to love for miles but in January I sustained a Lumbar 1 vertbral compression fracture in a car crash so because of my continuing pain exercise now has to be much less. Will chcck out Anhage though.
These t-scores are not all that bad. The osteoporosis cut off is 2.5. This level was rather arbitrarily set some years ago by the WHO. You sustained the injury as the result of an accident. True osteoporosis fractures occur with little trauma.
Sheilamac gave you some great advice about supplements and nutrition. If you have concerns about your spine you can get good advice from a physiotherapist to help you protect your spine, as well as exercises which will strengthen the supporting muscles. There is even a lady posting in this forum who is quite disabled and does pool exercises. Although swimming is not considered a true weight bearing exercise it is helpful because it strengthens the muscles, and apparently stronger muscles pull on the bones and make them stronger too!
My hip t-score in October 2015 was -2. In one year, despite being on prednisone for polymyalgia, I improved that score to -1.6, and they are no longer recommending medication! And I'm not the only person who has been able to improve bone density without the use of drugs. I think with scores like yours the first line treatment should be natural, as Sheilamac outlined above. The only side effect will be improved health!
It is good you increased your hip score to -1.6 so I shall be taking the advice gained here, thanks all of you for that.
My compressed L1 fracture occurred in January from a car crash but two months later I also sustained a cervical 4 & 5 fracture without doing anything traumatic except for bending down to pull a plug out. A CAT scan confirmed the cervical fracture and on seeing my chiropractor he told me he reckons my cervical fracture was a weakness left over from the crash as previously in 2009 from his x-rays, my cervical area was normal.
I think my bone thinning actually started before I was on pred because I had a broken leg (winter ice related) a year earlier and was, of course, off my feet for several weeks, and then the onset of PMR really slowed me down. Pred was probably the last straw. I only had the DXA scan because I asked for it - my doctor wanted to start me on AA with the pred, but thought better of it. After the scan she tried again but by then I'd done a lot of reading, and also been in touch with a friend who had been diagnosed with OP, but completely naturally had moved to osteopenia range, and continued to improve. It was she who put me onto things like Vitamin K2, and Nordic walking. Her bone density improvement has also been confirmed through successive DXA scans!
Oh wow I would like those. They are not too bad at all. The are either in the osteopenia range or close to it. No way would I even consider for a second taking any of the awful drugs. Go natural and listen to Anhaga who has made progress.
My worst one is -4.3 on the lumbar so I feel you are in a good position to make improvements.
,,,,,,prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid which lowers bone density so would have reduced density further. What is PMR?
It seems the clinicians I've asked tell you that bone density cannot be increased [probably big-pharma inspired] - so it is heartening to learn that bone density can be improved by diet, exercise alone.
Yes, we have direct, not hearsay, evidence that bone density can be improved. Google combination micronutrients bone osteoporosis for a study showing that nutrients work.
https://patient.info/health/polymyalgia-rheumatica-leaflet
It's thought that PMR actually is aninflammation in blood vessels, a vasculitis, which causes the pain and disability.
hi - thanks for the link!
Have you checked to see if your bone density has improved from -4.3 taking into account the advice given here?
Guess it takes some time before improvement is achieved. I'm now taking vitamin D3 twice a day totalling 10,000 iunits which is the maximum.
I was fortunate that after the first DXA scan the recommendation was for next scan to be done within one to two years, and they actually let me have it done after one. Now I wait three to five years for next opportunity. So I did see improvement within one year. If you can't get the scans done as frequently then you have to wait to find out.
You can check your vitamin d levels in your blood tests as well as calcium levels. You don't need to take more than required, also not advisable.
I have not had a scan to see if I am not deteriorating or improving.
As I cannot do a lot of exercise I am hopeful of not getting worse. But any improvement would be welcome.
Yes good idea - will get these blood tests to check. I'm in a similar position to yourself for not being able to do much exercise, like walking distances because of pain being an after effect from lumbar fracture. In June getting 3 x MRI's done of my upper, mid and lower spine in the hope of finding a cause for the lower back pain.
Vitamin D is very important to watch in the blood tests as it is an indicator for other things. My specialist I have for Crohns first checked it. My husband was also found to be lacking and he has two capsules per day and I have one.
An X-ray on the back is a good idea as it could be bulging discs that send nerves down into the lower back. Also, you can have arthritis in the back. My issues come from a sum of things including mild scoliosis, two bulging discs, arthritis and osteoporosis. Degeneration of the spine sums up the end result. In my sacroiliac I have something which we are assuming is a nerve which I try to avoid annoying as it is very debilitating if I set it off.
I can walk a bit but then stop and sit. I cannot stand in one place for long.
I cannot sit on hard, straight chairs.
But I have not broken anything since I was a child.