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Hello, my Holistic Dr. does not believe in the meds everyone is taking for osteoporosis. I am 54 and have been diagnosed with the disease. I take my calcium and magnesium and have been trying to up my exercise. However, I am beginnng to really worry as my Mom lost 6 inches with this disease. Any other women who are not taking meds for it, please let me know what else I can do. Thanks.
Hi Woody, I agree with all you recommend, but I'm wondering if anyone has had a bone biospy that they usually do to check of other things besides osteoporosi.
I had this test because I had so many failed back surgeries, but they weren't checking for bone quality just other metabolic bone disorders.
I wouldn't recommend this invasive procedure to check bone quality, but if you have to have it done you could find out about your bone quality. Just a thought, for any of you who have to have this test for other reasons.
What are your thoughts if this has to be done? Just remember it is a very invasive/painful test, but could tell you a lotl!!
Thanks for all ypur helpfull input!!
I strongly recommend a blood test for Vitamen D level. After I was diagnosed with sever osteoporsis, my blood was checked for all kind of things to determine what might have attributed to the serverity of my rapid bone loss. It was discovered my Vit D level was seriously sub-normal. The endochrinologist put me on 50,000 IU 3 times a week and this raised my D to almost normal levels. So I went on 50,000 IU 7 times a week for 3 months. That brought my D up too 87 (normal is usually considered to be between 40 and 80). We are now maintaining my D in the high 70s by take 50,000 IU 3 times a week.
BTW, I am an active individual and spend time outdoors in Oklahoma--not the usual candidate for low Vitamen D. One can never tell without a blood test.
Hi njones0623:
It can be done without medications. You will need the help of a competent professional and you want a plan. As you start your journey, fracture risk is what you want to reduce. Bone density is only one piece of the puzzle. There are some cultures that have low bone density by our standards but have very low fracture rates. I assess all my clients in 5 basic lifestyle areas. High scores in all 5 are very important to improving bone quality.
I call these “The Big 5 for Healthy Bone:”
1. A diet that contains 50% fruits and vegetables. Fruits and veggies contain greater amounts of water, minerals and antioxidants to reduce total body inflammation with generally lesser amounts of animal protein.
2. Adequate water intake based on body weight. Water is very important in helping the kidneys regulate pH and detoxify the body.
3. Stress reduction activities to help lower cortisol, homocysteine and total body inflammation to reduce calcium loss.
4. Vitamin D3 levels in the 50–80 ng/mL (or 125–200 nM/L) year around confirmed by 25-hydroxyvitamin D testing.
5. Sufficient weight bearing exercise that includes balance training to reduce falls and stimulate muscle growth which is essential for bone strengthening determined by regular full body strength testing.
As far as research goes, the very best website I have found on the subject of vitamin D is Dr. Cannel’s at http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/.
Bone density is associated with bone strength, but does not measure it. The only way to measure bone strength is to see how much force it takes to break a bone. For example, birds have strong bones that are not very dense.
Use the FRAX tool to determine your fracture risk http://www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX/index.htm
Hope this helps.
Woody McMahon
Reston/Herndon Osteoporosis Support Group Leader
I am so pleased at the response from all about this problem. Thank you. I have lots of reading to do. Gennie, I agree with you. Our pharmaceutical companies don't care about us; they care about money. Get the book, "Selling Sickness" - it's very eye opening.
I had such a disastrous result from taking a second Reclast IV that I have decided not to take any more of the pharmaceuticals. Fortunately, my husband is a holistic physician and has put me on Jonathan Wright's ( M.D.), Osteo-Mins AM and Osteo-Mins PM (with D+K1 and K2) whose address is Tahoma Clilnic, 515 West Harrison Street, Suite 200, Kent, WA 98032. These supplements contain Strontium, known for its safety and ability to rebuild bone for decades. I also walk from 30 to 60 minutes a day and do on the floor exercises to strenghten the muscles around my bones. Make sure that you are getting enough Vit. D. Most people are deficient in this vitamin because sunscreen is in most products we put on our skin. There are too many bad side effects to the drugs put out by the pharmaceutical companies and they are making a fortune off using us as guinea pigs.
The vitamin D needs to be D3 -- better absorbtion - and also check the dosage with your doc. -- I'm taking 2000 a day.
I think you'll feel better once you research all the alternatives - see the periodical BOTTOM LINE - it highlights vit. K to build bone collagen. My mother also lost inches (and she was using fosomax, lifting weights, eating kale etc...). I think the scary thing is that we're not getting the info we need from just one doctor - we need to educate ourselves (fast) because many of us are diagosed and told take meds.... which we all know are reported to be more dangerous than ever. The good thing is that in many cases this is reversable. I'm going to an endocronologist this week to get more info. Have heart - and keep the faith.
I love in Florida and never gave Vitamin a second thought. I spend time in the sun periodically, not everyday though. Thanks for the advice.
If you get a test for Vit D level, you may find you are below the desirable level, which I have seen on here as 50-100. I took 2000 to 3000 units daily for 8 months on my own before asking for a Vit D test,,,it came back 41 which my Dr thought was very good because around this area, [Upstate NY] almost everyone is below that!
Since my blood results were very good in all aspects, she was quite impressed. The only thing I had done differently since last August when I found out I had osteo was to add the Vit D and start taking tumeric [for inflammation]. Since then my Dr is recommending adding Vit D to many of her patients and I have added the following..boron, Vit K, magnesium, horsetail [for silica], sea kelp [for iodine] and am trying to eat more of the greens that help increase bone growth [all of which I hate] except for kale which is OK, and Swiss Chard which is not on the recommended list but I doubt it has ever been tested.
I would suggest you get a Vit D test done, also look on here for posts by Sequoia Health [Woody] and keep checking Dr Susan Brown's page... also read some books to find out what exercises are safe and best for you. Sara Meeks has a good one on exercise and movement [Walk Tall] and The Myth of Osteoporosis is also helpful. You can find them on Amazon.com
thank you both, I am taking a multi vitamin; should I add a Vitamin D anyway? I will read up on Dr. Brown. Thanks.
Nina
I hope u takeing vit. D that just is inportant has u calicum.
I am a 66 year old woman with osteoporosis and currently not taking prescription meds. In addition to the calcium & magnesium, I am eating a healthy diet of fresh fruits & veggies and exercising. I have found some helpful hints on a blog by Dr Susan Brown, PhD (www.betterbones.com) I have a strong family history of osteo and saw my family loose inches and get rounded shoulders. However, I see my doctor once a year and will have a bone density in the fall. So far I feel great but I continue to read articles and like this formum for sharing ideas. Best wishes.
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