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Who treats your Osteoporosis?

ejoyce
0 Recommendations

I have recently been diagnosed via dexascan and was prescribed monthly Actonel by my GYN. After a experiencing significant bone pain up to 10 days afterwards he has referred by to a rheumotologist, who I see in November. I am have been on Synthroid for 12 years which I have been told may have contributed to my developing osteoporosis. I am confused by the treatment options and believe I will steer clear of the biophosphantes due to my recation to Actonel, I guess I can not take Fosteum because I take thyroid medication, so I am leaning towards intentional exercise, and supplements. Any advice?

And thanks for some good ideas in older posts specificallt the walking poles and Juvent - I am considering both.

Explore topics in this discussion:

Exercise Cancer Skelaxin Imuran Osteopenia Fibromyalgia Osteoporosis Thyroid cancer Cortisol Stress Evista Forteo Diclofenac Reclast Synthroid Actonel Pain

13 replies

ejoyce

bump - hoping for some replies :-)

hofffazio

My regular physican (family/internal medicine) sent me to a Endocrinologist specialist who deals primarily with Osteoporosis - he was fantastic in all of the thorough and in-depth tests he ran - he gave me several options but when I asked if it was his mother, sister, aunt, etc. and they had my reading of -2.5 what method of treatment would he tell them to go with and he said Forteo. It is very expensive but it actually builds bone. It is a daily injection with a epi-pen with a micro small needle - you do it in your stomach or thigh (I do stomach) - this is the real deal with no maybe's attached to it. Read all of the posts on Forteo to see if it is something you might be interested in.

If you are in the Seattle, WA or Bellevue area here is some information on him: Dr. Paul Mystkowski joined Overlake Internal Medicine Associates in 2008. After completing his Endocrinology fellowship at the University of Washington in 2001, he was a staff Endocrinologist and an active member of the Teaching Faculty at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle. While there he founded a Thyroid Cancer Tumor Board and was featured as a “Top Doctor” in 2005, 2006, and 2007 by Seattle Magazine. He is currently a Clinical Instructor at the University of Washington and has been Course Director of the Thyroid Palpation course at the national American College of Physicians meetings since 2006. He is with Overlake Internal Medicine Associates.

ejoyce

Kathleen,

Thanks for the response, what kind of doctor is is Dr. Rogers?


ejoyce

tracydelatte

I was just diagnosed with signs of osteoporosis by my GYN. He wants me to take evista and I so scared by what i hear and read. I have crohns disease and I'm on an immune suppresant drug called Imuran. I also take levothyroxin so I'm not sure I want to subject my body to more drugs. I want to know if there are any ways around these drugs. Maybe a more natural approach. Should I see an endocrinogolist?
Please email me some replys.
telatte@satx.rr.com
I live in the San Antonio area.

Southernlady

I take Evista..........I have had so much dental work, I would never take the chance of ONJ.

KathyS

My family practice doc is who diagnosed me... and put me on Forteo... I did my own referral and saw a endocrinologist and rheumatologist. They both agreed with my family care doc.. I was doing the thing they would suggest... I do take a scrip for Vit D 50,000 IU once a week.. all three told me to continue that and not stop.. I do have kidneys that excrete more calcium then they should. I've been prescribed a diuretic for that... supposed to suppress calcium... we may all have Osteo but we may walk different paths to get here...

JilleWhite

I have been treated by a few different specialists over the years. I saw mostly Endocrinologists in the first several years. Then a few years ago I started seeing a bone & joint specialist who has a unique interest in Osteoporosis. I still see him, plus I now have an Internal Med. dr. who I LOVE! She really watches me closely and that gives me a feeling of security that I like. She is the one who discovered my estrogen levels to be low, as well as my Vit. D level! The bone & joint dr. is the one who recommended the Forteo. Then I went to my Internal Med. dr. for a 2nd opinion, and she prescribed the Forteo, and is monitoring my progress now. So all in all, I think it is a matter of finding a dr. with knowledge who also cares about your progress.. more than the type dr....
Jill

MiteOdust

Hi All. I am new to this web site and new to Osteoporosis. The discussion here is interesting.
We seem to be limited here in south Florida in our supply of good doctors and limited further by the insurance company and who they will allow us to see.
Our first PCP disappeared, just closed his office and left, along with our medical records, so we had to start over.
We went to a doctor who ordered a bone density test and lower lumbar xrays. I have osteoporosis of the hip and spine, along with much damage to my spine and surrounding areas, including some kind of growths, that can be seen and felt.
The doctor gave me 10 minutes of office time, reading the results of the tests to me, and then just gave me 3 prescriptions. No discussion, no questions. I brought up side affects and was shrugged off....
The insurance company told me I do not need anyone other than my Primary Care Physician to take care of my problems.
The "wellness" people connected with the insurance company called me to tell me to excercise more, lose weight and drink water. (I exercise every day, I only weigh 110 at 5ft 3 in.) The "one size fits all" advice confuses me.
Should I attempt to find someone to help me understand and manage my health concerns, or is it a lesson in futility? I am afraid of breaking a bone and being dependent on others. I am getting depressed.
Any advice is welcome, and it helps to read what others are writing. Thanks from Mite O Dust.

iola

What every U do, Do not lose weight i am 100 pounds my sister & me has the same reading you do except she has more wieght doing fine. I have a comp. fracture of T8 verebrae More weight less fracture also Fine a new Doctor

MamaMarks

Absolutely find a doctor who will listen to you and take the time to answer your questions and concerns. Osteoporosis is a life-long disease and having a good doctor explain to you what may or may not happen, specifically to you, and to monitor very closely the meds they put you on is very crucial to your well being. Not every med works for the same person. I for one have taken every oral med for this disease and cannot tolerate any of them for various reasons due to side-effects. I started the Reclast injection last year and just had another one yesterday. My side-effects last year were typical and only lasted for 1 week. Three weeks after the infusion I was pain free for 6 months.
My side-effects, so far, this time have been very, very minor, but most side-effects usually occur within the first 3 days, so I have been watchful. I had severe fibromyalgia pain prior to this infusion since October and was very leery of taking the second infusion due to the muscle pain I had for a week last year, but so far, so good. Today is my first full day after the infusion so I'll see how it goes. I did, however, wake up with less pain in my feet. Maybe that is a hopeful sign!

LindaS

I have found that endocrinologists are much more helpful when it comes to osteoporosis especially severe cases. One rheumotologist who claimed he was an osteoporosis specialist actually refused to take me as a patient.

SequoiaHealth

Hi All:
I work with many women with osteoporosis and/or osteopenia. Dr's will not have all the answers for you. Lifestyle changes are also extremely important in creating healthy bones. A methodical approach to determining the cause of your osteo is important before rushing off to take medications.

We use the following guidelines in our Be Bone Strong! program. It is what I call the “Big 5 for Bone Health.” These are:

1. A diet that contains 50% fruits and vegetables. Fruits and veggies contain
greater amounts of water and minerals with generally lesser amounts of
animal protein.
2. Adequate water intake for maximum hydration. Water is very important
in helping the kidneys regulate pH and detoxify the body.
3. Daily stress reduction activities. This helps lower cortisol and homocysteine levels reducing calcium loss.
4. Year round vitamin D3 levels in the 50-80 ng/mL (or 125-200 nM/L).
This should be confirmed by 25-hydroxyvitamin D testing.
5. Sufficient weight bearing exercise to stimulate balance and muscle growth which is essential for bone strengthening determined by regular full body strength testing.

Each one is important and cannot be neglected if you want your bones to return to a healthy state. Here are some additional resources.

The very best website I have found on the subject of vitamin D amounts is Dr. Cannel’s at http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/. It is possible to improve bone density without medication but you will need a well balanced program.

The Myth of Osteoporosis by Gillian Sanson is a worthwhile read. She presents some compelling reasons to take the finger off the panic button and start looking at moving to a healthier lifestyle. She challenges the current thinking on the “diagnosis” of osteoporosis and brings up some interesting epidemiological studies that raise questions on DEXA scores.

Please feel free to contact me if you need more information.

Hope this helps.

Woody McMahon
Reston/Herndon Osteoporosis Support Group Leader

MiteOdust

Hi all. I read all the postings with great interest. I am happy that some have found solutions, but it seems like many have not.
I know I need a new doctor, but there is a real shortage of good PCPs in (deep) south Florida. Some of it is the fault of the insurance company allowing only in netwok physicians.
I have a question about medications. Number 1, I take Clorazepate for anxiety/agoraphobia, and that is an old tried and true med for me. I can actually leave the house now, and I won't give that one up easily.
The pcp gave me Skelaxin, Hydrocodone, and Diclofenac. All of them with the exception of the Diclofenac put me into a deep sleep, for a while, and then I wake in a panic with nightmares. I stopped all of them so I could get some sleep!
Now, the Diclofenac is an anti-inflammatory medication, and I cannot find anywhere, where it is actually going to help stop the deterioration of my bones. i want to stop my bones from getting weaker, and I don't know what to do. Sigh...it would be a real blessing to have a doctor to actually pay attention.
Sorry if this sounds poor pitiful me! I have a lot of blessings in my life and I am thankful. I am also thankful for the Osteo site. Thanks. "Mite"

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