Printable View
Hi folks, just had a DEXA scan and diagnosed with osteoporosis (2.8 measurement).
I've read of some nasty side effects from treatment meds. If they are even effective? Read that 90% of women over 80 have osteoporosis...so it's often from attaining an older age?
Has anyone opted out of prescribed meds and plans to continue a healthy lifestyle of good nutrition, weight-bearing exercise and supplements?
Would welcome your views...
I have severe osteo in my mom’s side of the family. When she broke hip #2 her surgeon said her bones were one of the worst in his recent practice. Her brother had it so you know the gene is bad if men have it. My mother took that medication.
i am overweight so everyday of my life I do weight bearing exercise. ;) It is true! That combats osteo,
I haven’t had the test because I doubt very much I would treat it anyway..
I had a bone density test at 35. Doc said I had the bone density of a 21 year old. I’m overweight so like Iris I get weight bearing exercise daily. I’ve also always loved milk and yogurt.
I had the test then as I was going to go on endometriosis treatment that put you in chemical menopause for six months.
Thanks Iris Lillies. Agree with you!
I only had the scan 'cause my doctor kept bugging me...and I was a bit curious, too. I'm with you, not taking the meds. I've had enough negative side effects from the prescribed meds for high blood pressure to make me leery of trying new ones that from what I've read, are not always successful in effecting bone changes...and can have some pretty drastic side effects, too.
I was diagnosed with osteoporosis probably 15 years ago--most recently about 3 years go. My T-score then in my lower spine was 3.0. I have not opted for medication. I do some weight-bearing exercise. I should probably be more concerned about it than I am. The ironic thing is, before Fosamax lost its patent I did a ton of patient research on it for Merck. I was in my late 40s at the time interviewing patients that are about my age now, and it was really interesting to hear them talk about why they would/wouldn't ask their doctor for it. You'd think that because I worked on the drug for a couple of years I'd be all about taking it but I'm not. That particular drug is a pain to take. I might consider one of the long-lasting injections like Reclast. I'll be getting another bone density test probably this year, so we'll see if I've gotten worse. If so, I might consider treatment. My aunt, whom I resemble, had osteoporosis and it caused her pain when she got to be in her late 70s/80s. I'd like to avoid that if I could.
I was diagnosed with osteopenia in my spine two years ago which was shocking for me. I was already doing weight lifting and walking an hour a day. The hips were fine though. I've been taking calcium/vitamin d since and hope to talk my provider into another scan this year to see if its enough. My mom has lost at least 6 inches in height and can't stand straight up anymore. I'd like to avoid that as long as I can.
I was first diagnosed well over a decade ago, pretty young age, actually. I take once weekly Alendronate. No side effects that I am noticing. Just got notified that I'll be scheduled for another Dexa scan, so I'll find out then how things are going. Seems to run in my family as several siblings have also been diagnosed and, I believe, those are on the once weekly meds as well.
When I broke my hip at 70 by TRIPPING and landing on the cement garage floor, the surgeon said my hip should NOT have broken from that fall. (I weighed 220 lb. so landing on the cement floor at a high speed walk would have broken any bones...) Anyhow, I had the dexa and both the GP and ortho said to take it. Ibandronate once a month. I also started more calcium rich foods- milk, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, a mulit vitamin with calcium and an extra strength tums. The next dexa was not as dire- still osteoporosis, but steady. Dr. said to still take it until the next one is due. I have not had any side effects although I worry that I will have that thigh fracture or jaw trouble. But all OK and I've taken it since early 2020. I had lost 3 inches in height My mom had it. Like IL and Tradd, I figured my weight training was already on my body every day, but apparently that doesn't help the spine! My mother was tiny. I'm sturdy stock!
I'd take the meds, but with plenty of consultation with doctors first. Which meds? I don't know, but I think there are several options at this point specifically for osteoporosis, bisphosphonates mostly, but also SERMS, monoclonal antibodies, parathyroid.
Because I'm not sure reversing osteoporosis with diet and exercise is actually even POSSIBLE. At best with that one can maybe prevent it from getting worse, but if it's osteoporosis not osteopenia, it's already in a pretty bad way. And a broken hip or something and most people do not recover and many die within a year of that happening. But many older people have osteoporosis and are very much walking around NOT DEAD? Yes, they just haven't broken a hip bone or something. But falls are not uncommon either. If they happen to be unlucky and fall and break stuff death can proceed quickly.
I just did some research and found that credible sources recommend the K vitamins (K1 & K2) can be quite helpful in combating and preventing osteoporosis--so just ordered some to try. No reported side effects if taken as directed (unlike some of the prescribed meds). Worth a try.
Never heard of the K vitamins. Will have to look this up. Thanks!Quote:
Originally Posted by HappyHiker
Yes! See what you think...here's one med study I found of interest: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7645307/Quote:
Originally Posted by happystuff
That vitamin K recommendation is interesting. Before my fall the chiropractor had suggested Vitamin K3. I'd forgotten about that. I'll ask my Primary Care. She's pretty up to date on alternatives to things.
I would like to revive this thread because I just had a scan and a diagnosis of osteoporosis. This wasn't really a surprise, since I have every single risk factor, with bonus risk factors of intense dislike of milk, and GI intolerance to calcium supplements. I am a very small person, so even the best case scenario would be little bird bones. Anyway, I've been doing research in anticipation of a discussion with my MD. I follow Dr. Jennifer Gunter and have read her books, and she says that the societal acceptance of osteoporosis fills her with rage, because so many women develop this condition, and it so often leads to fractures, that lead to a loss of independence, and a cascade of other issues, and often ultimately death. I am very active (my sister calls me "the Eveready bunny), and I want to do what I can to stay that way.
Happystuff and NSWEF, are you both still doing OK with the biphosphonates?
Happy Hiker and Catherine, are you still sticking with the no treatment and healthy lifestyle approach, and if so, how is that going?
Has anyone tried HRT for the condition? I am wondering about that option since it might address some other issues.
I understand that there are some alarming risk factors with all of the medication options, but my own personal risk-benefit analysis definitely points to pursuing treatment.
If I've forgotten anyone who has something to add, please feel free to chime in (or to PM me if you wish to discuss less publicly). Thanks in advance!
I still am not treating my osteoporosis (I have it in my lumbar spine--3.0 and osteopenia in my femoral neck 2.5). I reviewed my scan results from 4 years ago (I can't believe it's been that long!) and it says that my 10 year risk of a major osteoporotic fracture is 15%. I recall, when I did tons of interviews for what was the only bisphosphonate at the time--Fosamax--that the doctors always dismissed clinical trials with the primary outcome being impact of treatment on BMD score, because they really wanted to know if Fosamax reduced fractures.
It seems that since then there have been clinical trials with attempts to measure the impact of treatment on fracture risk reduction. From what I can see in the paper on a meta-analysis (for some reason it won't paste in this post), while the relative risk reduction of a fracture is significant, the absolute risk reduction is very small. .
.
I also saw research that calcium + Vitamin D3 yields similar results to pharmacologic options, but there's something about how it needs to be taken in order to get those results. I'll look into that..
That's not to say you shouldn't consider treatment! I'm not a doctor! I'm just telling you that for me, I have chosen not to go with pharmacologic treatment. However, I might up my calcium + D3 intake, depending upon the research I read.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/article...%20vitamin%20D.
Also, keep in mind that you live in the NE, as I do, and your bone density will drop in the winter because of the lack of sun exposure, so if you had the scan done recently, it may have slightly impacted the results. I always have tried to get my bone scans done in the early fall, just to optimize the results!!
It sounds like you have enough activity in your daily life in terms of walking. They say that weight-bearing exercise is another lifestyle intervention that can help.
You have inspired me to look more into the research and I'll keep you posted. I tend to be very Pharma-averse, mainly for personal reasons that have to do more with laziness/stubborness than for any good health reason. So take what I say with a grain of salt.
I am still on my weekly med. My last bone density, however, showed that I no longer have full-fledged osteoporosis! Again, still on the meds as I am still susceptible.
As for HRT, I went on that decades ago, but actually for early onset menopause. It helped tremendously! But I was only on it for about a year. My dr was very good about explaining that it would be a "temporary" usage. Weened on and then off with no big issues. Again, it really helped when I needed it.
Wow! That's great, happystuff! Do you mind sharing which med you're on? I'm assuming it's a bisphoshonate?Quote:
Originally Posted by happystuff
I am still on ibandronate, my scan showed I'm not deteriorating... the scare with the dental work seems to be OK- But I will not ever think of implants...the extraction was scary enough. (reports of osteonecrosis of the jaw with Ibandronate and implants) I tke a tums at night, multi vitamin in the morning, yogurt, milk, cheese and ice cream! Vit. D. I''m 76 and have been taking the ibandronate since 2020. Chiropractor years ago suggested Vitamin K 2 or 3.
Happy Hiker here. As I approach my 79th birthday, I continue to be healthy with no prescribed meds for osteoporosis. I take a variety of supplements, eat mostly vegetarian, and go to the gym 5x a week and use weights, ride my bike and do some walking. Yoga once in a while.Quote:
Originally Posted by rosarugosa
I've yet to break a bone. No one in my family-- mother, grandparents (female) ever broke a bone, either.
From what I've read, having supple, flexible bones is really important. You can have solid bones filled with calcium that are brittle and fragile--and easy to break.
The side effects of taking the common prescribed meds for O are scary and don't seem to prevent fractures at all. Read up on the topic and maybe do some lifestyle things to protect yourself and develop supple, flexible bones that bend and don't break easily. Just my opinion.
Alendronate 70MG tablet once a week.Quote:
Originally Posted by catherine
Thanks for the input everyone. It looks like I'll be starting on the same regimen as Happystuff next week. I know there are risks with treatment, but I think the risks of doing nothing outweigh the treatment risks. I'll report back on how it goes.
Good luck with it all, rose. Hoping for positive results for you.