If you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis

[Cleanthatup]

Posting here for traffic.

I turned 38 last month, I’ve just been diagnosed with moderate osteoporosis. I am petrified, my mother has it and I see her struggle every day and how badly it has impacted every aspect of her life.

so I am trying my best to build my bone health as much as possible. Any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Weights and low impacts exercise. Google is your friend. Diet also and there are medical treatments.

D3 and K2 together
weights and low impact exercise
leafy greens
ditch fizzy drinks including fizzy water
build muscle around key joints and work on balance/ ankle strength etc to help prevent breaks

there may be meds to slow progression but at your age you may even be able to reverse to some extent using lifestyle and exercise

Good luck

My mother had osteoporosis and I've got it, too. I took Alendronic acid for a few years, but it didn't work and my spine is still badly affected. The consultant wanted me to have infusions because I'm at high risk of fracture. and I agreed, but the appointment never arrived and I decided not to pursue it. According to him, money is only going in to drug treatments, and it's drugs or nothing. I did a bit of research and now I'm using a vibrating plate to stand on and hope it will work to strengthen my bones. I think that they were developed to strengthen the bones of astronauts when they'd spent time in space. Lack of gravity has a really detrimental effect on bones.
Suggest you talk to the nurse at the Osteoporosis Society. They favour drug treatments but also suggest exercises which may help.

D3 with K2 and magnesium.
Have you been diagnosed with a Dexa scan? They tend to be unreliable on results. I recommend paying for a private REMS scan which is far more reliable and can you see exactly where you are at.
I recommend looking at Nick Birch at Osteoscan, not only will he go through your results but will give you excellent advice of what you should be doing.
Have a look at this facebook group, very informative on vitamins and exercise

Thanks I’ve order some vitamins and looked at my overall diet which I thought was pretty good but can certainly be improved.

I drink a lot of carbonated drinks about 3-4 every day, so I’ll have to knock that on the head. I start drinking milk instead to try and help with the calcium.

It was such a shock to be diagnosed at such a young age. I went to the doctors because I had aches and pain in my hips especially at night and could never get comfortable in bed.

Ohh I never know that. I think my friend has one of those plates, I might ask to use it for a while.

has anyone improved their T-scores?

I hope you manage to turn things around; if you don’t mind me asking, how has it impacted your mum’s life? I’ve just been diagnosed at 62, my score just edged over the line for the lumbar spine. They’ve offered me alendronic acid but I need to do a bit of research I think.

Not all vitamins are equal, you need to get good quality ones. As pure as possible - no fillers. D3 and K2 is best taken in oil form.
Have a look at the Facebook group I recommended.
Also it’s worth noting that a low bone density but with good quality is better than higher density with low quality. A Dexa scan will not differentiate.
There are videos with Dr Nick Birch on YouTube or his website (can’t remember which) which explain everything in great detail. Worth listening to.

I'm sorry for your diagnosis. I know you're not post-menopausal, but adding 50g of prunes per day to your diet is a low intervention strategy that's worth a try.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35798020/

I talked to my GP about it and asked if I was being irresponsible deciding against taking any more drugs. She said that no-one knows the long term effects of them.

Has the most common cause of osteoporosis been ruled out by blood tests? I have primary hyperparathyroidism and severe osteoporosis caused by it. I’m 55 and was diagnosed when I mid forties. You would need your blood tested for calcium levels, magnesium levels, vitamin D levels and also parathyroid levels and phosphate levels if possible. It is a curable disease once the affected parathyroid gland or glands are removed surgically. Osteoporosis reverses or stops progressing then.

Forgot to say I’m awaiting a second surgery as the first surgeon didn’t remove enough glands in the first operation so I’m not cured yet!

Osteoporosis is a calcium leeching disease not a calcium deficiency disease.

You need plenty of animal protein and fat. Eggs, steak, chicken etc. Cut out black tea and leafy greens as they block absorption of almost all nutrients.

My MIL reversed it in her 70s by doing this. Her orthopaedic surgeon actually told her to go on the carnivore diet. She did it for 6 months then reintroduced some other foods. She’s doing really really well.

I could not take alendronic acid because of reflux. I was put on Strontium ranelate for years till it was withdrawn because of concern over its heart effects. I went on to have a heart attack and atrial fibrillation! Hmmmm......

I have now been on 6 monthly denosumab injections for the last 5 years and they have just decided that I should continue these indefinitely. A dexa has shown that there is some small improvement in spine, but still deteriorating in hip. I have throughout also taken Calcium and vit D.

My degenerating spine is causing me so much pain - the worst is in my neck and is intolerable some nights.

If you have been diagnosed then definitely take the treatments.

Weights. Medication - it really does work. HRT.

My mum also has very bad osteoporosis but hasn't had more fractures since her course of denosumab.

I'm sorry you're dealing with this. Extra calcium from milk won't be enough - you definitely need proper calcium supplements. Research done recently shows that strength training can actually increase bone density as well as stop bone loss so it should now be a daily part of your routine. But definitely get a PT who specialises in osteoporosis and understands what precautions you need to take, etc. That in addition, of course, to whatever medications might be available.

Hi OP,

Hope you don't mind us popping our head round the door to flag that on Thursday we've got an AMA with two specialist nurses from the Royal Osteoporosis Society - we though it might be of interest to you and other users on this thread. You can post your questions here.

Thanks,
MNHQ

I was diagnosed with bad osteoporosis at 41. My t score for hip was minus 4.7.

The hospital are giving me physio which I appreciate but other than that I've had no support or mention of it by any medical professional since my diagnosis several years ago.

I do take vitamin d/calcium supplements. And I've been recommended HRT. There's a strong medicine for bones you can have an injection once a year. But I'm scared to have it as it can make your teeth fall out. It also made my friend violently sick.

Hrt. Oestrogen has the biggest impact on bones.

I have coeliac disease and also osteoporosis. (Dexa 2018 lumbar -3.8
Right total hip -1.3
Left total hip -1.7)
In the past, I have taken Alendronic Acid and also Strontium Ranelate. The drugs didn't work for my coeliac mother (her consultant said her spine was 'shot to pieces') and I no longer take them. My questions are, do the drugs not work for coeliacs? And what non drug treatments are being trialled?
Thank you.

Osteopenia or osteoporosis?

what were You being offered? .

It’s got to be weight and resistance training to build bone health, unfortunately, at least 3 times a week. Weighted vests won’t help, either.

OP if you look there’s another thread saying there’s an AMA here about osteoporosis on Thursday 26th at 7:00 pm

OP if you look there’s another thread saying there’s an AMA here about osteoporosis on Thursday 26th at 7:00 pm