Osteoporosis

MissBennett I have Osteoporosis and did not want to take the drugs because I am juggling a number of other illnesses and allergies.

I found the book "Osteoporosis: The Silent Epidemic" by Dr Marilyn Glenville very helpful in listing the conventional treatments and medications, and also the alternative medications. It helped me make a decision and I have gone down the alternative route (taking not just Calcium and Vit D3 but Magnesium, Vit K2, Boron, Zinc etc) which has served me well over the 20 years since I was diagnosed.

I don't rule out needing to take the drugs in the future if my bones deteriorate. I have another DEXA scan next year and will find out.

Instead of being told I was going to get a new hip on Monday, I was told that going by my previous history of fractures, the problem is probably old and present stress fractures in my hip, caused by my RA and long term use of steroid over the years.
More investigations needed! ?

Take your medication ladies!! If I hadn't been receiving treatment over the years, it would have been much worse. ?‍?

Hello everyone. Like marymary62 I’ve have just received diagnosis of Osteoporosis. Same test result also for spine -3. I’m 66. Fit & healthy and never had broken bones or fractures. A telephone call from my GP yesterday has prescribed Allendronic Acid & vitamin D supplements. I read the medical leaflets in the packets last night and I’m now petrified of possible side effects. I’ll start the meds on Sunday, Very helpful chemist who gave me the meds advised taking a really big glass of water with the A.Acid, but mentioned something about avoiding seeds, nuts etc. There was a queue behind me so she couldn’t talk for long. I eat a lot of almonds and seeds. Am I ok to continue with these? Or will I end up flooding my body with calcium? What should I eat and more importantly not eat taking A.acid & vit D supplements. Thank goodness finding this forum. Thank you x

I was put on Alendronic Acid a couple of years ago, following a sress fracture to my spine. Never had a Deka scan - have asked for this acouple of time and told by GP it is a waste of resources as a spine stress fracture in a woman in her late 70's can only mean osteoporosis.

Before that I was on just one Adcal tablet a day, now take both one morning and afternoon. I was wary of Alendronic Acid as a friend told me of dreadful side effects. I must say I have never had ANY of these. Worst part is that having to wait at least half an hour once a week before being allowed to have my brekkie. Normally, I fall out of bed, straight over to kitchen, where my breakfast tray is set up the night before and porridge and large mug of tea prepared within a few minutes. So, AA days I have my shower -before- brekkie, other days afterwards.

All my life I have had bad finger nails, have never been able to grow them to any decent length no matter what strange treatments I followed (and believe me, some of them were very strange indeeed!!). Since taking Alendronic Acid they grow to a respectable length.

I was on high doses of steroids for ten years back in the 1980's for my ulcerative colitus. Ileostomy in 1990, sorted that out finally. But less was known then about the long-term effects of steroids and that is what is blamed for my osteoporosis diagnosis.

Apart from that spinal stress fracture, I have only ONCE had a broken bone - that was my clavicle back in the late 90's afrer a very bad fall.

So glad I was able to help - coincidental really. A close family member was diagnosed with Osteopenia recently so the information was to hand. His consultant linked the diagnosis with my relative’s long term alcohol intake, as the effects are cumulative over time, and even at moderate levels alcohol can rob the bones of calcium.

Since the diagnosis he too has decided to stop drinking altogether and is focusing on a healthier lifestyle. I wish you and your husband well.

Many thanks Pammiel.. I read out your post to my husband and he has decided to stop drinking alcohol and to pay more attention to good healthy food ... unbelievable ! So many thanks to you ...he was ignoring what I was telling him for years !... Thank you so much ...

I have had breast cancer and take tablets to reduce my oestrogen. I also take daily ibandronic acid tablets so every morning I have to sit upright for an hour.. I also take Adcal in the hope that it will strengthen my bones.
Before this my bones were strong.

Foods to limit or avoid
High-salt foods.
Alcohol. While a moderate amount of alcohol is considered safe for those with osteoporosis, excess alcohol can lead to bone loss. ...
Beans/legumes. While beans have some healthy attributes for women with osteoporosis, they're also high in phytates. ...
Wheat bran. ...
Excess vitamin A. ...
Caffeine

Does any of this apply to your husband? Smoking also plays a part.

Grammy666

My husband has been diagnosed with Osteopenia, he was always very active and had a manual job all his working life, we are confused as to why a man has this ? as I thought Oestrogen was a factor?
He does eat a lot of bacon and processed meats and alcohol everyday , so maybe his diet is a factor in the diagnosis. Any Ideas ? Please ?

Osteopenia in men is nothing to do with Oestrogen. It’s mainly linked with high or long term alcohol intake. There are several effects - cortisol production as a result of high alcohol intake decreases bone formation, excess alcohol kills the osteoblasts responsible for making new bone, and long term higher consumption can affect parathyroid hormones which then leach calcium from the bones. Might be time to examine his habits around alcohol to see if he’s exceeding the recommended weekly amounts - particularly if he’s drinking every day.

I have six-monthly denosumab injections. Plus the Ad-Cal of course.

I have osteoporosis in the spine (as well as other places) so take lots of care. At an entertainment on Friday I was supposed to join in with a group of ladies singing Big Spender (it was intended to be a joke) - they were all cavorting about with wriggling hips, but I kept myself firmly on the ground with rigid hips for fear of braking a vertebra!

Mum’s 91 and had osteoporosis for years. She used to take a once weekly alendronic acid tablet but now has yearly infusions and is prescribed calcium tablets which come in tubes and look a bit like extra strong mints. She has to suck these like sweets and always complains that they taste chalky, but the treatment seems to be doing the job because as she’s got older and more frail she has had more falls - so far no broken bones, which is great.

My husband has been diagnosed with Osteopenia, he was always very active and had a manual job all his working life, we are confused as to why a man has this ? as I thought Oestrogen was a factor?
He does eat a lot of bacon and processed meats and alcohol everyday , so maybe his diet is a factor in the diagnosis. Any Ideas ? Please ?

Agree BlueBelle. I've been in and out the other side of menopause in four years. Preferred to treat whatever came along separately. I take vitamin D and Calcium. Have done for all my menopause years.

I find the idea of being on HRT for 30 years quite worrying.

Hi Espee - yes I should probably have been on HRT for the last 20 years due to early menopause - some regrets now that I didn’t take it. Too late now though !

Unfortunately, Espee, as Bluebelle has stated, not everyone can take HRT.

I can't and have never taken it for a number of reasons

But HRT can bring it’s own problems including a small risk of a number of nasties it’s not without its own concerns

I realise it is much too late for all of you but you may have daughters who would benefit from knowing that as lack of oestrogen is the main cause of osteoporosis, taking HRT protects you.
I have been taking oestrogen for 30+ years now and the last bone scan showed my bones are incredibly robust despite osteoporosis running through my maternal line. I was told I only need to return for a scan if I ever stop my HRT and that won’t be happening.

Hi - thanks for all the info ! I hope I can benefit from the treatment - had osteopenia for years and took Adcal and lots of exercise so a bit dismayed to find I have osteoporosis in my spine - they should have scanned 2 years ago but delayed . Wouldn’t put me on the allendronic acid earlier though due to side effects s and yes can only be on for 3-5 years. My spinal score was -3 and anything below -2.5 is osteoporosis so hopefully it has been caught early !
I was told about the potential dental problems and it’s made very clear in the advice leaflet so yes I will be discussing with dentist as I have a couple of dental implants . I hope I can tolerate the medication. Getting older is a blessing but also a pain !

Thanks all for advice about taking AA long term. I’ve heard about it before, had another bone scan about two years ago, my gp surgery never brought it up. Will have to check. My dentist knows what medication I am on, he is always asking if it has altered.

I learned on GN about the dental issues no doctor or hospital had ever mentioned it i told my dentist and he said yes he did need to be alerted I passed on the info to friends who also had never been told it The same with the tablets my friend was on them 11 years until a new doctor was totally horrified and took her straight off them. You should have breaks every 3 (plus) years

Good advice Marydoll . I held off staring my alendronic acid until I’d had my dental work done.
Took alendronic acid weekly for years without a problem.

I agree Bluebelle. Having had my third annual infusion, a couple of months ago, I will now have a holiday from it, but will continue to take Adcal.

Is everyone on here aware that you must alert your dentist to the fact that your are on Alendronic Acid. Your dentist must be vigilant, especially if you have an extraction. There is a very rare condition called necrosis of the jaw.

In the middle of lockdown, my front tooth sheared off, no decay at all, just weakened. Before I could get a crown fitted, the dentist had to discuss my treatment with my consultants, because I was receiving infusions and other meds..
Years ago, I had to have treatment because the bone had become spongy. It was not pleasant at all.
Thats why this treatment should be reviewed annually.

calandergirl you’re not supposed to take it so long without a break my friends doctor left her on it for years then she had a locus who took her off as she’d never had a break I m not sure how many years but not ad infenitum

Barmeyoldbat my Mum fractured three vertebrae when she reached into a freezer cabinet in a supermarket while shopping. That was the first indication that she had osteoporosis.

I took it for five years, now having a rest, expect to take it again. No problem until year five when it affected my throat and I stopped. Now take calcium, vitamin D and magnesium. Hope to get another DEXA scan soon........