Osteoporosis natural treatments

That sounds so horrible Luckygirl. I knew a lady in her nineties who fell and fractured her hip. They decided to operate think they did what they could however I thought it was odd they operated. She was mobile beforehand with a trolley when she went out. She went home with carers in place and died 4 weeks later. I wonder if they knew and decided to give her a quicker ending.

He was of course right is what it should read above.

My late OH, who was a GP and had Parkinsons, fell and fractured his hip. As he sat where he fell he knew he had a fracture and said to ne: "This is the beginning of the end."
He was of course. He died slowly and miserably over the next 9 months, losing total mobility, continence and sanity. He was simply not fit enough to cope with such a major trauma.

This is why upthread I am recommending not tinkering around with "natural" remedies for osteoporosis. Untreated it causes untold misery and death. It is not a good way to go.

Dempie55

Today’s Woman’s Hour on Radio4 had an item on Osteoporosis. It’s about 15 minutes from the end of the programme. I was shocked to learn that 1 in 3 patients diagnosed with a hip fracture die within the next year!!!

That is because many of them are very old and frail when this happens and may well have died within the next year anyway. This is the experience in my family. Forthose who are otherwise in good health the death rate is much lower.

Today’s Woman’s Hour on Radio4 had an item on Osteoporosis. It’s about 15 minutes from the end of the programme. I was shocked to learn that 1 in 3 patients diagnosed with a hip fracture die within the next year!!!

I was diagnosed with Osteopeania soon after Coeliac diagnosis. They go hand in hand apparently. I take all that Lynette above takes but I now include 100 ml of orange juice too. A recent double study showed improved absorption of supplements and less deterioration those who drank the O juice daily compared to the other group on similar diets who didn't take the juice.

That’s interesting. I’d noticed the ROS recommendation on HRT too. Must bear that in mind if the GP comes back with a “no”!

My mother was coeliac and so am I. Osteoporosis is very common for those with coeliac disease. Mum took Alendronic acid daily fir years. At the time, there was no 'holiday' from it. At the end of her life, she was told that her bones were 'shot to pieces', so the AA hadn't worked for her. I took it for a while but couldn't get on with it, so changed to Strontium Ranelate which I think has now been taken off the market. I now stand on a vibrating plate to joggle my bones and take vitamin D and K and magnesium and don't worry about it any more. I'm very nearly 75.

Cedardove I have osteoporosis due to a faulty hyperparathyroid gland. I had an adenoma on one of my hyperthyroid glands which caused calcium to go into my blood rather than my bones.

I had the same parathyroid problem. Surgery.

I walk daily, do strength training, and weight bearing exercises.

I take D3, B12, calcium, eat a well mixed diet - keep my weight low.

There was a report in 'Pulse' last week that vitamin D supplements are not effective. www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clinical-areas/musculoskeletal-rheumatology-sports-medicine/research-raises-questions-about-vitamin-d-and-calcium-supplements-for-fracture-prevention/

I am amazed by how much medical attention people with osteoporosis are getting. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis after a DEXA scan for a UK Biobank project. This was repeated by the local hospital I then got a letter to say that I was being put on Alendronic Acid for the next ten years. Thank you and goodbye.

I have no symptoms of the disease whatsoever and do not tick one of the boxes in the list of risks given on the ROS site, except age.and no bone fractures, despite going base over apex and crashing down on the floor at least once a year

What am I or they doing wrong?

I have osteoporosis due to a faulty hyperparathyroid gland. I had an adenoma on one of my hyperthyroid glands which caused calcium to go into my blood rather than my bones. I don’t know how many years this went on but when I got a pain in my bones and above my eye, the GP tested my bloods. I then had an operation to remove the gland and my calcium levels returned to normal.
I took alendronic acid for 4 years and my dexa results improved but now I am just taking Vit D, Vit K2, Magnesium, doing resistance and impact exercise and eating a balanced diet. If my bone density decreases further, I may ask about HRT.

I saw my doctor 2 years ago regarding my blood pressure and on the way out mentioned that I was having more frequent episodes of debilitating indigestion lasting for hours at a time. She told me to stop taking my Alendronic acid tablet straight away.

I have a yearly infusion now instead. I was prescribed Omeprazole 10mg for the indigestion which I’m still taking. I’m frightened of not taking it incase the indigestion comes back.

luluaugust

I decided to go with the Alendronic acid tablets which I had no problems with until about 4 1/2 years in when I felt they were affecting my throat. I went on a trial for those taking AA to test if the addition of Vitamin K along with calcium and Vitamin D helped. Apparently taking Vitamin K made little difference. If you already have fractures you would be well advised to talk to a ROS nurse to understand what is going on. Unfortunately although things like prunes help they won’t improve the problem. Good luck

I believe vitamin K helps vitamin D target calcium at your bones rather than your arteries. So it might be helpful even if it didn't affect the alendronic acid.

I decided to go with the Alendronic acid tablets which I had no problems with until about 4 1/2 years in when I felt they were affecting my throat. I went on a trial for those taking AA to test if the addition of Vitamin K along with calcium and Vitamin D helped. Apparently taking Vitamin K made little difference. If you already have fractures you would be well advised to talk to a ROS nurse to understand what is going on. Unfortunately although things like prunes help they won’t improve the problem. Good luck

I don't suppose everybody will follow that link, so I've copied and pasted the recommendations here:

"Recommendations

Several risk factors for osteoporosis such as a, gender, sedentary lifestyle and smoking and body type have been reported in literature.These risk factors need further studies.
Physical therapy programs for osteoporosis should include some weight-bearing exercises combined with nonweight-bearing exercise programs in addition to medical treatment. Educational health programs including early change of lifestyle from sedentary to an active lifestyle, and calcium-rich dietary interventions should be established in our community to prevent the risks factors. In addition, programs should be designed for the elderly and measures taken to prevent and reduce the incidence of osteoporosis as much as possible."

Thanks for the reply. I'll follow up the link. Sorry about your other problems.

I've had two DEXA scans - 42 and 18 months ago, so I have a measure of progression. I'm having another one in 6 months. I've been doing a lot of weight-bearing exercise for the last (almost) year, so it will be interesting to see if there has been any slowing down in the progression.

If not, I feel fitter and stronger, so it's been worth it anyway.

There are other published studies such as this one:
The impact of adding weight-bearing exercise versus nonweight bearing programs to the medical treatment of elderly patients with osteoporosis - PMC share.google/0YVyGm55DbCONEQ2E

twaddle - unfortunately the results weren't published - the study was for a PhD thesis. The person doing it had some other problems, I think. However, I suspect that the small number of particants lasting for the full year, and able to do the type of exercises needed, would have made the study not statistically valid.
My own conclusion was that I was lucky to be able to do the exercises, and apparently benefit. Apart from knee and hip issues, anyone with stress incontinence would find the jumping a problem! I had to wear a pad when I went to the classes 😩.

That's interesting, Farmor15. Do you you know if the results from the trial have been published?

I am on a 6 monthly injection of denosumab.

I've had an interest in osteoporosis for over 20 years due to family history. In my 50s, I signed up for a trial related to the effect of exercise on bone density. It involved a Dexa scan before and after the year-long trial. The exercises were a mix of aerobic and weight-bearing. 3 sessions a week, 2 under supervision and 1 at home. They included things like jumping from step with straight legs, intended to send a bit of a jar up as far as back.
I was one of the few who completed the trial- a number couldn't do the type of exercise shown to help bones, due to knee or back problems.
At the end, my repeat Dexa scan showed a slight improvement, much to the surprise of the technician running the scan.
Since then, I've taken a course of Alendronic acid, take a calcium/vitamin D supplement and try to incorporate weight bearing exercise into my daily life.
I have Dexa scans every 2-3 years and have managed to keep my bone density within a reasonable level for my age- now 75.

Has anyone else seen various reports on the merits of goats milk for oesteoporosis? Apparently the calcium is more easily absorbed and better at bone repair than supplements. I'm not giving up Adcal but am drinking goats milk as well, tastes no different to cows but my taste buds are not good.
The report I read was based on a village in Poland where women only drank goats milk and no one suffered from oesteoporosis. Sorry, can't trace it now but AI is positive about the merits of adding goats milk to our diet for this and other reasons.

charley68

There is no reason why complementary therapies cannot be used alongside medical treatment, BUT these are not a replacement or alternative treatment.

I agree with this. If you already have vertebral fractures you really need to get on top of this. One of my patients drank herself to death as the only way to stop the pain of her dreadful osteoporosis. Her only comfotrable position day and night was on all fours. It can be totally disabling and we are lucky to have treatments for this now.

Weight bearing exercises are good but sometimes impossible when in pain from musculoskeletal problems.

Please take all the help you are offered.

I was told I had Osteoarthritus some six years ago. Never had a Dexa scan (although I have requested this on several occasions - always refused). Back in February 2019, I tripped over something and fell backwards, landing heavily and knew immediately I had really hurt my back.
Because I was in a public place, and rather embarrassed, I managed to carry on that day with taking very strong pain killers.

So, it was not until four weeks later that I finally went for an MRI scan which showed I had caused a stress fracture in my lower back with that fall (I had thought it was just soft tissue damage). I was then 78 years old and my GP practice decided that this meant that I had osteoporosis - without any further checks.

Put onto Alendronic Acid and my prescribed ADCAL tablet was doubled from one a day to two a day.

Although I am careful, I have had other falls, never broken any bone - have real doubts about that diagnosis, but all I get from GP's is that anyone of my age who has a stress fracture in my spine MUST have osteoporosis!!!

Recently, another condition has meant I have had to had lots of blood tests, and this showed I now had far too much calcium . Adcal tablets stopped immediately (just vit D tablet daily now), even one of my BP tablets stopped as it is a dieretic.

I am not at all convinced that so-called natural treatments as an alternative to drug ones can really do much to halt, let alone treat these natural aging trends, but we do need regular check-ups to ensure that one drug therapy does not cause other problems.

luvlyjubly

I have refused the standard medications offered. I tried 2, but had side effects. I try to keep my protein levels good, take various supplements and regularly exercise.

I asked my GP about going on HRT for my bone health (I’m 72). He said the NICE guidelines did not recommend HRT for osteoporosis. I pointed out that the Royal Osteoporosis Society say it is just as effective as other treatments, which surprised him. He contacted the hospital gynae department for advice and got back to me within the week saying he will issue the HRT prescriptions. I’ve only been on the treatment a few weeks and will ask for a bone scan after a year or so to see if there is any improvement.

It may take more than a year to show any recovery/deterioration. Bones repair and crumble very slowly, sometimes taking decades.