I know this question has been addressed in various ways before, but it would still help me to share my concern and see responses from the community. My last DEXA was in 2021 and my spine was -3.9. My doctor put my on a yearly reclast infusion, the first of which was last March. I am due to get my second one in about three weeks. I just received my DEXA scores this morning and was so disappointed to find that my spine is now -4.3. So much worse. My hip number is about the same -2.3. I exercise five times a week and do some light back exercises with bands and take appropriate calcium and D. I also take 25 mg levothyroxine for my thyroid, but those numbers are fine. I did not expect my bone scores would get better, but with the reclast and my lifestyle, I was hoping they would remain stable. have written my endocrinologist and asked her about K and Magnesium supplements and whether I should increase or change my PT exercises. I feel kind of at a loss about how to handle this. My doctor has previously suggested prolia and some other med that you have to inject yourself with, both of which I want to avoid. Any insight or suggestions that anyone can share? I will appreciate it!
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Karana81
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My question would be whether an error was made with one of the two scans, as that's a big drop in your spinal bone density, especially if your hip score has stayed the same. Was your hip score similar to your spine score in your first scan?
Thank you for getting back to me. In 2019, my hip was -2.6, spine was -3.8. In 2021, hip was -2.4, spine was -3.9 and this year’s results were hip -2.3, spine -4.3. So, they have always been dissimilar, but the current numbers are much more so. I don’t know what to make of that. I find it especially odd that my spine got so much worse after the Reclast. I am probably grasping at straws here, but I have arthritis in my jaw and in my hands. Could I also have it in my spine - could that skew results? Thanks again!
I would definitely question the accuracy of your spine result this time. Previously it was basically unchanged, so why would it suddenly be so much worse, especially with your hip improving. It's worth asking the doctor.
Thank you. I have sent a message to my doctor with this question and I am hoping for an explanation that provides some insight, rather than just putting me on another medication. It is weird that my spine score is so much worse AFTER being on reclast. It’s just so hard not to know what to do - I want to make a good, informed decision, but I am very hesitant about taking any of the other meds. Again, thank you. I find this forum so helpful.
I understand the feelings and disappointment. I think the thyroid medicine can affect your bones sometimes.
Regarding the Tymlos daily injections - I actually wanted that way more than a yearly shot because if you get side effects you don’t have as much in you. I understand people don’t want it but it’s still a good option.
I know vitamin D magnesium , K and Boron all are important . There is a blend called bone armour which I take . It doesn’t have calcium but it has all the other most important vitamins and supposedly there is a calcium hoax or false Studies or something that it’s not what helps
Thank you for your response. I have asked my doctor about adding K and magnesium. I take a plant based calcium supplement that has a small amount of a variety of bone strengthening ingredients, but maybe I need a boost.
hi - I can’t speak directly to your results, but I had changes in mine, too. It is frustrating. I realized my calcium supplement was not ideal and I was likely not being absorbed. I found alot of calming helpful information from Dr Doug Lucas, he has several videos on YouTube. One addresses DEXA. Maybe these will help?
Let me give you my practical experience with respect to Osteopenia/Osteoporosis. I did my DEXA scan 2 years after I got back pain and pain in various joints. The Z/T score was around minus 2.4. I consulted many GPs. As usual they suggested various tablets like calcium stereate malate and others. They asked me to double my milk intake. I started reading about it and found that the root cause is the alkaline-acidic imbalance in the body. When your body becomes too acidic, body compensates it and maintains Ph of around 7.0 by drawing calcium (and other minerals) from your bones. If this happens for a long time,then your bone density reduces.
This is what I did to improve my condition.
1) Stopped pasteurized milk completely. Its better not to have this milk as all the good bacteria along with bad bacteria get killed during the process. I switched to raw milk.
2) Added two spoons of unsweetened whey protein whenever I had milk
3) Ca 1000 mg ( have 2 times in a day, 500 mg each as our body absorbs maximum of 400 mg in one shot)
4) Mg 500 mg ( have 2 times in a day, 250 mg each You can take even more as RDA is 520 mg for a 40+ male). The usual ratio of Ca:Mg is 2:1. I take plant based calcium, magnesium combination(I get in online shops here in India).
5) Chelated Boron supplements (max of 6 mg)
5) Vitamin D3 5000 IU (have 2 times in a day, 2500 IU each). This is critical in absorbing the calcium and other minerals into your intestine. Switched to daily dosage of around 5000 IU (you need figure this limit your after doing blood tests)
6) K2-MK7 220 mcg ( Per vitamink2.com.au, Vitamin K2 has been shown to effectively decrease the bone resorption process. The process was significant after 3 years of treatment with nutritional dosage (180 mcg) of vitamin K2 – MK-7)
Its preferable to have Organic or Plant-based supplements.
I did not stop my daily walk of around 45 minutes.
Thank you for taking the time to share this information about your protocol. I will be very interested to see what my endocrinologist thinks of increasing my vitamin supplements, as you have done. It still, though, makes me wonder why my spine is so much worse - why is my hip seeming to benefit from my exercise routine and current vitamin intake and perhaps the reclast infusion and my spine doesn’t! It’s a mystery!
my hips are much better than my spine but I read walking only helps hips which is what I’ve been doing all these years now I am a fault gym person and work my body much harder than those walks
yes, I was wondering if my hips are so much better because I walk a lot and also do exercise with bands that strengthen that area. I do a couple things with bands for my back and another that should be developing the muscles in my lower back. I would consider seeing a PT again to update appropriate exercises. Still, it’s not like a don’t do any exercise for my back and with the reclast it seems crazy it got so much worse. Same protocol for the last few years and a boost of med gets me worse scores. 🤪
There are several ways people have increased their bone density. I am taking the nutrients in the doses used in the Canadian COMB study. I am also eating 8 to 10 prunes a day per the Australian study. I am also putting beef collagen peptides in my mornin coffee. I have increased my green intake. This includes arugula salads with canned salmon, I removed the rinds from collard greens and freeze them and then crumple them and add them to any sauce, soup, potatoes etc, I try to eat more salads. I reduced spinach intake unless cooked to reduce osteoclasts. I try to eat an orange a day for the calcium. I do not take extra calcium. I use beef bone broth to make my soups and sauté vegetables. I eat a Paleo diet, which is no dairy and no grains. I went no dairy years ago to eliminate diabetes and grain free to relieve my arthritis. I am also trying to do more yoga in addition to my normal exercises since balance is very important. I also use alkaline water when making coffee or tea or even to drink a glass before bed. Everything helps. Other than the micronutrients in the COMB study and a B-Complex I take no other supplements or medications
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