Strontium Ranalate and exercise

[jennyjay]

Hi I am new to this site,used to be a member on the old NOS forum. I was diagnosed 6 years ago with osteoporosis and after trying several treatments,the only one I could use with out side affects was Strontium Ranelate,which I still take. My last Dexa showed a really good improvement and my spine is now osteopenia classed and my hip measurement has improved. I have a healthy diet and do around 20 hours exercise a week. I find Body Balance classes 3hours a week really beneficial . Hope this helps as I have seen several posts about Strontium where people are not sure,by the way I am 72 and really active

[Kaarina]

I too take SR after trying several treatments. I also read up about SR after being diagnosed and thought this was the best medication for me to take. It was a little bit of a fight to be prescribed SR but in the end it got sorted. I have no known side effects to date. I exercise too. I was also a member on the old NOS site. Quite a few of us there took strontium, didn't we?

[Ronnie101]

Thanks, jennyjay. My doc said strontium isn't used much now, and prescribed risondronate (?) instead.

What does "body balance" consist of?

[Kaarina in reply to Ronnie101]

Hi Ronnie, yes, since the "scaremongering" a couple of years ago with SR not many doctors wish to prescribe it and there are of course patients who do not wish to have it prescribed either. The "scares" with this drug do not particularly worry me as it would appear that practically all meds can have side effects. As I am not over 80 years old and practically bed bound, do not have high BP and am active I find this drug to be the best one for me after having tried a couple of the others for a week or so with bad side effects.

[jennyjay in reply to Ronnie101]

Hi Ronnie 101, Body Balance is a mixture of Tia Chai, Yoga and Pilates, I particularly like it because there is a lot of stretching and it keeps me supple.

I think the reason doc's don't like SR is that if you have high blood pressure or any kind of heart trouble it's not good. I am ok from that point of view and I have a wonderful doc who checks me out regularly and is not worried about me taking it.When I had my last DEXA last June the consultant said the beauty of SR is that it works, Hope this is helpful take care

[Lynneypin]

I believe SR is being pulled. I am considering strontium citrate.

Btw I tried to enrol in a body balance class but the instructor said it was too risky for OP as there was a lot of forward flexion of the spine, which we are not supposed to do.

[jennyjay in reply to Lynneypin]

Hi Lynneypin, Sorry you have been told that we should not do Body Balance. I have never been told not to, although I have never had fractures in mine spine. I have done Body Balance along with lots of other classes and swimming 3 times a week.My latest Dexa scan last June showed my spine is now classed as osteopenia,and my hip had improved over 5 years by 70%. I am a bit worried about the withdrawal of strontium ranalate as it was the only thing I could tolerate. I took it for 1 year and there was the scare about it and although I have no other health problems my doctor aired on the side of caution.For 2 years I followed the diet of eating the 10 dried plums a day and a Mediterranean diet,which I had always done,and plenty of exercise and this seemed to work. The strontium was being prescribed again so I have been back on that for 2 years. When this finishes in August I will talk to my GP about strontium citrate,if he thinks that would be good for me I will take that. The other thing I am convinced helps is that I drink a pint of skimmed milk a day,I use half of this in my water bottle when exercising because it's good for recovery along with bananas. Hope this helps,let me know how you get on.If I get anymore info on what will replace strontium I will let you know.