Osteoporosis - improving bone strength without prescription drugs

[BigBerth]

I am a new member and I now see that the way I wrote my first post was not easy to read - my apologies.

In December 2015 I was 64 years old and my DEXA scan results were:-

Spine T = -2.5 Hip T = -0.6 Femoral neck 0.657 g/cm2

In December 2018 my DEXA scan results were:-

Spine T = -2.5 Hip T = -0.5 Femoral neck 0.667 g/cm2

I was encouraged by these results as in 2015 I declined the prescibed medication (alendronic acid) srongly suggested by the GP.

Instead I took daily:-

Vitamin K2 100mcg Vitamin C 500mg

Vitamin D3 1000iu Cod liver oil 1000mg

Magnesium citrate 200mg Glucosamine 1100mg ) twice

Vitamin B6 50mg with chondroitin 300mg ) daily

I also make sure I have a daily calcium intake of 700mg/day or more from my diet - milk, yoghurts, gouda cheese, fish, green vegetables, eggs etc

As I approach my 70th birthday, I am still a keen golfer (Why did my Profile not show "Big Bertha" as I typed it in?! With a BMI of about 20, I am not a Big Berth!). I attend a Pilates class once a week and do ten minutes of back strenghtening exercises every morning.

I am interested to know if anyone has similar scores and what they are doing to improve the situation, please?

Thank you.

Big Bertha

[Margo]

Thank you for posting BigBerth

[Margo]

I had a DEXA scan on Friday and am waiting on results, I am a similar age to yourself and take similar supplements, I will post my results as and when I get them, am curious to know whether the vitamins/supplements have made a difference.

Watch this space!

[Ruffledfeathers]

Good on you BigBerth and Margo I have refused the medication and just like you doing it the natural way. I’ve asked doc if I can have another bone scan next June to see if scores have altered and she’s agreed. I’ve not only been diagnosed with osteoporosis but am also taking Letrozole so it’s a double whammy for my bones but I’m determined to excercise,excercise, excercise and keep taking the safe option for my body with supplements. Good luck I hope your scores stabilise or improve.

[Justme13]

I posted a long post recently on my amazing results.

Post title ‘Amazing Results- No Drugs’.

Assume search would find it.

Rushing out - no time to repost!

[fenn]

I’ve also declined the medication at this stage. I am 66. My T Score’s are:

Lumber Spine -2.0

Total Hip -2.6

Femoral Neck -3.3

I take the usual cocktail of supplements and do Tai Chi & Pilates and play Bowls. I have two Spaniels that need a good walk every day and I have just purchased a rebounder to give me additional weight bearing exercise. I have also eliminated refined sugar and other inflammatory foods from my diet. I was diagnosed two years ago and it has been a slow process with much research finding what MIGHT be beneficial and slow the process of the disease. I haven’t had a DEXA Scan since my original diagnosis.

[BigBerth in reply to fenn]

Good luck, Fenn. You are doing more exercise than I am (especially weight bearing) which has to be good. a doctor once suggested I pack in golf and take up running!! Having retired, found time for my new golf hobby and made lots of new friends at the club, I was not going to "pack it in" to go on solitary jogs pounding the pavements! Golf courses can be beautiful and 4 hours exercise a time feels good! Keep up the good work, Fenn, - life has to be fun.

[Margo]

As I promised I have the results of my DEXA scan. A bit disappointing!

My results 2 years ago

July 2017:- Aged 65

Lumber spine (L1-L4) T score = 2.4 Z score = 0.7

Right total hip T score= 1.4 Z score = 0.2

Left total hip T score= 2.2 Z score = 1.0

October 2019 Aged 67

Lumber spine (L1-L4) T score= 2.5 Z score=0.6

Left femoral neck T score=2.5 Z score=0.8

Right femoral neck T score= 1.5 Z score=0.1

But here is the good news! I rang the Dexa Department as I was puzzled by the femoral neck/hip. I was wondering why they were measuring my neck and not my hip? I spoke to the manager who explained the femoral neck was the hip they had just changed the name. We had a long chat and he was very informative, he said that for my age, my bones were ok. In other words I did NOT have osteoporosis.

I was hoping for a better result with the vitamins and supplementsI had been taking. But that said, I have had issues with my thyroid medication I was taking, and have only just started on a different one that suits me, and I think that would have some bearing on the results. So for now, I will continue on the path I am on, perhaps paying a bit more attention to diet and hope for the best. I( am not sure if I will bother with another DEXA in 5 years , that's if I am even offered one.

[BigBerth]

Good to hear that your bones are OK for your age! Well done, Margo. Good luck with the new thyroid medication.