planet fitness

[Raleigh59]

I had thought that I don’t like gyms or lifting weights but I looked at all my choices including osteostrong.

For the money and availability and flexibility, The current sale at planet fitness is the best deal I can find and I joined and started yesterday.

I really like it a lot. Right now I do 25 minutes of the strider ( sitting down elliptical) and 5 minutes of the elliptical.

I am going to the gym every day from now on. I believe I can get stronger . I do hand weights 3 x per week in a zoom class. I have never been physically strong and now my bones are considered old and frail when my posture is good and I walk 1-3 miles per day but usually one.

[dcdream]

Slowly and with time, we all can be stronger, regardless of age. The research is there to prove that seniors can do weights into their 90's. That said, for those who don't have access to a gym or can't afford a membership or prefer to work out at home, it's all doable today. I use our local gym on days I can't walk outside due to weather conditions but my routine is done daily at home. I use hand weights for strength training (had a physical therapist develop a program for me) 3 days per week, walk or hike 2-3 miles per day (usually 2 minimum), utilize a pilates tape 2 days per week, yoga tape 2 days per week. Both pilates and yoga routines work on balance, strength and posture. I also attended several sessions with a therapist to identify proper body mechanics for routine movements we do daily. Too often, improper work out routines and improper body mechanics can actually harm our spine, so I'm very aware of how I move my body on a daily basis with normal activities. I'm hoping new meds come out that don't have the side effects of current meds and so far, I haven't fractured that I know of.

[Raleigh59 in reply to dcdream]

thank you - but some people don’t have as severe numbers as I do. I saw in Japan they are doing a clinical trial with 3 herbs.

[dcdream in reply to Raleigh59]

My scores are -3.6 and -2.6. I've had osteoporosis for 10 years and like most, who don't use meds, I do stress over what is waiting for me down the road as I am now 68. My mother, who has used fosamax and then a reclast infusion at age 89, has lost 5 inches in height and has the hump. She now struggles with breathing issues and I've watched how this disease has impacted her life and now longevity. Her using meds didn't stop her from falling/fracturing after age 85. So, like some, who still aren't on meds, I worry about my own future. What's the study in Japan and what herbs? I'm always looking for hope.

[Raleigh59 in reply to dcdream]

I don’t know the study or herbs but if you look up current clinical trials herbs maybe you will see it. Please let me know the herbs if you see it . Or if you see any other ideas.

My 85 year old friend has done well on Prolia as all her friends have except one who has cancer and possibly those with other conditions should not do these shots .

[dcdream in reply to Raleigh59]

I figure I will have to do something down the road regarding meds but trying now to slow it down if possible, which doesn't appear to be working. That said, am hoping the collagen I started taking slows done my bone loss, as well as, the yoga and pilates routine I'm doing for building bone. I do something 6 days per week for bone health and eat very healthy. I will have my next scan next year and hopefully the changes this year may stabilize my scores.

[Raleigh59 in reply to dcdream]

my numbers are much worse than yours . Many people are scared of strontium citrate but they don’t seem to research it at all. The research I have done says it exaggerates only 10% of your increased density and it promotes normal bone density not brittle in other words if you have a dental problem or fracture later your healing will be faster than if you had had chemical medication that make bones brittle.

If we take chemical medication and never have a fracture or a dental problem again then yes that could be a good plan but how can we be so sure we won’t have dental work or bone fractures ? Like my 85 year old friend who does Prolia , she is very careful with each individual walk and activity. She won’t even go to large gatherings because of COVID and she is staying on Prolia forever

[Raleigh59 in reply to dcdream]

what do you put your collagen in.

[dcdream in reply to Raleigh59]

My morning coffee.

[Raleigh59 in reply to dcdream]

do you think the collagen is the most important supplement? I’ve been keeping up with collagen in my bone marrow capsule ( 2 per day) but the powder one I only do sometimes. Maybe I will try putting it in the coffee again. Sometimes I had put it in ice cream or oatmeal but neither of those was a routine .

[dcdream in reply to Raleigh59]

I'm doing what the research study currently in process suggested. Collagen peptide powder at 5 g per day. Many of these powders suggest anywhere from 10 to 20 g per day but I'm just taking the project amount since the first year of the study had promising results so they added 4 more years to this study. Time will tell. I find the powder dissolves easily with no taste or aftertaste. Find a product that you like. I wouldn't say one thing is more important than others, as they all need to be in balance for optimal bone health.

[Raleigh59 in reply to dcdream]

I have two collagen products : one is bone and marrow capsules ( straight from cow )and one is marine collagen powder .

[dcdream]

what's your brand of calcium? I have had dental work which is why I didn't do a reclast infusion that my doctor said to do. I had a dental implant done, which took a full year from the point of pulling the tooth to the actual new implant installed (10 month process). Much to my surprise my jawbone and teeth were healthy and I did not require any bone grafting to prepare it for the implant. I wonder too if I had been on meds for 10 years, if I would have had such an easy time. Most folks recognize that after age 70 its not uncommon to have dental issues to deal with, so these meds do frighten off some. Thanks for sharing the calcium info. I plan to research that as well cause I read it did create a false sense of density so I didn't go further with that.

[Raleigh59 in reply to dcdream]

I believe you likely would have had an ordeal with your implant if you had taken OP medicine. I know they say “ oh you just have to take a break from medicine before dental work but a) sometimes there are dental emergencies b) the half life of the OP medicines is long so the medicine affects your bones being brittle / not recovering from dental or bone trauma for a long time.

My Carpool friend had only been on fosamax for like 4 months and had a huge dental ordeal - her first implant did not take to her mouth at all. The whole ordeal took over two years and I might add - much more expensive and physically and emotionally painful . How do any of us know what might be for dental or bone issues?

I am gun shy of medicines - even my Endocrinologist asked how my teeth are .

No one knows what will be, my chorus friend broke her tooth and had an extraction last week and now implant . Fortunately she had not been on any OP medicines and has no OP at all.

[Raleigh59 in reply to dcdream]

calcium brand - ancestral supplements but I am taking two living bone per day and two bone marrow and now I am spreading them out all day long every 4 hours

[Raleigh59 in reply to dcdream]

you wrote you plan to research calcium or strontium citrate ?

[dcdream in reply to Raleigh59]

I have a very hard time with calcium supplements and couldn't take them without getting bloated and stomach pain. I stopped taking them by the time I was 50 trying to rely on natural forms in food. My body reacts to calcium negatively, which is why I probably have osteoporosis. I'm going to try taking calcium supplements that you take. Perhaps just one pill per day and see if I can work more in and perhaps drink milk and eat yogurt, which also bother my stomach. so I'm not in an ideal situation but will have to try harder to get more in my diet.

[dcdream in reply to dcdream]

And like most on this site not taking meds, I question myself and my route of no meds all the time. Am I harming myself and making things worse? Again, time will tell but I do see women having to keep taking more meds, trying new meds when old ones fail to produce results, etc. It's a life long commitment to drugs on this route. I suppose I will take the meds down the road, perhaps in my 70's if I begin to fracture and have pain, etc. So far, I am near severe with my scores, but live an active lifestyle and have not fractured to my knowledge, yet we all read, that its a silent killer and often no symptoms. Unfortunately, drug companies stick with what they have.

[Raleigh59 in reply to dcdream]

can we talk on the phone ? I live in North Carolina.

[dcdream in reply to Raleigh59]

yes but I am busy this week preparing for my kids to come for the holiday. How about next week we connect, afternoons being best for me.

[Raleigh59 in reply to dcdream]

sure - are you in DC? I grew up there and my middle daughter is there

[dcdream in reply to Raleigh59]

You grew up in Door County, WI? Your middle daughter lives here? We are in Egg Harbor.

[Raleigh59 in reply to dcdream]

I am from Bethesda Maryland / Washington DC

[Raleigh59 in reply to dcdream]

sure - I am now 60 years old.

[Raleigh59 in reply to dcdream]

yesterday I had a very active day in a variety of environments that definitely could have led to falls - my reflexes were vastly improved I can tell, by my increased exercise

[Raleigh59 in reply to dcdream]

I bc am not sure if my calcium would be good for you. Mine is straight from the cow. The easiest on the stomach is Bone Strength Take Care by New Chapter that is plant sourced but I don’t personally think they absorb well. I’ve taken them like 1 tablet per day for years and it did nothing for me. But I never took the correct dose. People love that tablet bc so easy on the stomach.

[dcdream in reply to Raleigh59]

The meat source is better for me, as my collagen peptides powder is also bovine. That said, I'm going to double check that I'm not taking more than I should of collagen 1 since I will get it from the ancestral calcium in addition to my collagen powder. Over use of anything can be harmful or a waste of money.

[Raleigh59 in reply to dcdream]

I agree the meat source is better absorbed and most best potential for it actually helping

[dcdream]

The dental surgeon told me not to worry about being on osteoporosis meds with my implant surgery coming up. So did my endocrinologists who's pushing meds on me. However, my dentist was just the opposite telling me she's seen the horrors with her patients on meds with dental work not taking etc. She told me to wait a year at least before I took meds, if I was comfortable with waiting. But I know many seniors with teeth issues so I know eventually it impacts most of us.

[Raleigh59 in reply to dcdream]

very wise of you indeed . Idk personally I am told strontium citrate strengthens bones and teeth / jaws and only helps recoveries . I don’t know if I am more at risk of dental or bone issues long term. My dad was always strong boned, who I look like, but my mom wasn’t and hip fractured at 88 ( no medicines ) and healed well as these things go ,

Which medicine or natural route prevents losing height ?

[Raleigh59 in reply to Raleigh59]

A friend who sits next to me at chorale approximate age 68, suddenly broke a tooth in half when eating a sandwich which led to an immediate extraction and graft for implant and implant will happen. Fortunately she has had no osteoporosis or medicines for OP so she is healing really well.

[Raleigh59 in reply to dcdream]

all of them either look at percent statistics or individual stories - but like anything you don’t want to be the person with a problem with recovery

[Sudie1208]

I’m glad to see your post regarding teeth! I have very severe osteoporosis @ 73 & have avoided all meds, & all dental procedures , thus far.

[Raleigh59 in reply to Sudie1208]

how do we know we are doing the right thing by avoiding all osteoporosis medicines ?

[Sudie1208 in reply to Raleigh59]

I don’t know; but I feel very strongly about avoiding these meds.

[Raleigh59 in reply to Sudie1208]

i don’t want to lose inches of height

[dcdream in reply to Raleigh59]

unfortunately, we don't know this. Nor are we guaranteed with meds.

[Raleigh59 in reply to dcdream]

there is a Tymlos patch coming out . Someone on this board did it and had success with it. She did a clinical trial which is not open now. I guess one day I might do that if the fda approves it

[Sudie1208]

U are such an encouragement with your exercise routine! I’m going to check out the OSTEO STRONG gyms. It will be costly I’m sure, but at 73 & no osteoporosis meds (as yet), a brittle diabetic, & teeth issues I must do something…. My DEX scores are -3 & -4. My dr needless to say pushes the meds but, I’ve read too much on the side effects. I’m scared!

[Raleigh59 in reply to Sudie1208]

my numbers are -4.7 in spine

And -3.1 and -3.4 in femurs. I am only 60. I feel very scared of medicines and very scared of doing nothing.

My dexa was done by a student and there is a question if it is valid bc she had never seen the machine before and she made several mistakes .

[Hidden]

In mid-50s, I suffered 5 pelvic fragility fractures while doing home PT exercises with resistance bands. That is when I found out I had osteoporosis. My mom was a 40 year smoker and did have a dowagers hump and lost a lot of height in her later years. I did not use HRT (I never did well with exogenous hormones). I had had two prior DEXA scans - both in osteopenic range. The one I had after all of the fractures (just 15 months after prior DEXA) had only one site at -2.5 - other scores were osteopenic. I have seen so many specialists and many secondary conditions were ruled out in the process. I also found that I had lost 1-3/4” of height since high school (last time I was measured). I was able to get rheumatologist to order bone turnover markers, though not true baselines since I had multiple healing fractures. I found a clinic that did DEXA w/TBS and had another DEXA done. My TBS scores were in the -4s & -5s! So my bone quality/microarchitecture was much worse than my BMD - likely why I fractured so easily. I completed 2 years of Tymlos w/o any improvement (but had no further fractures), then 12 months of Evenity injections with very little improvement (but no new fractures). I was then faced with the only tool left - bisphosphonates (I chose not to go the Prolia route). I was very scared to begin treatment with bisphosphonates but with my fracture history I felt I really had no choice. I have GI issues so oral bisphosphonates weren’t an option. I had my first Reclast infusion last fall at age 59. I did have pretty uncomfortable side effects for a few days, but otherwise haven’t had any known issues otherwise. I do see my dentist twice annually for cleaning/exam - it is important to maintain good dental health. I do still worry about long term potential side effects but the fractures I suffered at such a young age were extremely painful (one never completely fused) and have limited what types of exercise I can do now. I am very careful to avoid falls. I do worry about whether my bones would heal if I had a fracture or ever needed a joint replacement. I just simply had no real alternative. So - I am thankful for bisphosphonates but really would rather not need treatment. I really hope to maintain as much independence and mobility as possible, for as long as possible. I already deal with quite a lot of chronic pain from damage from prior fractures and degenerative issues in my spine. All of this to say: definitely much to weigh and each individual has to consider all of their personal factors.