Posted , 7 users are following.
I hada bone density scan yesterday and the there was clear ostopenia in the femoral neck -2.4. My question is should I ask for medication other than D vit which I have been taking for years. My main worry is having another fracture. I fractured my shoulder in January and it is still not back to normal and my fingers are very stiff. Also being a diabetic, that was the reason I fell I had a hypo.
1 like, 23 replies
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Anhaga heather72469
Posted
No, you should avoid OP drugs at this point. There is a great deal you can do to improve bone density through diet, supplements and appropriate exercise. The major cause of fracture is falling so the best thing you can do is make sure you are as strong as you can be and have a good sense of balance. Tai chi helps with that. Exercise shoudl include weight bearing exercise like walking, using a weighted walking vest if you like. Some people use free weights, although I haven't tried them myself. Both tai chi and Nordic pole walking can improve bone density, and certainly improve strength. You should take a few things as well as calcium and D3 - magnesium and K2 are particularly important because they make sure the calcium is properly absorbed into bones, where you want it to go, not deposited on the walls of blood vessels or in organs where you don't want it. Vitamin K2 can be a bit hard to get in the diet (not same as K1) so you will probably need to get a supplement. There is quite a lot of information on the internet about it. A diet that avoids unrefined carbohydrates and sugar will not only help your bones but will also help your diabetes.
Anhaga
Posted
vimarie heather72469
Posted
Anhaga vimarie
Posted
The best way to prevent osteoporosis is through the natural methods I outlined. AA and similar medications work by interfering with normal bone remodelling and can only be taken for a few years before the risk of side effects becomes too high. Challenging the bones to build themselves up by weight bearing, and giving them the tools to rebuild themselves effectively through diet and supplements is the safest way for someone who is still only at the osteopenic level to go.
I have same diagnosis of osteopenia, have had a fracture, although probably not a "fragility" fracture, but have chosen the natural route and feeling better than ever. Don't have results of my second DXA scan but will post results when I finally am told them.
vimarie Anhaga
Posted
Anhaga vimarie
Posted
One year. They won't do them any closer together. Getting my results is like pulling hen's teeth. I will see my GP in a few weeks and she has asked for the full reports to be sent to her this time, not the useless summary we got last year. If my results are good, either stable or improved, I probably will wait about three years. I have been taking prednisone for polymyalgia rheumatica, this being a fairly serious risk factor, but am now at a much lower dose than last year when I had first scan. Fingers crossed!
pauline-41046 vimarie
Posted
vimarie pauline-41046
Posted
In Aug. 2015, my vitamin D level was only 12 ng/ml.
I wasn't drinking milk, or taking any Vitamin D or calcium supplements at the time. Also, I'm lactose intolerant, so I don't eat that much dairy products which has calcium. Now, my vitamin D level is 34 ng/ml. I have been taking a multivitamin and Calcium and VitaminD. Also, I drink 1 cup of lactose free milk ever since I found out my low Vitamin D level. I just need to do more weight bearing exercises and walk more oftern.
Anhaga vimarie
Posted
Are you able to eat leafy green vegetables? Some of them (not all) are good sources of calcium. Collards, kale and broccoli are all considered good. Some, like spinach, have calcium but it's not very bioavailable. You can also get calcium from the bones in tinned salmon and sardines, if you like them. Some kinds of beans are good. Dr Google is very informative.
vimarie Anhaga
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Anhaga vimarie
Posted
It's the bones in the canned fish which give you calcium, but the wild salmon is a fantastic food in its own right. Love salmon!
heather72469 Anhaga
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Anhaga heather72469
Posted
I won't get them until I see my doctor at the end of the month.
Anhaga heather72469
Posted
kathleen65757 heather72469
Posted
Older women, in particular, would be very fortunate not to have this result.
Go natural...exercise and supplements.