Prednisone and osteoporosis

IMO Vitamin K2 should always be taken with D3, even more so if you are also taking Calcium (the doctor who's diet I follow doesn't recommend calcium other than through dietary forms).  K2 has little if anything to do with clottting...that's K1 which is a completely different nutrient. K2 basically directs where any calcium consumed is deposited. Without K2, all of that calcium that you've been swallowing may be ending up in your arteries rather than your bones as you were hoping. Definitely something to discuss with your doctor, but here's a link with some information to arm yourself with before you do. Very basic and general, you can find more detailed info by Googling of course.   https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-k2  Good luck with the healing! Ouch!

Harrie4,  Firstly,  I wouldn't make ANY decisions about treatment until your doctor gives you more detailed results and advice.

Next, I wouldn't 'write off' a medication because of listed possible side-effects. Stay open-minded on this for the present.  Every single medication you can think of has the potential for side- effects from paracetamol to chemotherapy.  The Prednisone you're taking now has a list  of side-effects the length of your arm but it's  a really important treatment for your PMR.

If your scan showed readings just into the osteoporosis range, you may well be able to get professional advice from a Physio and Dietitian about a way forward with exercise and diet without risk and see how it goes for a year or so. Because of your pelvic stress fractures you really do need specific advice for your own needs.

However, it's possible these professionals, and  also your doctor, may advise against this as you've fractured already. 

I had PMR, took Prednisone, reducing dose for 4 years, and have now stopped. I also was diagnosed with OP and took 2 medications, first Forteo for 2 years and am now on Risedronate (one per week) for the past 2 years.

My bones are improving well. 

I have had no problems with Residronate except for once when I'd stupidly forgotten that I'd taken it  (imagine?) and shortly after I  proceeded to do floor exercises which involved a sort- of shoulder stand. I got dizzy and puked for an hour or so. Didn't do that again!! 

I have no views about K2 but my Rheumatologist advised against it. 

Do keep in touch and let us know how you get on. And don't panic - you could have been diagnosed with something a LOT worse. There is hope!

J

Vitamin K2 has been shown through research, mostly conducted in Japan, to be effective in helping calcium go into the bones and improve bone density.  It doesn't affect blood clotting to such an extent as K1 does, although if you are taking a warfarin type blood thinner you need to consult with the appropriate specialist.  I would like to know why your rheumatologist would recommend against taking it.  

For an account of my story google healthunlocked my osteoporosis journey.  Even if you must take a medication doing all the natural things as well will help you a great deal.  It is now advised that a bisphosphonate only be taken for two or three years in order to get the most benefit and avoid the worst side effects.  

Oops, sorry, I see it was Juno's rheumatologist who recommended against the K2.  I think most of them shrug because they know nothing about it but don't actively discourage its use. 

K2 isn't the form of vit K directly involved in the clotting mechanism but that doesn't stop doctors saying no! Here you would have been given anticoagulant therapy if you were considerably restricted in movement post injury - then using any vit K (in diet with dark green veg for example) is fine providing you were taking it regularly the entire time the warfarin was being titrated (the right dose for you being found), not just binging on it once every few weeks. Taking it as a supplement would be regular use - but you would need to be sure you didn't run out or decide to stop taking it because when you would then have to titrate the warfarin dose for the new dietary condition.

But as Juno says - no knee jerk responses until you have the real figures. Though you are obviously in need of something since you have already had fractures - that is a very different case from those of us who may have low bone density without fractures. Which drug is best depends on how osteoporitic you are - it if it very low you may need something other than risendronate. But that is up to the experts - and one does have to ask whether a rheumatologist is the best person to say.