The Dilemma of Aging Bones
As late as two years ago I passed the bone density scan with flying colors, attributing my good bone health to the fact that I always consumed a lot of dairy products. But my most recent scan after breaking my hip says my bones are not as good as they used to be. I am bordering on osteopenia.
I have been taking Citracal for a while as a calcium supplement. But my doctor recently recommended an increase in my calcium and the generic equivalent of Fosamax. She prescribed the one that you take once a week, reminding me to stand up for 30 minutes after I take it because it has been known to burn a hole in a person’s esophagus otherwise. YIKES! I just read this “Fosamax is in the same chemical class (phosphonate) as the chemicals used in the cleaners which remove soap scum from your bath tub.” I guess that would explain it.
Yesterday I happened to take a walk with a neighbor who suffers from the onset of osteoporosis and has a history of it in her family. Her doctor has been urging her to take this drug for years, but she has resisted because of a disdain for medicine in general, but also out of fear of getting osteonecrosis of the jaw. This article indicates additional side-effects.
My cousin (whose father turned 90 this week) considers himself an “herb doctor” as the owner of a health food store. He says a lot of things that make sense. But he did say he eats no dairy products, preferring to get his calcium from other sources.
If I listen to all these people I have a huge conflict about what to do for my aging bones. I’m planning to do a lot more research and perhaps get a second or third opinion before I make any changes to my diet and pill consumption.
I figure I only have one body and I want to make sure I don’t do things that have the potential to cause more harm than good!
Any healthy bone advice out there?
posted by Barbara at 10:14 AM
22 Comments:
A year ago I got the same diagnosis after years of seemingly no deterioration and there is no history of osteoporosis in my family. I have been taking a generic for Fosamax weekly since then with the same admonition on the package: remain upright for 30 minutes. I will let you know if there has been any improvement when I see Dr. Flynn in about a month.
You night check into an exercise routine check out this information at: http://ag.arizona.edu/maricopa/fcs/bb/exercise.html
I have a great exercise routine and feel very strong. I go to a gym about 3 days a week and do some machine & free weight exercises. The owner of the gym is very knowledgeable about body building and set us a series of exercises for me. It is important to rest between sets in each exercise routine. I think the wait period is about 90 seconds but long enough to let the muscles accept the exercise before repeating them (the routine is in sets of 3) and I do about 6 various exercises each visit. She also has a treadmill & exercise bicycles to use. I feel very strong and it has helped my golf game. My husband is 71 and also goes to my gym & has his own routine. He swears it's improved his golf game. He looks & feels much better than when we started about 2 years ago.
Find someone good... you are probably in physical therapy now, so ask for references from your physical therapist.
Hope this helps.
Kate -- What I am learning is that it isn't a simple matter of adding calcium. I will look forward to hearing the results of your checkup.
Lizzy -- I have long been aware of the need for a good exercise program. In fact, we set up a gym in our basement a few years ago so we could save the money spent on health club membership and have the convenience. I need a refresher on a good program for me NOW, and plan to get just that from from my PT person who is also a personal trainer.
I can and will deal with the exercise component, but I am most concerned about trying to deal with the mineral supplements in a natural way if at all possible.
BTW, welcome to my Blog. I have seen you around the Blogosphere for a while and am glad you offered a comment here. It sounds like you and your husband are leading healthy lives in Arizona!
Don't know if the advice works, and hoping not to find out it doesn't....
Plenty of walking, pilates, gallons of milk and loads of fruit and veg.
xx
I think I would take a moment to meditate and ask your body what it wants to do.
Exercise, calcium, all are positive steps.
Sounds like the big question is this drug?
Fire Byrd -- All definitely good advice! And I am doing those things now.
Kelly -- You got it! I really hate taking medicine of any kind. I much prefer a natural approach to health.
I have done weight training for years to build upper body strength and do a 30-minute workout at Curves 3 or 4 times a week, as well as pump calcium (ever since menopause), but none of it seems to have staved off this creeping bone loss. For the time being will stick with the generic once a week in hopes that it helps.
My dr's have told me a calcium supplement (take WITH food) and strength-weight training are the two most important things you can do. I'm trying... but I should be trying harder...
If you have doubts, I wonder if you could simply wait six months or a year and so do another bone scan, and see if there's any appreciable difference? (This is how I tend to handle non-urgent medical situations -- with the wait-and-see approach.)
Kate -- It sounds like you have all bases covered. There is only so much we can do!
Lilu -- From what I'm reading, diet may play a key role. I had always thought eating a lot of dairy products was the answer. But it turns out that the calcium coming from fresh vegetables (many green) and vegetables juices may be even more beneficial.
Steve -- My current plan is to proactively postpone taking the pills. In the meantime I'm going to modify my diet as necessary to add and adjust, as well as paying attention to the mix of calcium, magnesium, Vitamin D, and Vitamin K I am taking. It seems like fine-tuning an expensive engine. But then, maybe that's exactly what the body is!
I've got nothing. I don't even know what's happening with my own bones at 33, but I think I should figure it out before I have a problem.
Barbara, just want to let you know I'm really in Texas although the article I left for you is from Arizona.
Hope you get to use your at home gym & that the minerals & herbs will strengthen your bones.
Our gym is very inexpensive so it was a good choice for us. Besides I tend to exercise better when leave home to get the job done. At home I might just read blogs.
Happy day1
Kristin -- Be proactive now! That's all I can say.
Lizzy -- I think I knew you were in Texas. I understand the temptation of reading yet another Blog instead of riding the exercise bike...
I have tried to remember to take calmag supplements on and off for about ten years now (more off than on, though) The theory of exercise is one that I like, I'm with Lizzy on that one!
Thanks for the amazing soup recipe a few posts back.. will try it out!
Good questions. These things are so scary, one person says one thing and someone else says another. And on top of that a drug that is 'good' today may not be good tomorrow. The best thing to do I suppose is exactly what you are doing - your homework. Knowledge is power.
Best.
xoxo
Karen -- Let me know how you like the soup if you make it. Can you easily get all the ingredients where you are?
Gary -- Yes, knowledge is power. I plan to make an informed decision about this!
One thing you should do if it hasn't been done is have your thyroid checked. Hypothyroidism is one of the most underdiagnosed problems out there, and the risk for it increases as we get older. Often, the symptoms of it are attributed just to the aging process (dry skin, less energy, weight gain, hair loss, sleep disturbances). While most doctors know that hyperthyroidism leads to bone loss, they don't realized that untreated hypothyroidism can lead to the same problem. At 35, I had the level of osteoporosis of a 60 year old woman due to long term untreated hypothyroidism. After 18 months of thyroid supplementation, I had actually increase my bone density.
Everyone should encourage their doctor to run a regular thyroid test so you have a baseline to check against in case you develop hypthyroidsim.
Jodith -- I had my thyroid removed with papillary cancer several years ago. It is somewhat possible that the switch to synthetic thyrogen has contributed to my bone loss, but difficult to ever know. It's unfortunate that we often learn lessons like this after some damage has been done. Fortunately in your case, it sounds like your were able to turn things around to a degree.
This is always the problem... are the side effects worse than the original problem?!
Lacochran -- I'm not sure I'm ready to chance finding out...
Dear B,
Sorry if I missed this in the list of great suggestions -- you can minimize your consumption of calcium-leaching substances, such as caffeine/coffee.
Also, knowing family history can be helpful. What about your mom, grandmother, aunts, etc.?
F.
I exercise a lot ( never at a gym, but many hours of outdoorsy stuff ) I think exercise helps to strengthen bones?
I haven't eaten dairy in ages. I did hear Dr. Oz say that if you take a bit of calcium when you drink water, you'll be well off. (He was talking about a really old dude who drank this calcium rich water all day and rode around on his bike and walked miles and climbed trees, you get the idea... like magic water because of the minerals in it. I'd look for something the body could absorb well, too.
I was rock climbing last weekend and thought, yes, I still want to be doing this in 20, 30, 40, 50 years, if I'm still around I want to be active til the end.
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