Treating Osteoporosis

[frec]

I have osteoporosis--lots of celiacs do--and I have been trying to find information on options for treatment. I don't like the sounds of the bisphosphonates but that is often all the doctors offer. Here is some really excellent information, including a calculator you can use to estimate your risk if you know your T score. The site is written by a medical doctor who teaches at University of Washington.

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[Gemini]

  frec said:

I have osteoporosis--lots of celiacs do--and I have been trying to find information on options for treatment. I don't like the sounds of the bisphosphonates but that is often all the doctors offer. Here is some really excellent information, including a calculator you can use to estimate your risk if you know your T score. The site is written by a medical doctor who teaches at University of Washington.

Open Original Shared Link

Thanks, Frec!

I have osteopenia and currently am using bio-identical hormones, plus a boatload of calcium with Vit. D and magnesium. I remain active as much as I can fit in and all this will have to do because the meds they push on you create far more problems than they are worth. I think the most important thing to do is to remain active and flexible to decrease chances for a fracture. If this were a man's problem, there would be a cure by now!

[mamasaidso]

I was diagnosed with celiac disease in January 2008 at age 58. My osteoporosis was in high risk range for hips and spine on dexa scan two years ago. Last year I tried to find an alternative to the Fosamax D my primary doc had prescribed. I decided to see if the gluten-free diet made a difference before I went the drug route. I had read in Dr. Peter Green's book on celiac disease that drugs for osteoporosis should not be taken while you are healing on gluten-free diet. I am seeing Dr. Cynthia Rudert in Atlanta and she reinforced that as well. It can be dangerous for celiacs and decrease your blood calcium level.

I went to an endocrinologist and had all my levels checked including vitamin D levels. Also had my magnesium checked. I faithfully take my calcium in the am and before I go to bed. I take an vitamin D supplement with evening calcium. I started weight bearing exercises and yoga. My recent Dexa scan done November 08 showed no osteoporosis in spine, it was normal. My hips, which were worse, showed mild osteopenia. I couldn't believe how quickly it changed especially for my age. My hips used to ache constantly and had to have cortisone shots. I have no more joint pain anywhere. I can't believe it. Needless to say, I am very relieved that I could do this naturally.

Hopefully this info will be helpful to you.

[Gemini]

  mamasaidso said:

I was diagnosed with celiac disease in January 2008 at age 58. My osteoporosis was in high risk range for hips and spine on dexa scan two years ago. Last year I tried to find an alternative to the Fosamax D my primary doc had prescribed. I decided to see if the gluten-free diet made a difference before I went the drug route. I had read in Dr. Peter Green's book on celiac disease that drugs for osteoporosis should not be taken while you are healing on gluten-free diet. I am seeing Dr. Cynthia Rudert in Atlanta and she reinforced that as well. It can be dangerous for celiacs and decrease your blood calcium level.

I went to an endocrinologist and had all my levels checked including vitamin D levels. Also had my magnesium checked. I faithfully take my calcium in the am and before I go to bed. I take an vitamin D supplement with evening calcium. I started weight bearing exercises and yoga. My recent Dexa scan done November 08 showed no osteoporosis in spine, it was normal. My hips, which were worse, showed mild osteopenia. I couldn't believe how quickly it changed especially for my age. My hips used to ache constantly and had to have cortisone shots. I have no more joint pain anywhere. I can't believe it. Needless to say, I am very relieved that I could do this naturally.

Hopefully this info will be helpful to you.

Thank you so much for posting your story....it has given me hope! I am going to turn the magic 50 this year and was pessimistic about being able to regain bone density after menopause. I just will absolutely not take biophosphonates because I will be having 2 dental implants down the road and do not want complications from that. I also take copious amounts of calcium, vitamin D and magnesium and try to fit in exercise when I can. I wish I could add more in but my work schedule makes that difficult. Hopefully, mine will turn around also but I haven't been re-tested as of yet. I, too, used to get some bone pain in my leg but that has gone away for awhile now so hope is there!

Congratulations!

[Puddy]

Thanks for posting that info, Mammasaidso. I, too, was diagnosed with osteoporosis - in November 2007. My hips were fine, but my spine was in bad shape. The doctor put me on Boniva for 3 months and I didn't have a good reaction so stopped taking it. I was diagnosed with Celiac shortly after. I read Dr. Green's book, also, and had to 'educate' my doctor about not taking any meds for the osteo the first year on the gluten-free diet. She was not happy about my decicion. I've been taking my calcium with D and magnesium religiously. I'm coming up on my one year anniversary on the gluten-free diet and am anxious to have my bone density retested. You've given me hope!