Hi PJ, I agree it does take a Village to help us navigate our health concerns, and life in gereral, and everything you write has helped me tremendously. Thanks for the kind words, but none of us know everything and we all can help each other out, that's the best way to educate ourselves.
It would be nice to have a way to evaluate bone quality, besides the bone biopsy method, but for now we do have bone mass measurement and that is a good indication for bone loss, which is what we want to know anyway.
Until we can find a way to measure bone quality, besides an extremely painful, expensive test that most insurances won't pay for, that is only recommended to check for other more serious bone diseases, we need to utilize what we do have and that is a DXA. If you prefer to avoid this test, that's fine for you, and those of us who want to continue checking our density, DXA is good for us. We can all exist with differing opinions, that's they way things should work.
Keep educating us PJ, I'll certainly be reading what you have to say!!
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My thought is the following:
That it's perfectly possible to have ''strong'' bones, even if their density might not be up to par.
I don't altogether trust the accuracy of DEXA machines. Or the connection between the manufacturers of these machines and big pharma.
Bisphosphonate meds have proven to be a real curse for many people. Their side effects have proven to be intolerable. Nor have they proven to be particularly effective in slowing bone loss either. Some studies have actually shown that they can end up leaving bones more brittle than they were to begin with, and bones have also been shown to not heal satisfactorily after a fracture in those using these meds, compared to those who don't use them.
A suggestion. Read ''The Myth of Osteoporosis'' by Gillian Sanson.
Revital
Hi PJ, you reminded us of some important things that we and the Dr. should be looking at. I know many Drs that don't routinely check a patients height, so if this sounds like your Dr. tell them you want to know how tall you are. The bone marker tests are also a good indication on how treatment is going and a good place to start a baseline measurement. I have this test apprx 2-3 times a year, so we (doc and I) know what my bones are doing, breaking down more or building up.
I also agree with the other poster that a dxa doesn't measure bone quality, but until someone figures out how to do that all we have is a mass measurement. You could have a bone biopsy, which will tell you about bone quality, but I wouldn't recommend that since it's not a simple, inexpensive, pain free test. You can have other things checked out like your vitamin D and calcium levels and take the World Health Orgs fracture test, and this will give you some additional info on your percentage of risk for fracture.
Thanks for reminding us about the bone marker testing and checking posture, height and back pain, these are all things we can monitor.
Great Tips!!
Pam, you're far more versed in all this than me, having dealt with osteoporosis for so long. Thanks for the bone markers tip. It takes a village to help us all deal, doesn't it? PJH
Hi - Thanks for connecting. I choose to believe in doctors, and if my doctor tells me a DEXA is a good measurement for me, then I have the scan. Thankfully, in this country we're all free to believe what we choose, and anyone can choose not to have a scan, not to take bisphosphonates... I'm glad we have these choices. PJH
I most certainly have listened to my doctors - more than one, with differing opinions about treatment (on the doctors' part, that is). I just wish they had more time to listen to me, though! That's the main reason that we have to be our own advocates and do our own research, to the best of our ability. Medicine is not ''a one size fits all'' industry. Although many docs seem to think it is. Including, for instance, the ways in which they prescribe meds. One seems to see so many pharmaceutical reps in doctors' waiting rooms these days. And there seems to be plenty of time to spare for them, often to the detriment of actual patients who are left to wait it out while the docs take their own sweet time with these pharma reps (who are probably trying to push the most expensive meds they have to offer).
Big pharma media and advertising play on our emotions and fears (especially womens'). While Osteoporosis can be problematic for some, it most certainly is not for the vast majority of us. And it's most definitely ''not'' the life threatening condition the drug companies would lead us to believe it is. Ever since the big scare regarding hormone replacement therapy, they've been harping on about bisphosphonate meds. Have to make up for lost profits, no doubt, on those darn HRT drugs on which they lost a small fortune after the studies revealed their risks and dangers. Shame on you, Sally Field! She probably gets paid a small fortune pushing Boniva. Wonder whether she actually takes that poison herself.
Well, that's my rant for today. I know many of you may not agree. But I also know that many of you will. Or many are just undecided. So chime in and post a comment.
Revital
Taking Calcium Citrate, Magnesium Citrate, Vit.D, Omega-3 fish oil and walking several hours daily.
Hi Revital, I was just wondering what your t-scores are and if you have osteopenia, osteoporosis or neither. Of course it's up to you whether you want to provide this info, but it would be interesting to know how well you are doing on the supplements you list.
Have you tried to find a Dr. that will let you be in the drivers seat, so to speak? I won't see a Dr. that doesn't let me make the final decision on what I choose to take, so maybe it's just a case of bad luck and you haven't found the right match in a Dr. for you.
My Dr. isn't thrilled with my choice of treatment, but she always says it's my decision, and all she can do is give me advice and then I make the decision and she'll follow. I do see a Dr. that specializes in bone and mineral research, so she doesn't treat many other disorders than bone like Endo's, Rheumie's and Internist's do.
I hope you do very well with your chosen path, and in the end all we can do is what we feel is right for us, and of course that will be different for everyone.
I can't say I agree that the dangers of osteoporosis are not accurate since I had too many relatives who died from strokes shortly after a hip fracture. The biggest concern with fractures is the inactivity that results from the healing process, especially hip frax's, so dying as a result of this is very prevalent due to blood clots. I've had 6 spinal frax's that totally changed my life and the inactivity issue is something I constantly have to be concerned with. I exercise, but the constant pain keeps me from doing all I wish I could do and the limitations I have are too numerous to mention.
Again good luck and try to find a Dr. that thinks like you or at least will let you be the decision maker. However, if you do sustain a fracture the supplements won't be enough to prevent further ones, so I do hope that never happens to you.
Take Care