Osteopenia --thanks steroids !

Got a bone density scan yesterday and my T score was -1.6. I'm 34 and workout , eat calcium. But after 7 months of prednisone , a pregnancy , and 5 weeks of breasfteeding I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Anyone else have this ? Just take extra calcium? I'm gonna make an appointment with my primary to have this followed.

Please do not try Boniva, there are a number of very serious side effects and multiple lawsuits including at least one class action. And it should never be prescribed for osteopenia and rarely prescribed for osteoporosis these days.

You also should not take calcium alone, but make sure you are getting adequate D and Magnesium as well. Some do a cal-mag-zinc combination if your blood levels of D are okay, but calcium alone can do more harm than good. Here's what Dr. Weil recommends for regaining bone density through diet:

Get enough calcium. Choose high quality, organic dairy products such as yogurt and milk. Eat more sardines (with bones), dark green vegetables like collard greens, bok choy and broccoli, whole soy products like tofu, and calcium-fortified soy milk and orange juice. Consider taking a calcium supplement if you are not eating at least three servings of dairy per day and/or calcium-fortified foods, if you are postmenopausal or if you have a family history of osteoporosis.

Get enough vitamin D. Dr. Weil recommends supplementing with 2,000 IU daily for adults.

Decrease your sodium intake. Avoid salty processed foods and fast food. Don't salt your food before tasting it.

Eat plenty of vegetables and fruit. Potassium, magnesium, vitamin C and beta carotene (found in fruits and vegetables) have been associated with higher total bone mass. A diet rich in vegetables and fruit and moderate in animal protein and grains may minimize the acid-ash residue of the diet.

Limit caffeine intake.

Avoid alcohol or drink only in moderation.

Increase weight-bearing activities, such as walking, weight training and calisthenics. Try to do at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.

Eat magnesium-rich foods every day. These include spinach, tofu, almonds, broccoli and lentils. Pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are also good sources of magnesium.

Eat vitamin K-rich foods every day. The best sources are green leafy vegetables (see the calcium-rich greens listed above), but most vegetables are good sources.

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02771/ostoepenia.html

Calcium, Vitamin D, Magnesium, Strontium, Boron, Vitamin K are all needed to build bone.... There may be more micronutrients.

iPoop said...
Calcium can be regained using calcium supplements and a prescription medication like boniva.

not this !

IPoop, maybe you should reply and 'not agree' with juststud's reply. If he agrees with this then by definition he will be disagreeing with himself and if he does not agree with this then by definition he will be agreeing with you. You'll have him in Russell's Paradox!!!

Osteopenia is, from what I understand, a reversible condition. I know of a few people who through intense calcium and Vit D intake reversed out of this category and into normal scores.

Steroids can be the issue here but so can the autoimmune condition in itself.

Zen, lets agree to disagree as we're not doctors. As the OP and her doctor are the ones who ultimately decide which path to take. We can give suggestions to consider, many of us have different opinions (which is great about healingwell), which gives potentially new options some of which are not necessarily initally considered. Everything has risks and weighing the risk versus benefits is an important part of the decision process. We've even had some here take that medication without adverse effects and recommend it to others.

I deleted a post by another user and am locking this thread. Let's keep on topic, be helpful to the OP, respectful of others, and remember that personal fights aren't helpful to the OP.