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Do Calcium Or Vitamin D Pills Help In Treating Osteoporosis?
Question: 4-10-16 Hello Dr., I was diagnosed with D.I.S.H. ( Forestier's disease) about a yr. ago. I just turned 65, am obese & have type II diabetes- controlled with Metformin 1,000 mg. I take Valsartin/ HCTZ for HTN & Levothyroxin 10 mcg. I have Osteopenia ( w/ maternal hx. of osteoporosis) & I did take Calcium/ vit.D regularly until this D.I.S.H. dx. At that time my G.P said to stop the calcium so as to lessen the formation of the spinal calcifications. She recommended physical therapy to "strengthen my core". I did PT for many months & found no relief from the back & flank pain. The pain did subside after several months... returning now & then in various degrees of intensity. My question is: should I start taking calcium/ vit D again to stave off the osteoporosis? I'd always been told to take the calcium/ vit D because of my family hx . Now I'm worried because I haven't taken it for a year. What should I do? Thank you for your time. I appreciate any advice you can lend. XXXX XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Tricky.
Detailed Answer:
The control of the diabetes is one of the first things, and the metformin is the best drug. DISH occurs in diabetes because insulin is a growth factor for bone. That part probably isnt very fixable.
Some people have another thing going on in addition to the insulin. If there is bone breakdown, the calcium and the other minerals coming out of the bone can deposit elsewhere. if there is active bone demineralization, then preventing that, can prevent the demineralized bone from piling up. Perhaps.
Bone scanning if it demonstrates that the bone is metabolically active and losing calcium and minerals or if the calcium is elevated, means that treating the osteoporosis aggressively maybe helps everything. If the bone is not metabolically active, then the current science doesnt have much proven to help.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/0000 maybe this, but it certainly isnt tested.
Tricky.
Detailed Answer:
The control of the diabetes is one of the first things, and the metformin is the best drug. DISH occurs in diabetes because insulin is a growth factor for bone. That part probably isnt very fixable.
Some people have another thing going on in addition to the insulin. If there is bone breakdown, the calcium and the other minerals coming out of the bone can deposit elsewhere. if there is active bone demineralization, then preventing that, can prevent the demineralized bone from piling up. Perhaps.
Bone scanning if it demonstrates that the bone is metabolically active and losing calcium and minerals or if the calcium is elevated, means that treating the osteoporosis aggressively maybe helps everything. If the bone is not metabolically active, then the current science doesnt have much proven to help.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/0000 maybe this, but it certainly isnt tested.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
So, Dr. Wachsman, what is the answer to my question about resuming the calcium/ vit D supplement??? Please simplify your answer a bit for me. OK? thanks again.
Brief Answer:
I did mention......
Detailed Answer:
if you burning up bone then that needs to be stopped if your bones are thin and not actively deteriorating not sure you should take bone medicine.
a bone scan will show if there is active inflammatory removal of bone
along with the bone scan no real levels in the blood will be high this will precipitate in you tendons and give dish
bad
bone stabilizers and calcium may help.
but otherwise I agree with your doc
I did mention......
Detailed Answer:
if you burning up bone then that needs to be stopped if your bones are thin and not actively deteriorating not sure you should take bone medicine.
a bone scan will show if there is active inflammatory removal of bone
along with the bone scan no real levels in the blood will be high this will precipitate in you tendons and give dish
bad
bone stabilizers and calcium may help.
but otherwise I agree with your doc
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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