Vitamin D. I recommend 1,000 iu per 25lbs. As everyone is different and some will get more or less bang from this dose than others. I recommend testing in three months. Again it takes three months for this to level out at a steady number, so testing earlier is not advantageous. I go for a level of 70 to 100 ng/ml. If you live in elsewhere than the US the test is done using the metric scale. In which case 175 to 250 nmol/ml is the the same.
More pain relief occurs as the number goes up. I am talking profound pain relief. It amazes me no one talks about this in other than a passing way. It is a life style changer. Believe me, when I say that once you get to a recommended level ( the pain relief comes on gradual over the course of three months) and you inadvertently run out of or stop vitamin D you will have a recurrence of pain within three days. It will come on with a vengeance!
Calcium. If you drink milk or use any dairy products do not take calcium. There is plenty of calcium in the diet, but it was not utilized because it needs vitamin D to be absorbed. Recent studies suggest that heart attacks go up in those taking calcium. So why take it if you do not need it? I would recommend to anyone in my family they avoid the Boniva kind of drugs. Side effects are many and my readings suggest it is not needed. Vitamin D and calcium will do the trick. While on the subject, your use of over the counter pain killers will greatly decrease or be eliminated. You will save money, be healthier, and upset big pharma. Life is hard. I do not feel sorry for them.
Magnesium. It is in hard water, nuts and leafy green vegetables. It is not available in most municipal water supplies or is in low amounts. Processed foods lose magnesium. Cooking vegetables with water removes the magnesium. Almost everyone is deficient. A blood test showing a normal magnesium can be low and one showing low is low. Why? Most magnesium is in the bone and muscles so the blood test is a poor indicator. Those lacking magnesium and not having a history of heart disease can be at risk for sudden cardiac arrest without warning. Some studies show a correlation. Google it for yourself if you doubt me.
Side effects of low magnesium. Muscle twitches ( nervous leg syndrome ), constipation, heart irregularity, hypertension, bone health, protein synthesis, energy metabolism, and blood sugar regulation are all problematic.
If you start vitamin D your magnesium levels will go down because magnesium is used in the production of the hormone vitamin D is turned into. So if you level was normal before it will now be not normal or at least lower. RDA is 320mg for females and 400mg for males. Some say amounts double this could be appropriate. If you have renal insufficiency do not take magnesium with out monitoring by a doctor as over dose can occur. When I say renal insufficiency, I mean poor kidney function which has nothing to do with bladder or bladder control. The bladder is just a reservoir for urine and not a indicator of kidney efficiency. They are not related. Any one with Myasthenia Gravis should not take magnesium without a Doctor's supervision. http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/about-vitamin-d/vitamin-d-cofactors/magnesium/
If you have been taking vitamin D right along and now start magnesium it can make your vitamin D level go up and up a lot. So test in three months to see where you are. In my opinion vitamin D should be taken with magnesium in every otherwise healthy person with good kidney function. Magnesium is easily removed by the kidneys if they are in good operating order....Magnesium oxide is very poor and my reading suggest it should not be used as a supplement. There are many other preparations.
Vitamin K. It seems this is yet another vitamin lacking in the general population. Do you have frequent nose bleeds? A deficiency in this vitamin can cause that. It also appears, that vitamin K prevents calcium from being deposited in places other than bones. If you have coronary artery heart disease this could be very important in prevention of even more arteriosclerosis.Those on blood thinners should not take vitamin k, except under a Doctors supervion. Dosing varies with age, etc., so take a look here to see a more comprehensive listing of dose and deficiencies. http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/about-vitamin-d/vitamin-d-cofactors/vitamin-k/
The only health provider I have seen who really concentrates on magnesium levels is a cardiologist and possibly those who care for renal dialysis patients. That is a observation of Nurse Anesthetist who has been a RN for 50 years. Do not expect your health provider to know this material and if you do find one treasure him or her. They are the exception to the rule.....