Osteoporosis and "Natural" treatments vs Fosamax

flyerette65

I know there was a discussion about osteoporosis recently but I can't remember what topic it was posted under.  I have a pubic bone insufficiency fracture.  The orthopedist told me this is a pretty good indicator that I have osteoporosis, even though my dexa scan last year only showed osteopenia in my lumbar spine.  He told me I will need to go on a bone building drug which I really don't want to do.  Many of you said you have the same feelings about bone builders and are taking vitamin supplements and doing other things to build bones.  I would like to know which supplements all of you are taking.  I do weight bearing exercises such as Zumba dance, line dancing, walking and elliptical, but doc wants me to do only those things which don't cause more pain so it's swimming and biking for now.  I'm also taking calcium supplements and Vitamin D. Thanks for your help!

Lou Ann M

Fosomax

My mother had a very bad experience with Fosomax. It caused problems with her esophagus and she had to have it stretched.  She had a hard time swallowing and it caused a cough.  because of her experience i am leary to try that course of treatment.  Lou Ann

 

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Double Whammy

Lou Ann M said:

Fosomax

My mother had a very bad experience with Fosomax. It caused problems with her esophagus and she had to have it stretched.  She had a hard time swallowing and it caused a cough.  because of her experience i am leary to try that course of treatment.  Lou Ann

 

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Benefits need to outweigh the risks

I don't know how you can be certain that you NEED the meds, but having already broken a bone, it might be time to consider.  I know of no vitamins, except Vitamin D and calcium that are supposed to be beneficial.  That and weight bearing exercise.  I hope you have a frank discussion with your docs and base your decision on that.  Make them give you all the information that they know.  Somewhere in my old age, someone with an MD after their name told me that you only have to take the drugs for a finite period of time (not forever, only maybe a couple of years).  Be sure to ask about how long you have to take them because that might also help you make your decision. 

Interestingly, I developed osteoposis after being on Arimidex for 2 years for breast cancer.  My oncologist immediately wanted to put me on something.  My pcp said "not yet".  I switched from Arimidex to Tamoxifen for other reasons, but my oncologist said "Tamoxifen is good for your bones because they think it's estrogen".  My last dexascan no longer shows osteoposis.  Interesting.  Not suggesting you take Tamoxifen, of course, it has all other kinds of worries associated with it, but it is a good example of the benefits outweighing the risks.  I'd rather prevent a breast cancer recurrence than worry about maybe developing a blood clot.   I would take a bisphosphonate if I was convinced that I needed to and that day may come, but for now I'm so happy not to, and honestly, I hope I never have to take one.

As you know, breaks can be very serious as we age.  Healing is simply not what it used to be.  And being incapacitated comes with its own set of problems.   I'm 68 now!  And I just fell flat on my face on the cement.  My fear on the way down was that I was going to break something.  Only my pride was hurt.  Whew!

Good luck in making a decision. Will they be doing a bone scan? (not a dexascan).

 

Suzanne

 

flyerette65

Double Whammy said:

Benefits need to outweigh the risks

I don't know how you can be certain that you NEED the meds, but having already broken a bone, it might be time to consider.  I know of no vitamins, except Vitamin D and calcium that are supposed to be beneficial.  That and weight bearing exercise.  I hope you have a frank discussion with your docs and base your decision on that.  Make them give you all the information that they know.  Somewhere in my old age, someone with an MD after their name told me that you only have to take the drugs for a finite period of time (not forever, only maybe a couple of years).  Be sure to ask about how long you have to take them because that might also help you make your decision. 

Interestingly, I developed osteoposis after being on Arimidex for 2 years for breast cancer.  My oncologist immediately wanted to put me on something.  My pcp said "not yet".  I switched from Arimidex to Tamoxifen for other reasons, but my oncologist said "Tamoxifen is good for your bones because they think it's estrogen".  My last dexascan no longer shows osteoposis.  Interesting.  Not suggesting you take Tamoxifen, of course, it has all other kinds of worries associated with it, but it is a good example of the benefits outweighing the risks.  I'd rather prevent a breast cancer recurrence than worry about maybe developing a blood clot.   I would take a bisphosphonate if I was convinced that I needed to and that day may come, but for now I'm so happy not to, and honestly, I hope I never have to take one.

As you know, breaks can be very serious as we age.  Healing is simply not what it used to be.  And being incapacitated comes with its own set of problems.   I'm 68 now!  And I just fell flat on my face on the cement.  My fear on the way down was that I was going to break something.  Only my pride was hurt.  Whew!

Good luck in making a decision. Will they be doing a bone scan? (not a dexascan).

 

Suzanne

 

Insufficiency fracture

Hi Suzanne,

I had really severe pain in my groin area so after about a month of intense pain and a couple of weeks not being able to bear weight, my orthopedist ordered an MRI.  It showed intense red marrow edema so I had a repeat MRI with contrast almost 5 weeks later and it showed several stress fractures in my pubic bone. So that's why they are saying I have osteoporosis.  I did nothing to cause these fractures, did not increase my exercise I only did my normal exercise routine, which I have been doing for about 3 years now. (Zumba, line dancing, walking, occasional eliptical, swimming in the summer and Pilates REformer 2 times a week). I'm all ready taking Vitamin D and Calcium so don't know what to do next.  I'm thinking about Evista.  We'll see what the PCP thinks in a couple of weeks. I don't want to end up like my mom with a spontaneous hip fracture, compression fractures, dowagers hump, etc and she was a huge user of dairy products.