Osteoporosis

I have had osteoporosis for over 30 years. On and off Alendronic acid since then. It does work, as long as you take the Vitamin D supplements. I had the hip of an 80 year old woman in my thirties and there was a definite improvement.
However long term steroid use, family history and RA make it a constant battle.
I can no longer tolerate the tablets, so have a yearly infusion.
The medication does take a bit of getting used to, but has improved so much since I started taking it. Initially, I had to fast all night, sit upright for an hour, before I could have breakfast. Often I forgot and had a cuppa!

Exercise also helps to strengthen your bones. Unfortunately, I kept getting stress fractures in my feet!

Hopefully you find an improvement in bone density.

I m not allowed to take the tablets so I get an annual infusion 15 minutes and very very easy I m on a years rest but because of CoviD it’s become two years rest and waiting but last year I had a dexa scan and they said my bone density had improved by 9. something that’s was after 3 annual infusions
I ve had a few falls over the years ( one a couple of days ago outside Soecsavers you couldn’t make it up could you ) and don’t seem to break anything

people might have thought you were filming ad advert for them.

someone i knew offered to sit in the windows of cafes, with a book, looking intellectual, and to eat drink what they provided, in order to draw people in.
he had the time, and they had the food, so he became a real live advertisement for them.
he only went to ones that were not busy. and it worked; they got more customers.
now that's enterprising.

a neighbour of mine has to sit upright for an hour ? after taking a weekly tablet, and no food. presumably it's the same tablet.
bit difficult as she is bed-bound. has osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteo-arthritis, PMR, GCA, AF, etc.

Yes I have it and tried the tablets but just couldn't tolerate them, so now I have a six monthly injection called Dem... something or another. I have osteoporosis because I have been on steroids long term for other medical conditions. I don't do long walks anymore but I do cycle almost daily. I know cycling isn't weight bearing but my joints and muscles hurt less doing it. I also do hydrotherapy once a week which is great help. Other than that I take Vit D, C, calcium tablets prescribed by the Dr and a multi bit tablet just to keep my iron up. The worst part for me is my back, I can't seem to stand for long without pain and spasms so I have privately, trigger point injections which help me lead a normal life. I read an article the other other day about osteoporosis and backs and it gave the advice not to pick up anything heavy and that included babies and toddlers as you can break bones in your back very easily. I have only ever broken one bone and that was a rib when I fell off my bike. So now I don't even carry the shopping, that is Mr Barmeys job.

I’ve been on alendronic acid and vit D calcium tablets for about 8 years. Take my AA first thing every Sunday morning with glass of water, keep upright and no food or drink for at least half an hour.

No problems so far.

I took it for five years, now having a rest, expect to take it again. No problem until year five when it affected my throat and I stopped. Now take calcium, vitamin D and magnesium. Hope to get another DEXA scan soon........

Barmeyoldbat my Mum fractured three vertebrae when she reached into a freezer cabinet in a supermarket while shopping. That was the first indication that she had osteoporosis.

calandergirl you’re not supposed to take it so long without a break my friends doctor left her on it for years then she had a locus who took her off as she’d never had a break I m not sure how many years but not ad infenitum

I agree Bluebelle. Having had my third annual infusion, a couple of months ago, I will now have a holiday from it, but will continue to take Adcal.

Is everyone on here aware that you must alert your dentist to the fact that your are on Alendronic Acid. Your dentist must be vigilant, especially if you have an extraction. There is a very rare condition called necrosis of the jaw.

In the middle of lockdown, my front tooth sheared off, no decay at all, just weakened. Before I could get a crown fitted, the dentist had to discuss my treatment with my consultants, because I was receiving infusions and other meds..
Years ago, I had to have treatment because the bone had become spongy. It was not pleasant at all.
Thats why this treatment should be reviewed annually.

Good advice Marydoll . I held off staring my alendronic acid until I’d had my dental work done.
Took alendronic acid weekly for years without a problem.

I learned on GN about the dental issues no doctor or hospital had ever mentioned it i told my dentist and he said yes he did need to be alerted I passed on the info to friends who also had never been told it The same with the tablets my friend was on them 11 years until a new doctor was totally horrified and took her straight off them. You should have breaks every 3 (plus) years

Thanks all for advice about taking AA long term. I’ve heard about it before, had another bone scan about two years ago, my gp surgery never brought it up. Will have to check. My dentist knows what medication I am on, he is always asking if it has altered.

Hi - thanks for all the info ! I hope I can benefit from the treatment - had osteopenia for years and took Adcal and lots of exercise so a bit dismayed to find I have osteoporosis in my spine - they should have scanned 2 years ago but delayed . Wouldn’t put me on the allendronic acid earlier though due to side effects s and yes can only be on for 3-5 years. My spinal score was -3 and anything below -2.5 is osteoporosis so hopefully it has been caught early !
I was told about the potential dental problems and it’s made very clear in the advice leaflet so yes I will be discussing with dentist as I have a couple of dental implants . I hope I can tolerate the medication. Getting older is a blessing but also a pain !

I realise it is much too late for all of you but you may have daughters who would benefit from knowing that as lack of oestrogen is the main cause of osteoporosis, taking HRT protects you.
I have been taking oestrogen for 30+ years now and the last bone scan showed my bones are incredibly robust despite osteoporosis running through my maternal line. I was told I only need to return for a scan if I ever stop my HRT and that won’t be happening.

But HRT can bring it’s own problems including a small risk of a number of nasties it’s not without its own concerns

Unfortunately, Espee, as Bluebelle has stated, not everyone can take HRT.

I can't and have never taken it for a number of reasons

Hi Espee - yes I should probably have been on HRT for the last 20 years due to early menopause - some regrets now that I didn’t take it. Too late now though !

Agree BlueBelle. I've been in and out the other side of menopause in four years. Preferred to treat whatever came along separately. I take vitamin D and Calcium. Have done for all my menopause years.

I find the idea of being on HRT for 30 years quite worrying.

My husband has been diagnosed with Osteopenia, he was always very active and had a manual job all his working life, we are confused as to why a man has this ? as I thought Oestrogen was a factor?
He does eat a lot of bacon and processed meats and alcohol everyday , so maybe his diet is a factor in the diagnosis. Any Ideas ? Please ?

Mum’s 91 and had osteoporosis for years. She used to take a once weekly alendronic acid tablet but now has yearly infusions and is prescribed calcium tablets which come in tubes and look a bit like extra strong mints. She has to suck these like sweets and always complains that they taste chalky, but the treatment seems to be doing the job because as she’s got older and more frail she has had more falls - so far no broken bones, which is great.

I have six-monthly denosumab injections. Plus the Ad-Cal of course.

I have osteoporosis in the spine (as well as other places) so take lots of care. At an entertainment on Friday I was supposed to join in with a group of ladies singing Big Spender (it was intended to be a joke) - they were all cavorting about with wriggling hips, but I kept myself firmly on the ground with rigid hips for fear of braking a vertebra!

Grammy666

My husband has been diagnosed with Osteopenia, he was always very active and had a manual job all his working life, we are confused as to why a man has this ? as I thought Oestrogen was a factor?
He does eat a lot of bacon and processed meats and alcohol everyday , so maybe his diet is a factor in the diagnosis. Any Ideas ? Please ?

Osteopenia in men is nothing to do with Oestrogen. It’s mainly linked with high or long term alcohol intake. There are several effects - cortisol production as a result of high alcohol intake decreases bone formation, excess alcohol kills the osteoblasts responsible for making new bone, and long term higher consumption can affect parathyroid hormones which then leach calcium from the bones. Might be time to examine his habits around alcohol to see if he’s exceeding the recommended weekly amounts - particularly if he’s drinking every day.