AA

[lolly64]

Hi everyone I have now been on alendronic for just over a month first few weeks I had a great deal of pain back ache the next week I had such bad finger pain I couldn't pick up a cup without fear of dropping it, could hardly prepare meals was ready to give up BUT I persevered as I thought if I change to another brand the side effects may be different but worse spoke OP nurse who said to try and persevere also, well fifth week just gone and I'm pleased to say getting less and less pain in hands and fingers none in back "touch wood" I also take sainsbury calcium tablets D3 added and D3 from docs couldn't tolerate Ad cal D3 wicked constipation also take K2 as many people on here recommended. I will see how things go as I know long term use not good and will ask for dexa in a couple of years to see how things are, don't like being on bisphosphonates but am terrified of breaking a bone have son with Learning disabilities and can't afford to be out of action, hopefully this may help some like me who is worried about this medication but unfortunately on any forum people always tell us the negatives mostly so at moment fingers crossed. Sorry for long post take care everyone and DON'T break a leg 😁😁

[Kaarina]

Hi lolly, thank you so much for a posting something positive about AA. So good to hear that the side effects of aches and pains when starting this drug are diminishing for you as time goes on. You are correct the bisphosphonates do get a lot of negativity around them but I am sure that those that are doing ok on it, do not post on the forum.

I hope things continue to go well for you and to hear from you again with another update.

Take care.

[lolly64 in reply to Kaarina]

Hi Kaarina thanks for your positive reply it's all trial and error I spose but it seemed soo many bad things being said your mind is in a whirl taking it all in but there has to be people who have not had long term problems somewhere on here, my plan is two years see how the bones are, it seems it stays in your body for some time afterwards soo then make a decision but a friend of mine had a dreadful hip fracture in three places and altho pinned the op has caused a major problem now she has no feeling in the leg walks with a stick etc and husband disabled too that's BEFORE alendronic so I'll see how it goes take care x

[HeronNS in reply to lolly64]

What happens is people who have no problems don't post on forums like this - except perhaps at the very beginning to ask a few questions.

Another thing I hope you've done is tried to figure out why you have a diagnosis of osteoporosis. In my case, for example, there was a bit of a perfect storm although I was oblivious to what was happening. I broke my leg, which required a few weeks of no weight bearing and then walking with some caution. Then I retired from a job which had required steady exercise including minor weight lifting (working in a library can keep you fit!) and finally I developed polymyalgia rheumatica which inhibited my range of motion and ability to maintain exercises and caused me to lose a fair amount of weight this happening during a whole winter where I was undiagnosed and the weather was so atrocious and footing so icy I didn't get my usual exercise walking. And when finally diagnosed PMR requires steroids as treatment and they are implicated in bone thinning. In spite of all that I was totally taken by surprise by my diagnosis of osteopenia as I thought my years in the library would have protected me forever from any problems with bones! I had so many risk factors that even with "low bone mass" rather than osteoporosis bisphosphonates were recommended. Fortunately I was able to deal with the risk factors, including improving my nutritional status, and haven't needed the drugs to improve my bone density. But it's been work and has required some permanent changes to my lifestyle, which I'd always thought was healthy, but one can always do better!

[lolly64 in reply to HeronNS]

Hi Heron forgot to mention I had hysterectomy at just 39 and was on HRT then GP took me off it had a dexa as my mum had fallen and broken her wrist so I convinced her to have scan, she was fine thankfully but speaking to the nurse she suggested I ask for one so I did, in 2012 had osteopenia they didn't send for me in three yrs as they should have done in 2015, but my mum was terminally ill and she came to live with us I totally forgot about my bones, it was only this year on a routine blood test they found low calcium then dexa then osteoporosis 🙄 but in 2015 I fell down a few stairs at home backwards hit the head and my wrist didn't break anything thank god soo here's hoping x all the best to you

[HeronNS]

Sounds like you are doing very well. You are quite right, you will receive the most benefit from AA in the first two or maybe three years. It seems to be longer use which starts to lead to the unhappy effects. And doing other things to help your bones become stronger should be very beneficial. Do let us know how you get on.

[lolly64 in reply to HeronNS]

Hi Heron I certainly will and I don't want to be on long term that's for sure thanks for your reply take care x