Scan results

[Jennymary]

Popped into GP practice yesterday to pick up my scan results and arranged a telephone consultation for today, my T scores are: spine -3, right hip -2, right femeral neck -2.4, left hip -2.1 and left femeral neck -2.1, so GP is putting me on Alendronic Acid once a week

[HeronNS]

Please read these before you go any further.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

americanbonehealth.org/bone...

Just in the interests of making sure you are really well informed.

All the best!

[LynneH-19]

I was given AA after falling and breaking both wrists at the same time in 2010. I was desperate for some treatment. Having both arms in plaster was dreadful.

I was refused Strontium Ranelate on grounds of cost, so tried the AA.

I had suffered from a bleeding gut ulcer some yrs prior to this, so shouldn’t have been given it.

I stopped taking it after 10 weeks due to reoccurring ulcer symptoms and bone pains in my long bones. The pains were reminiscent of the ‘growing pains’ I suffered as a child.

Several of my friends had been on AA for many years without any problems, or more broken bones and couldn’t understand my determination to stop taking it.

In hindsight I wondered whether the reoccurring ulcer symptoms, were due to stress and fear, of following in my Mams and Nans footsteps and breaking a hip/femur how they did.

Perhaps if I had taken it for longer, the bone pains may have lessened.

AA is always the first drug offered by the NHS. Partly due to low cost, but also because in the majority of cases it helps to reduce the incidence of further broken bones.

There’s the VERY SLIGHT risk of atypical femur fractures and Osteonecrosis of the jaw with long term use, but this is very rare. As far as I’m aware, 2 to 3 years is the recommended safe period for taking it.

You need to weigh up your likely personal risk of breaking bones. Have you already broken bones? You can calculate your FRAX score. I don’t have the actual link to hand, but you can find it via Google.

Also consider whether you have a family history of OP and broken bones.

What is your vit D level? Is your diet balanced, containing all the nutrients and rich in Ca and quality protein. Is your balance and sight good? Are you at risk of falling? Do you do weight bearing exercise?

I found the following book helpful. ‘Vitamin K2 and the Ca Paradox’ by Kate Rheaume Bleue. It explains the importance of adequate Mg, D3, vit A retinol and Vit K2, with regards to Ca absorption and utilisation.

Also. blogs.creighton.edu/heaney/...

This explains about the importance of protein.

Back to AA. You can always try it for a while and if you aren’t happy with it, you just stop taking it. You are unlikely to be offered NHS alternatives until you have tried it.

Best wishes

[Posy-White]

Sorry to read your news always a bit of a shock when you get such news. Do a bit of research your self, if in UK try also ROS website theros.org.uk

Once you've got a bit more information you might have questions to ask and want to no more about a long term plan, could ask you GP to refer you to see a Consultant, do a little searching to see what is on offer at the local hospitals. (Don't be put off by being assured the GP can manage the treatment).

Good Luck there is lots we are all doing to help ourselves and great peer support (things like diet, exercise & vitamins etc.) once you start to look round you'll be able to find things you're comfortable with.

Best Wishes Posy White