Update after consultant visit

[Pawscat11]

Here is the update after consultant visit. As PMR pro suspected I have now been put on Alendronic acid, a liquid bottle of 70mg made up with 30mg water to 100mg weekly due to recent DEXA scan. She did say she didn't think my scan was bad as I am just past menopaused and many women are at this point without steroids but agreed a bit more prevention may help. The PTH low level was completely dismissed as nothing to worry about as my calcium and Vit D levels were in her words 'perfect'. As sugar levels were normal for the second time after the almost diabetic scare before Christmas she was more than happy to reduce the steroids at 'my own pace' and was happy with my progress of down from 20mg after the flare with falling etc to 13.75mg this week. I have more bloods in 3 months with a review. I have also been given 10 more Physio sessions using the deep massage gun and TENS machine which is painful but really has a positive impact on my lower back and bursitis. ATM I am almost pain free and feeling more positive. Thank you all for your support, it really is helpful and appreciated.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I've had extracorporeal shock wave therapy for bursitis - it worked well I thought. Is that the same as what you had?

I can't use TENS as I have a pacemaker.

[Pawscat11 in reply to PMRpro]

No but I will certainly ask about it. I have had TENS, Ultrasound massage, Laser and acupuncture but latest is deep tissue massage gun. My Physio is a sports Physio and my sessions are at a premiership football stadium in Spain and this has made a remarkable difference.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pawscat11]

I honestly think the best physios for us are sport specialists who also have some PMR background! Maybe that is why the physios here are so good - they are all very sporty and think about it the sore muscles a bit differently

[Pawscat11 in reply to PMRpro]

Yes we are fortunate living in Europe

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pawscat11]

Couldn't agree more ...

[Judyliz in reply to PMRpro]

I don't know what extracorporeal shock wave therapy is and being a great fan of Science Fiction I have a vision of you floating about while your body is blasted by rays and then you float back with a big smile 😃on your face.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Judyliz]

If only!!!!

It is actually the same treatment that is used in kidney stone lithotripsy where they blast the stone with sound waves to break it up so it can then be passed with less pain- but it has been adjusted for use in soft tissue to encourage blood flow locally (I think). Bit noisy and actually quite painful for the first couple of blasts in a new position! It was really interesting in that way - obviously works quite quickly in that sense.

[piglette]

Have you had the results of your Dexascan? Personally I would think twice about taking Alendronic Acid unless I knew how bad my bone density actually was.

[Pawscat11 in reply to piglette]

Hi yes all done which is why I didn't disagree with the Alendronic acid. Its in one of my previous posts as DEXA showed a fair amount of deterioration. 3 years in now of steroids between 10 and 20 the whole time and no bisphosphates before this. Tried MTX disaster.

[Thelmarina]

What a wonderful positive post for the start of day. Thank you. Proper care at its best. Hurray!

[Avadip12]

Pleased to hear that this are progressing in a positive direction. Good luck with your reduction

[Pawscat11 in reply to Avadip12]

Thank you