Dex scan and Osteoporosis : My cousin has asked me... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

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Dex scan and Osteoporosis

diana1998 profile image
14 Replies

My cousin has asked me if she should go ahead and have the infusion ( she can't take AA). She's very nervous about possible side effects.Her last T-scores were

Spine -4.5

Hips-3.7

She's small and thin. Doesn't want to bend over and get a fracture in her spine. She's 76 and very active

Anyone had this dilemma please?

Many thanks.

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diana1998 profile image
diana1998
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14 Replies
DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

As we know nothing about your cousin, it’s a bit difficult to say, but with those readings I’d say she needs something..

If not already, think she needs to contact ROS-

theros.org.uk

diana1998 profile image
diana1998 in reply toDorsetLady

I've told her to do that...thank you.

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply todiana1998

Good… they seem to be very helpful form what others have said… I’m sure she’ll be fine with the infusions. ..

diana1998 profile image
diana1998 in reply toDorsetLady

Yes hopefully 🤞🤞

Sillydogsmum profile image
Sillydogsmum

Run her dexa result and her personal risk factors through the Frax calculator. It will give you the probability of fracture and help you make a decision on the risk vs benfits of the infusion. Choose uk from the calculation tool picking list. frax.shef.ac.uk/FRAX/tool.a...

diana1998 profile image
diana1998 in reply toSillydogsmum

Thank you

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

Ditto to what DL says - she really doesn't have much more of a choice.

However - I had the infusion in late January/February. I already have had atrial fibrillation for years but it had been dealt with successfully some weeks earlier. I had all the dental checks from my superb dentist so no problems there. For a couple of months after the infusion I had very slight but different arrythmia but that has now gone altogether and it hadn't been a problem anyway. I have had no other side effects at all. Took about 3/4 hour for it to be given and that was it.

diana1998 profile image
diana1998 in reply toPMRpro

She was very relieved to hear that. Thanks a lot.

Sho-Sho profile image
Sho-Sho

it’s always worrying about taking yet more drugs, but I have bad osteoporosis from steroids for GCA. Took Aledronic Acid for 2 years then the Consultant at the Clinic very strongly recommended I should have Zoledronic acid infusions of which I was nervous about. Now had 3 over the 3 years never had any side effects but when I went in for the first one the nurse told me to drink lots of water & I think this was great advice.

Good luck.

diana1998 profile image
diana1998 in reply toSho-Sho

Thanks for good advice re water.

Timelost profile image
Timelost

I’m about the same build as your cousin and have the same T-scores. I had the infusion just before last Christmas and had no problems.

diana1998 profile image
diana1998 in reply toTimelost

Very reassuring for her.

Viveka profile image
Viveka

Can't comment on scores but my mum had several zoledronic acid infusions and was 100% fine after. She was swopped onto denusomab and was fine too. However one word of warning is that denusomab can't be stopped once started because gains are reversed and more, unless you then go onto ZA or AA. ZA can be stopped, and should be after a three, I think, years. If D, they need to discuss this with GP and make sure GP understands this - mine didn't.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toViveka

I say somewhere the other day that ZA can be repeated if the score is still poor. Not sure where it was though.

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