Dex scan and Osteoporosis

[diana1998]

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.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk 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 in reply to DorsetLady]

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

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to diana1998]

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

[diana1998 in reply to DorsetLady]

Yes hopefully 🤞🤞

[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 in reply to Sillydogsmum]

Thank you

[PMRpro Ambassador]

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 in reply to PMRpro]

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

[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 in reply to Sho-Sho]

Thanks for good advice re water.

[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 in reply to Timelost]

Very reassuring for her.

[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 Ambassador in reply to Viveka]

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