Taking AA or not

[Harrywogan]

Hi all, my mum had bad osteoporosis , and IAM being advised by GP to start AA, as I have osteopereina , not sure about taking it ,anyone been on it for a while. Thanks All xx

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Now you have posted you will see 10 Related Posts listed, all about AA,

Have you had a dexascan? I assume so since you have osteopenia - but what level is it, it ranges from almost normal to almost osteoporosis and it is quite a wide scale. Do you know what your t-scores were given as on the dexa result?

Have you any gastric problems - gastric reflux, persistent indigestion, problems with swallowing pills?

[Harrywogan in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for reply, had scan , don't know how bad osteoporosis is, have no problem with any pills at all IAM lucky that way x

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Harrywogan]

In that case suggest you request a new DEXA scan to find out, or if fairly recent then what are your figures ?

AA may not be necessary if you are only just in the osteopenia range , but obviously the GP is worried about family connection.

I took it for 4 years whilst on Pred for GCA [I had hysterectomy aged 37 and my mother had broken her hip - although no osteoporosis]. I had no issues whatsoever.

Are you on VitD/Calcium supplement?

[Harrywogan in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks DL ,think I'll try it,mum was bad don't want to be like that if I can prevent it . X

[yogabonnie]

before you take AA read the book Your Bones by Lara Pizzorno and start doing HEEL drops )see YouTube or google it. heel drops for osteoporosis. I have improved my spine 5% after 7 years on prednisone. doing them.! went from osteoporosis nearly back to osteopenia.

[Harrywogan in reply to yogabonnie]

Thank you will have look xx

[Orange_2022]

Royal Osteoporosis Society website has useful videos about various treatments including AA. I resisted GP pressure to take it until a Dexa scan showed I was at the top end of osteopenia so I started on weekly AA tablets. No issues at all for me. But I am being more conscious to do some high impact exercise too e.g heel drops as already mentioned, skipping, jumping, running etc - depending on what's feasible - and some of that isn't sometimes!

[tangocharlie in reply to Orange_2022]

I also recommend the ROS website or ringing their nurse Helpline, it's all free and they know their stuff

[Linny3]

Are there any fractures involved.?

After 9 years of PMR, prednisone from 50mg to 7@1/2mg and many spine fractures I am so sorry I did not go on something to help my bones. All the drugs are so scary and I couldnt get over my fear of them. I heave just finished 2 years of the Forteo daily bone shot and am now faced with deciding on yet another bone shot.

Good luck

[Harrywogan in reply to Linny3]

Thanks so much, just one fracture collar bone but fell down step, I am going to try AA if it helps the bones. Take care H

[51Highland]

Hi Harrywogan. I am of a similar age and been treating PMR since June 2020. Since that time I’ve been on AA with no ill effects. A dexa scan revealed Osteopenia for which I’m now also taking Adcal. I’ve just had a hip replacement and asked the consultant about AA and was there any need to take both? His response was ‘why wouldn’t you take AA, given that it will treat weak bones’, or similar words. I must say I respect his point of view and I’m happy to continue. I don’t feel I have weak bones and continue to lead a full and active life. Or will when this hip has healed.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 51Highland]

Do you mean both calcium and AA? If you are on any bisphosphonate or the like you should be taking calcium - the bone protection drugs send the calcium to the bones, If there isn't enough in your diet your blood calcium level may fall and a low calcium level can be very dangerous as muscles need it - including the heart.

[51Highland in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks. I’m taking both Calcium (Adcal) and Alendronic Acid. So it all sounds good for me then. 😁 Mind you the dental surgeon struggled to drill into my jawbone to install an implant saying that I had the ‘jawbone of an ox’.

You back on Mud Island now?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 51Highland]

Currently lazing in the sun on Lake Garda ... Better than any so-called summer I experienced in the UK!! Bit of mud left over from the rain they had the other week though. Nearly November and 22C

[51Highland in reply to PMRpro]

Excellent! Life is for living 🤣Long may it continue.