Re: Fosamax side effects?

MLW,

Your mother is in my age group. I am well place to answer your message. I
am not going to advice you because you did not give much detail about her
T score, her level of activity and exercise her health in general the
seriousness of her arthritis. Is physiotherapy a possibility for her? Has
she tried it? If she tries physiotherapy, will she be willing to do the
prescribed exercises everyday? For arthritis, the exercises are mostly
stretching exercises.

Since your mother and I are more or less of the same age, I will tell you
what I did and you may get some ideas to what your mother can do. Keep in
mind that your mother is not I and I am not your mother.

Around 7 years ago I got diagnosed with osteoporosis with a T score for my
spine of -2.7. No problem with my hip. My doctor wanted me to take Fosamax
but I refused. I was already active and doing exercise as well as cycling,
swimming and walking. I was in great shape. I then got pain in my knees
and feet. I did some physiotherapy at the clinic for a while and continue
some exercise at home. I then had a serious operation, which slowed me
down. Because I was in good shape I recovered very well. 4 - 5 years ago,
I got the book “Strong Women Stay Young” by Miriam E. Nelson, PhD, I read
it and I started doing the exercise in the book.

A year or so later, I got shingles, For 6 weeks I was in extreme pain and
for some month after could not do too much exercise. When I restarted the
exercise I notice that I had lost all strength in my right arm. There was
a movement that I could hardly do even without weight. I had to restart at
zero. Then I had a DEXA scan with a T score for my spine of -3.1 meaning a
lost in bone mass. I decided to be more aggressive in doing weights. I
increased my exercise a lot, improved my diet (more grains, fruits and
vegetables) and added some supplements: calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium.
I dropped my intake of sodium (table salt). I took to gardening and I
spend at least 2 hours a day working in the garden. I bought another book
by Miriam E. Nelson, “Strong Women, Strong Bones”. This book is more
geared to osteoporosis. I increased my balance a lot. Before, I would
accumulate thing to take upstairs or in the basement. For now on I would
go up and down the stairs many, many times. I think that every thing
helps. I am doing around 10 hours a week.

Last year my T score increased to -2.8. Next year, I hope my DEXA scan
would measure another improvement. I am still on no medication and I am
hoping that I would not have to be on medication.

I do not have any fracture; so I do not have any pain. Does your mother
have some fracture? I have arthritis in my neck and shoulder, beside
knees, feet and hips, but with physiotherapy and doing exercise every day
for years, I am pain free now.

It seems that while some people can take Fosomax without any problem, many
found that after taking it for a while they have pain in their bones and
the pain stops when they stop the medication. I belong to a group, where
most women cannot take any medication for osteoporosis and most have tried
all of them.

Even, with shingles, I ended up taking Tylenol and Aspirin instead of the
strong painkillers that I was prescribed. I could not go to bed for more
than an hour at the time. I would walk back and forth in my room sitting
for 15 minutes and back walking then in bed for 30 minutes and back
walking. I could not rest my back on a chair. These strong painkillers
would kill the pain for 30 minutes, then the pain would come back and I
would be miserable. I would be dizzy and I would lose my balance, which is
terrible when we have osteoporosis. When I was operated, I had morphine. I
was so happy when they stop it, because with morphine I had terrible
headaches.

I hoped that my long letter would help you in dealing with your mother.
The 2 books I have mention has a lot of information about osteoporosis and
good hints for how to start exercising. “Strong Women, Strong Bones” gave
a test of balance before doing some exercise. I also belong to an exercise
class for seniors; there may be one near her.

Françoise.

GotOuttaIdaho wrote:

> Hi -
>
> My mother, age 72, has been taking Fosamax for about a year.  During
> this year she has developed pain in her hands and back that she, and
> her doctor, assume to be arthritis.  She was put on the medication
> because of bone density tests that showed she was "starting" to have
> some bone loss.
>
> Now, she went through menopause in her late 30s. If, at age 72 she is
> just starting to show some bone loss, is placing her on Fosamax
> justifiable?  Because her hand and back pain were not problems prior
> to her taking Fosamax, I suspect that her pain is a side effect of
> this medication - a medication that I'm not convinced is appropriate
> for her.
>
> She gets little relief from OTC anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen and
> naproxyn; her physician has suggested that she might try some
> morphine-like meds.  I'm concerned about this situation, and would
> like to provide my mother with some better information than what she
> appears to be getting from her physician.
>
> Is increased arthritis (or arthritis-like) pain a side effect from
> Fosamax (online information is not very specific about this)? Any
> thoughts on the appropriateness of prescribing this medication for a
> "little bone loss"?
>
> Thanks,
> MLW