CrohnieToo

Grrrrrrr. Taape, I just spent an hour searching for the best balanced article I've read regarding the bisphosphonates and osteonecrosis/avascular necrosis of the jaw and I can't find the durn thing!!!! I can't imagine I didn't save it! I wanted to post the URL to a mailing list where someone asked about it.

The number one issue is that ALMOST ALL cases reported have been in cancer patients receiving a bisphosphonate for the cancer or Paget's disease. There are a minute number who were being treated "just" for osteoporosis tho, who encountered the problem. And it is a NASTY problem. Nor do they know how to treat it if you encounter it. It is painful and disfiguring.

Bisphosphonates are reported to stay in the body for 10 years. The jaw problems for those w/osteoporosis only involved those who had extensive dental disease or were having extensive dental work done that involved exposing the bone.

We're caught between a rock and a hard spot here. On the one hand we have the drug companies making these products pushing the dangers of osteoporosis in order to sell their drugs. On another we have a good share of the medical research profession (those who should best be in a position to advise) who would be biting the hand that feeds them to report adversely against these drugs except in the kindest and gentlest of terms. Who do our doctors trust & believe in deciding what recommendations to give us?