Newly Diagnosed prescribed Fosamax????? - Osteoporosis Message Board

Clerklady · 11-28-2007, 10:36 AM

Hello All,

I have been reading the side effects of fosamax and they do not sound very good, wondering if I should put this stuff in my body. From what the pharmacist says is that fosamax helps with the absorption of the vital nutrients that my bones need, is that correct???. I take a calcium, mag. & zinc vitamin, do I need to continue that or add anything else. I also take Lycria for nerve damage, ultram for neck pain & back pain (bulging disc in my neck) and diazepam for muscle spasms. The main side effect is the back pain; I do not need more pain, and the jaw and teeth problems. Can anyone explain what the fosamax does and what else can I do, my Doctor did not explain much and with my other problems, I did not think to ask much about it, other than my score was a 2.9 in my back, and have a moderate to severe chance of broken bones. That is pretty scary so I ask no questions, just give me some medâ€™s to correct it. Well as you know when I started to investigate what ostosprosis was and how to help it, my mind is full of unanswered questions. Is osteoporosis contributing to my middle back pain and have something to do with my muscle spasms that I have. I don't know but maybe this osteoporosis is causing a lot of my other problems that I thought were because of my bulging disc in my neck. Any thoughts are much appreciated, kind of in the blind right now, do not know weather to start the fosamax or not, it is kind of hard to take if the first thing to do is grab a cup of coffee and then take my other medâ€™s to function in the morningsâ€¦..And I am only 45 what will I be at 50, an old woman????????? Thanks and God Bless, Denise

taape · 11-28-2007, 01:54 PM

Hi Denise,
I was just as shocked and didn't understand osteoporosis when I got diagnosed. My surgeon gave me Fosamax to take for 4 months prior to back surgery. At the time I had no idea that it would take alot longer than that to incrase my bone density. I took three Fosamax pills and my stomach/GI was on fire so I had to stop it immediately. My bone density was even less than your's is so I was quite worried although I believe my back pain is due to disc degeneration not osteoporosis. Some posters have reported that the medications caused horrible bone pain and others have reported that that they have pain from a fractured vetebrae. I don't know if osteoporosis causes muscle spasms but disc bulges do for sure because I have them. How was your neck bone density tested? I have had DEXA scans which only reads the hips and spine, and then portable machines that read the heel only. Did you get an xray to make sure that you don't have a fracture?

As far as how Fosamax and other bisphosphonates works I hope someone else comes along to explain it because I don't know how to. I do know that I've decided not to take those as my only option is by IV infusion and I feel the risks are too high for dental complications and pain. I did do 2 years on Forteo but now there's not many options left although my doctors want me to do IV bisphosphonates and I continue to decline and exercise, take Calcium supplements, and eat dairy products. Hope this helps you some.

Clerklady · 11-28-2007, 02:52 PM

Thanks Taape,

I had a dexa scan only of the hips and spine. I had a MRI done a while back because of the pain between my shoulder was so bad, but nothing showed as being wrong. I sit at a desk all day and get up and move when I can, but some days my back just hurts clear to my bones. My Doctor thinks it is just the stress of sitting, I cannot take muscle relaxers, they do not agree with me for some reason. My neck actually does not hurt, hurt but the significant pain is in my back, cramps down both legs(nerve damage) and muscle spams, just when I sit in my recliner and relax, bamm they hit. I asked my Doctor if the OP was the cause of my bone pain and she said "it might be take the medicine and we will see if it improves", I took that as wow great finally we will see, but I was like you, thinking it was going to be a quick fix, now I am thinking, NOT!!!!

Yes I am hoping that others here will give me their expert opinion, sometimes I hate reading and investagating on the internet, it is so confusing...Thanks for your help glad to know there are others out there like me and that I am not the only confused one.

mbeth50 · 11-28-2007, 07:00 PM

Denise,
So many people on this board have so much knowledge about these drugs. I hope they answer you shortly.
I hae osteopena and my (former) endo put me on Actonel. I was so nauseaus that I stopped after three weeks.
I was told osteoporosis does not hurt...that you cannot tell you have it. So perhaps your back pain is from..other source...I know my pain in lower back and hip is from disc and a little osteoarthitis...
Hoping you find the answers to ease your mind...
M

peppurr · 11-28-2007, 07:22 PM

I was on Fosamax for only 11 weeks. After a couple of weeks my jaw started aching. I also started waking up in the middle of the nite which I've never done except to go to the bathroom. I started feeling nauseous and I gained 10 lbs. It was then that I started doing some research and found this site.

I told my doctor I was quitting. I'm now with a naturopath and taking Strontium Citrate, Ca supplements with magnesium and lots of Vit D.

After quitting the Fosamax everything returned to normal within a week. I still have 2 of the 10 lbs to lose though.