Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Osteo improvement

2 years ago I found I had pretty severe Osteoporosis of the lumbar spine. I don't know what the unit of measure it is that they use, but I was minus 4 . something. Now I can't remember the figure I was told today but the Dr. said it is the hugest improvement she has ever seen. She couldn't believe it !!!!!!!!
I have been taking Actonel which I later changed to Fosomax ( because it has a cheaper generic equal ). I don't take supplements because they make me very nauseous but I do drink a fair bit of milk. At work now, I walk a LOT so I'm sure this has helped too.

Anyway, I left the doctors feeling very relieved today.
I feel like I'm being given a second chance and I'm so happy about that. I wasn't feeling ready to give in to fractures etc..


Maggie

HURRAY... That is great news. Keep on doing what your doing- it must be helping.

Take care
Sam

Maggie, that's amazing news! Congrats on the nice work.
I'm on didrocal, but lastest reports on that med aren't very impressive. After hearing of your improvements, I'll have to mention Fosamax to my doc and perhaps give it a try.

Hi Maggie-I'm so glad you have made such a great impovement with your osteoporosis. My mom, who's 75, has been on it for a couple years also and she has improved also. Her MRI almost a year ago showed a rather large fracture in her lower lumbar spine and she was having alot of pain from it. Doctor wanted to do a procedure where they give you a local anesthetic and pour a cement-like substance into the fracture to fill in the fracture, thus lessening the pain. However, the doc told her the procedure was rather painful and she could get more fractures and have to have it repeated. She opted not to have the procedure done at that time and continued taking the Fosomax. Well, her pain has improved somewhat. She took Advil when the pain got worse (she is such a trooper). The pain is rarely felt now except for those days when she has a flare-up. I admire her courage and endurance. She continues to work (she's in housekeeping dept at one of the local nursing homes and that type of work is not easy) and she credits it to the Fosamax.

Again, congratulations on your improvemnt and continued benefits from Fosamax.. Good luck, sounds like you're doing everything you should be doing. Keep up the good work.

Gentle hugs,
donna

Very good news Maggie! I need to improve my walking habits... I believe it is very underrated in fighting osteo. Read that with astraunots that one of their biggest battles is calcium loss due to weightlessness.

Tim

Thanks Sam. That's exactly what I intend to do - keep on keepin on

Maggie

Hi Megan.

Actually. for most of that time I was taking Actonel. I switched to Fosomax because there is a generic equivalent which is far cheaper ( I don't have any drug coverage ). My doc says, though, that Fosomax is believed to be more effective but often has side effects. Happily, I have had no side effects.

I hope you have as much success as I have had. It feels so good.

Maggie

Well Donna. your mum sounds like a real trooper. Good for her.
Personally, I don't think I would have had that proceedure done either. We're so lucky to have these succesful drugs now. I hope there are no long term side effects but I doubt they would outweigh the benefits anyway.
Hopefully, If I continue to improve this much, I won't have to take the drug for ever.

Thanks for your reply - make sure you keep an eye on your own bones too - right ?

maggie

Hi Tim

I don't think my calcium loss is due to weightlessnes
Yep - I think we should all walk as much as possible. It's too easy not to these days.

Take care
Maggie

Maggie, well done, lady. You've obviously been doing something wonderfully right!

I hope this continues for you.

Many hugs,