My doctor recently told me my bmd has decreased over the last 3 years. I recently had a fall directly on my knee and fracturing it and had followup surgery to remove hardware from my knee only one month prior to the scan. He said the T score was 2.4 and has recommended that I take Reclast. I have been researching it and it seems that it only is given if you are diagnosed with osteoporosis not osteopenia . I am concerned about the side effects which seem a lot and the fact that it can cause cardiac arrythmia most notably atrial fibrillation. My sister has AF and it is not very well controlled. I have had gastric bypass and my doctor does not want to give me the medication. I don't know what to do. My bones and joints ache all the time since I broke my knee I don't want them to hurt any more. There is no history of Osteporosis in my family ..We are all over 5 feet tall and are large boned.
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should i take reclast
- By rn4baby
- Posted October 15, 2009 at 4:22 pm · 4 replies
- In Osteoporosis medications
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Osteopenia Hyperparathyroidism Surgery Atrial fibrillation Pain Osteoporosis Reclast
4 replies
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- By SusanRae
- Posted October 15, 2009 at 5:06 pm
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Hi m4baby~
Welcome to NOF.
-2.4 doesn't seem that bad to me. But if you fell from a standing position, that makes it a fragility fracture, which I think MIGHT elevate you to osteoporosis. I think you have some time to do research and figure out a plan before you start taking these powerful drugs. Mind you, I'm just an ordinary person, not a doctor of anything.
Has your doctor done some testing to find out why you have osteoporosis? I've learned from this site that a large percentage of the population has low Vitamin D which contributes to OP. Have you had your D tested? Would your gastric bypass prevent you from getting enough vitamins from your diet? Perhaps you could benefit from supplements? I don't know that OP causes bone pain. My spine is -2.9 and I've not experienced bone pain. It shouldn't cause your joints to ache, either (I think).
It seems like you need more information about your condition than just a DXA #. Reclast will stay with you for a long time. It's a once-a-year infusion, so if it doesn't agree with you there's not much to do except wait for it to get out of your system.
I have found that "traditional" doctors favor prescription drugs, but a lot of people on this site advocate a more natural approach. You might take some time to look around this site to see what they have to say. Use that little "Find It" box in the upper right corner of your screen. When you surface in three weeks, you'll have a lot more knowledge about your condition.
Don't feel pressured to do something you're not absolutely sure of. Do your research. Your condition probably won't change drastically in the next few weeks or months.
Good luck!
Susan
- By millie123
- Posted October 15, 2009 at 5:10 pm
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I agree with SusanRae here. Type in "Reclast" in the Search engine and read all the discussions on that subject. Then type in hyperparathyroidism and read that. Type in Vitamin D and read all posts on that.
- By rn4baby
- Posted October 16, 2009 at 3:13 pm
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Calcium and vitamin d are all mid normal. The fall was while briskly walking to enter walmart , shoe slipped. The fracture has healed very nicely and can't tell on x ray. Could the decreased bmd be from having non weight bearing on the right leg for approximately 3 1/2 months
- By SusanRae
- Posted October 16, 2009 at 7:24 pm
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Hey M4baby~
I would guess that enforced inactivity could have SOME effect on BMD. After all, astronauts have decreased bone density after being in space for extended periods--surely less than three months. Of course they have a total lack of gravity up there. Did you have both your legs tested so you know that one is different from the other? Was the -2.4 score for your knee, hip, spine, ______? Your discussion doesn't say.
I recommend you "search" for entries posted by Woody/Sequoia Health. He's got some good advice for lifestyle changes that don't involve drugs. Sara Meeks and Karenna Thek Lineback (sp?) and others have good guidence on safe movement and exercises for folks with OP.
I also recommend looking for the prune discussions--yes, prunes. Also acid-alkaline balance discussions.
Susan
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