Osteoporosis Medications And Celiacs

[cyclinglady]

This was an interesting article found in Consumer Reports:

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[cahill]

This was an interesting article found in Consumer Reports:

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good article ,

2 years ago my FRAX was ok( I was not at risk for a fracture ) it will be interesting to see what my FRAX score is now .

[cyclinglady]

I guess I am researching because I will be going for my follow-up scan in July. Just doing it a little sooner. I am going to be facing the same decisions you are facing now.

Whatever you decide, it will be right for you. There are no easy answers. You will be confident that you made the right decision because you did research!

[cahill]

I finally got my DEXA scan results

 

 

AP spine L1-L4   -2.1

dual femur  neck left -2.6

dual femur neck right -2.0

dual femur total left -2.0

dual femur total right -1.4  

dual femur total mean -1.7

not to bad at all

 

not bad enough to explain the compression fractures,,( I would not think any way ). I see my doc in March

 

I am still waiting for a copy of the MRI report ,, it will be interesting to see what that says .

[cahill]

I got a copy of the MRI report in the mail today

 

While the DEXA scan results are not that bad , my MRI report is BAD.

I need to decide which of the osteoporosis meds I am willing to take.

[cyclinglady]

What does the MRI report say? I read that DXA is best for testing bone density and for diagnosing osteoporosis. An MRI can identify fractures not seen well on a regular X-ray. Do you have more fractures than you thought or were found on a regular X-ray? Are they all the same "age"?

[cahill]

I have not seen my PC yet ,, I see him the middle of March.

My ortho read the report said the disc herniation   is mild and not currently needing surgery . and asked if I would go to see a back surgeon  about the herniated dics ( for a second opinion) , I said no it would be a waste of time since I will not currently consider surgery .

I was sent to the Pain Management Clinic , the doc there referred to it as Degenerative joint disease .He asked if my PC and I have discussed osteoporosis  meds I said he has mentioned it and I see him again in March he said "good plan". I thought Degenerative joint disease was associated with osteoarthritis ??  

 

What the report said ::

 

 

 

 

 

""There is old anterior wedging of T11 and T 12 , with focal central compression. A few Schomorl's nodes are incidentally noted .

There are degenerative change with endplate change,particularly L5-S1. There is degenerative signal with in the T11-12 and L2-3 through L5-S1 intervertebral discs.

The visualized spinal cord appears unremarkable , with the conus medullaris ending at about the T12-L1 level.

There appears to be bilteral foraminal narrowing at L2-3 through L5-S1.

 

at L2-3 there is mild disc bulge and hypertrophic changes posteriorly with narrowing of the spinal canal.
 

At L3-4 there is mild disc bulge and hypertrophic changess posteriorly with narrowing of the spinal canal

 

At L4-5 there is mild disc bulge and hypertrophic changes posteriorly with narrowing of the spinal canal

 

At L5-S1there is mild disc bulge , a smal broad-based left lateral disc herniation into the neural foramina on the left, as well as hypertrophic change posteriorly, with narrowing of the spinal canal

 

 

Impression .

Mulitlevel disease L2-3 through L5-S1, including small broad -based left lateral disc herniation into the neural foramina on the left at L5-S1 and narrowing of the spinal canal at L2-3 through L5-S1

Apparent biateral neural foraminal narrowing at L2-3 through L5-S1

Mild old anterior wedging T11 and T12 with focal central compression

Degenerative changes""

[cyclinglady]

Well, this is beyond my scope of understanding, but obviously you have many things going on : osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, disc budges (not sure if those are a result of the osteoarthritis or earlier injury). Perhaps, the doctors want to insure bone improvement at this stage with meds so that there is bone to work with should you need surgery in the future. That changes the advice we all have been giving you. It is not just a matter of living with osteoporosis resulting from celiac disease.

I wonder if physical therapy would help? I have avoided rotator cuff (shoulder surgery) all these years by doing the exercises I did while in PT and swimming. Same for my knee -- I too up cycling for that reason.

As far as pain management, have you ever done acupuncture? I did for my shoulder. It allowed me to work through the exercises with greatly reduced pain. The acupuncturist recommended and described the same exercises my PT did at a fraction of the cost. I went to an acupuncturist who oversaw certification for our state which instilled some confidence.

Just some more things to research and think about.

Hugs!

[cahill]

My ( very limited ) understanding of this makes me wonder if  the damage at T11 and T 12 is from the osteoporosis and the damage from L2 through S1 is from the osteoarthritis,, This is a conversation I will have with my PC .Something tells me it will be a long conversation ,

 The Pain Management Clinic I am going to does acupuncture and I am hoping it is something that can be included in my treatment plan.

I am also hoping that swimming is something we can work into my  exercise plan

I  see my PC on the 16th and go back to Pain Management on the 23rd so I have much research to do before then.

 

 

I am considering Fosamax  as an osteoporosis med.Fosamax has been on the market the longest, seems to have the least side effects and is proven to strengthen bone in the spine  But I am also wondering if a  shot may be better tolerated than a pill because of my digestive issues ..

 

Lots to think about

[cahill]

update;

 

I have seen my PC and I have decided to start taking the once a week fosamax.

[cyclinglady]

Thanks for the update. Let us know how you tolerate Fosamax. I sincerely hope it helps you!

[manasota]

Great information!  Yesterday, I was diagnosed with osteoporosis.  My T scores aren't quite as bad as yours (sorry).  I'm wondering how your experience is going with deciding which, if any, med to try?  Has your focus on diet & exercise managed to keep you safe from fractures?  Have you had any more scans?

[cyclinglady]

In my case, I will know in less than two weeks because I will get a follow-up bone scan next Monday. I will be sure to report back. I hope that there has been improvement and that Cahill is improving as well!

[Gemini]

manasota......I thought this article might be interesting to see.  There may be some added benefit for some women in taking a biophosphonate.

 

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[manasota]

Here's hoping we all get good news on future scans.  I am certain that most women do benefit from bisphosphonates when taken appropriately.  It's like all other prescription meds.  They have to demonstrate efficacy and safety to get approved in the first place.  I see there are so many options now with multiple drugs available in this class so somebody is buying them!  It's just the same hassle with any med: trying to sort out which one is the "best" for you.  Quite an individual thing.  I'm not looking forward to this process.  Sadly, all drugs have side effects.  As always, it's risk versus benefit.    

[TGK112]

I've had osteoporosis for about 8 years.  I was put on Alendronate ( generic Fosamax) -- had no side effects from it, but my bone density was not improving. I eventually saw a bone specialist ( at the age of 56) - who ran some tests to rule things out. And that's when Celiac was ruled in. Unfortunately -- a perfect storm was happening all along. I had gone through menopause, had undiagnosed Celiac for who knows how long, was taking prednisone for all those "unexplained" rashes that I was getting.  I am now three years gluten free. Last year, since the Alendronate was not making much of an impact, my doctor switched me to Prolia ( twice a year injection) I've had no side effect from it ( except to my pocketbook since it is quite expensive) but it is too early to have a bone density scan to see if it is working.

 

The one advantage to my osteoporosis diagnosis is that it kick started me into exercising. My past scans have been so bad -- osteoarthritis and degenerative discs in the back -- that they can't even get accurate results from the back. However -- all the exercising that I've been doing has totally relieved me from my back pain.