Tuesday, March 23, 2010 Jan Horkey asks

Q: brittle bone reversal

I took Fosomax for over 10 years and have been off it for 3 years. My bones have been breaking for the past 2 years. Once bones start breaking due to brittle bones, is there anything that can be taken to reverse this problem? Jan

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Answers (4)

Sandy Greenquist, Health Pro

3/24/10 6:26pm

Hi Jan, I don't have quite enough information here to answer you thoroughly but I'll tell you what I can. Are you postmenopausal? When you say "brittle bones", are you referring to osteoporosis or is there another disease process affecting your bones?

I am going to assume you are past menopause and the condition of your bones is due to loss of estrogen which regulates bone growth. The factor that may complicate the situation is that you were on Fosamax so long. There is growing evidence that prolonged exposure to Fosamax can result in bone that can't grow. Estrogen promotes the growth of real bone in your body. Fosamax prohibits new bone from growing and basically shores up the bone structure. The problem there is if you break a bone, it's slow to heal because there's less or no living tissue to repair the area.

What you can do is be sure that your body has adequate calcium (1500mg if you're not on estrogen), magnesium (400-600mg) and Vitamin D (2000 IU) daily and exercise most days of the week including weight-bearing/resistance. One product that is excellent for bone growth is ProBono.

In your situation, it would make good sense to see a doctor who specializes in osteoporosis. He/she can evaluate your condition and may be able to prescribe medications appropriate to the cause of your brittle bones.

Good luck to you,

Sandy Greenquist, CNM

Jan Horkey

3/24/10 7:26pm

I'm 68 years old and the cause of the brittle bones appears to be the Fosomax. My doctor is on vacation but did agree to order a bone scan of my right leg since it is hurting like my left leg did before it broke. I am already on 1100 mg. of calcium, 1300 mg. of vitamin D, but only the 50 mg of magnesium that is in my multi-vitamin. Does the type of "D" make a difference? A friend said her doctor specifically said D3, so I switched. My daughter also talked me into fish oil, so I just started taking 2400 mg of that. I've gone from nothing to 4 pills twice a day here! I feel great and my recovery time for the broken femur was amazing, but now I'm really nervous about my right leg breaking as I work on the 3rd floor of a high school and am up and down all day. I also do weights and that rubber band 3 times a week, riding a stationary bike twice a week, and stretching exercises twice a day. This Fosomax thing has me worried though as I am planning a trip to Hawaii with my grandson and daughter on June 30th for 2 weeks and my left leg broke last August when I went to Calif. to visit my sister.

Sandy Greenquist, Health Pro

3/25/10 4:10pm

Hi Jan, It looks to me like you're doing a great job combatting the effects of the Fosamax! I'd just add the additional Magnesium. The type of D does make a difference. You want D3, so you're set. I would focus on some exercises that specifically strengthen your ankles and balance and then go have fun!

Best of luck,

Sandy Greenquist, CNM

Jan Horkey

3/26/10 10:18pm

Okay...I give up! You had mentioned "ProBono" in your first reply, but I have searched for 2 nights for a med even remotely close to that and can't find one! All I come up with is free legal counsel...

Is it short for something? I hate to keep bothering you.

Jan

Sandy Greenquist, Health Pro

3/27/10 2:00pm

No problem, Jan. WHen I first checked it out, I came up with the free legal counsel, too. It's a product made by OrthoMolecular Products and is only sold in clinic-type offices...doctors, chiropractors, health and wellness shops in hospitals, etc. I'd go online at www.orthomolecularproducts.com and contact them if you have trouble finding it. I'm sure they can help locate a distributor. If you're anywhere the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, you can get it from us

Good luck!!!

Sandy

Dorian Martin, Health Guide

4/ 2/10 1:23pm

Hi, Jan,

I just wrote this post on ABC News' story about brittle bones and osteoporosis medications. It might be of interest since it does include some additional information on maintaining bone strength.

Take care and keep us posted!

Dorian

Diane W

4/ 7/10 4:16pm

You have made me a bit nervous because I have been on Boniva for a year and a half. My insurance just decided not to pay for it so they have changed me to Fosomax. I will have to be on it for another 3 1/2 years because I am on Arimidex with the #1 side effect being osteoporosis. I have had 3 bone density tests. In 2007, my lumbar T-score was -1.8. A year later, after starting the Arimidex, it was -3.1. For those who have had a bone density scan, that's going from the top of the osteoporosis scale to the bottom in 1 year. I just had my 3rd one, 1 1/2 years since the 2nd and the same amount of time on Boniva and my lumbar T-score was -3.2. That means that the boniva only allowed -.1 bone loss in 1 1/2 years and it is fighting the Arimidex! I'm very impressed but now will be changing medications. I guess I'll take the Fosomax for a year and get another scan. If the results show more bone loss, I'll probably use my results to try to change the minds of the insurance people. We'll see how it goes. For your question, I believe that the changes to your supplements will probably help your problem. Please keep us posted. Take care, Diane

Dede

5/ 4/10 10:49am

I'm really confused about Vitamin D. When I was younger, I was cautioned by doctors and pharmacists about taking too much D, because it is not water-soluble. I was told to take calcium without D because "there was more than enough" in my multi-vitamin. Now, based on Sandy's recommendation, I'm not getting enough! I'm lost... Help?

Q: brittle bone reversal

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