Have been on "home" ultrasound for the past 9 monthes because the bone has hot yet "fused." I have been taking Fosomax for 15 years, but it obviously hasn't helped. I have had 3 stress fractures...one in the left foot and two in the right,the most recent one(April) in the exact same location as a previous one last October. My last bone density concluded that the osteopenia was now osteoporosis. I have been given a choice between the daily Forteo for 24 months or Reclast for the once a year infusion. I am frustrated and don't know which way to go. I also have COPD and mitral valve prolapse...am on Avapro for High blood pressure (controlled) and Vytorin for high cholesterol (also controlled). I take 1200 mg of Calcium daily and also 1000 units of Vitain D. In addition, I get some of both in my Multi-vitamin. Any advice?
- Find
Q: I am 76 years old female...left femur break in 2006...had surgery in 2007 to replace the rod.
Hi Mickey, welcome to the community. So sorry you are having such a hard time getting the femur to heal, and also the problems with your left and right foot fractures.
I took Forteo after having 6 vertebral frax's and did really well on it. Here's an article I wrote on the use of Forteo for non-healing frax's and how Drs are now using Forteo to speed healing and reduce pain, for these type of fractures.
You need to decide which medication you think is best and it's always difficult to do that, but I'm sure with some help you'll be able to decide. Hopefully this post will give you some info on Forteo and here's another article on Reclast that you can read to see if you think it's something you might want to try. This Reclast article has many links you can go to, to get all kinds of information on the drug, so if you have the time try to read it all.
Forteo is the only drug that stimulates new bone growth, so that may be why the Dr recommended it. Here's another link from the Cleveland Clinic on Forteo that explains it very well, in an easy to understand terminology which includes graphics that explains how it works on the bone.
Good luck and if you have any other questions about these meds or the femur problem don't hesitate to post again. I hope you find something that solves these problems.
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