Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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smokeygirl 04/04/2022

Hi,

I just joined this group - I noticed it said muscles and bones, so I thought there might be some information

valuable to my situation. I had a compression fracture recently - worst pain I've experienced. Long and short

of it is that I need to take medications for the Osteoporosis I have. Actonel has been recommended to me by my

PCP, but it has side effects about a MILE long.. so I'm hesitant. I was also told I could go to a Rheumatologist who

might give me proper treatment for the Osteo... Does anyone on here have experience with medications to increase

bone density?? I'm hoping there are other solutions to the problem without the awful side effects... Help! Thank you

in advance...

Kimhurts 04/05/2022

I use Reclast and I don't notice any side effects.. It has helped me with my bone density according to my dexa scans. I have annual IVs and have only had two doses. I'm due for dose number 3 in July. I'm happy with the results.

smokeygirl 04/05/2022

Thank you - good to hear; I'm going to look into it. Is it really expensive?

Kimhurts 04/05/2022

I got the IV version so it was covered by my health insurance. There is an injection, I believe. It would be covered through your drug plan. If you have private insurance, there is a co-pay assistance card online, I think. Talk with your doctor. Also keep in mind that they list all kinds of outlandish side effects. You are unlikely to experience most of them. Talk with your doctor about your concerns and the likelihood of the situations you are worried about. Good luck.

smokeygirl 04/08/2022

Thank you, Kim! I will be seeing a Rheumatologist next month and will get a 2nd recommendation for meds - I will ask about the one you mentioned. Also just started PT today and hopefully will see some results... I didn't realize how painful fractures can be..

WarriorGal 04/12/2022

Everything has side effects. They are all POSSIBILITIES and 99.9% are reversib le if you stop the med. The most importan tthing is ot weigh the benefit vs the POSSIBLE side effects.

I also suffered a compression fracture. Mine was at L2 lumbar spine. It was second fracture in 3-4 years and I am 77 with osteoporosis. I was put on daily injections of Forteo for two years and then I will go onto Reclast o rone of the other osteo treatments. It was precribed by my rheumatologist, so yes, I'd say see one.

Osteoporosis will not get better on its own. It's degenerative and usually get worse with age.

smokeygirl 04/13/2022

Thank you, WarriorGal, The Rheumatologist had a cancellation and I went today instead of in May.. He says I have severe osteoporosis with a T score of -3.4. He mentioned the medicine you did - Forteo too - - He said the the Actonel my PCP prescribed won't do anything to rebuild bone, but that Forteo will help, but not to stay on more than 2 years, then you can do the others to maintain. I go back June 1 - he wanted to make sure he was putting me on the right program, so blood work, x-ray, etc., so I have to wait, but it sounds like a good plan. At first the thought of daily injections freaked me out a little, but he said it is really pretty easy... we shall see... I am 71 and until the fracture things were going pretty well. lol Soooooo painful.. Thank you for sharing your experience..

WarriorGal 05/11/2022

Good luck. I hope you do well on Forteo.

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