The test you are going to have for bone density is called a DEXA scan. Totally painless. It will give you a T-Score which is a score against the average bone density of a 30 yr old healthy person. they use this as a benchmark. If the T-score is between -1.0 and -1.9 then you have osteopenia. If it is -2.o or greater it is osteoporosis.

Fosomax is a bisphosphante which builds bone density and is known to prevent fracture vertebrally and at the hip. However, 4 weeks is not enough time for it to have much effect. Trabecular bone (high turnover bone) turns over every 5-6 weeks.

Ask him about Actonel which is also a bisphosphanate but has shown to prevent fracture in a clinical trial in as little as 6 months whereas the fosomax data does not show fracture prevention until 2 years. (sale with boniva).

Thanks for your quick reply Pmazz.

One of the appointments ordered at the same time as all the others, has already come through, the CT scan , just 14 days ( must be some kind of record !) so maybe the others will come in time to start Fossamax treatment(or simular) inside the 5 to 6 week timeframe you mentioned.

All meds have very different names over here in Denmark. There is a web of rules and regulations governing both the price and the availability of certain drugs, however the surgeons work in teams of 5, so between them there are many years experience and expertize, so I am sure they will find the right combination for me. For now I am hoping my non-fusion is just an unlucky fluke and that I prove negative for osteoporosis!

Hi V,

Did you have your other tests yet? I hope you don't have Osteoporosis but it's never too early to start treatment for it. Prevention is better than cure and this disease is one that is preventable. You need to ensure that you are taking in adequate amounts of calcium in your daily diet. if not you will need a supplement. Here we use Calcichew D3 Forte and together with the Fossamax works a treat.

There are many drugs on the market and the GPs use their choice of preference but I think your surgeon is right with what he is doing so far for you. You can go online and get lists of the different foods that contain calcium and what amount. It's quite surprising really and you may already to be taking in your recommended daily amount and may only need to take the Bisphos.

I started taking Calchiew D3 for a bit as my dad has osteoporosis and my mum has osteopenia. People say I'm far to young at 32 but you know what, I'm not! The youngest patient I saw in my clinic was 12 and had gone undetected by the GP after 7 v nasty fractures!

Let me know how you get on and email me if you want to know more. I should have some files etc on my pc.

Cx

I have actually taken a multivitamin and minerals tablet most of my life, at 8 years old, both my elder brother and sister became insulin dependant and my mum gave them multi-vitamin tablets to ensure all bases were covered, and I wanted one a day too and it stuck as a daily habit. I have always hated fish so I take an omega-3, daily and have taken an extra calcium since I was 30, since it is known that womens calcium deposits go down hill after 30 years old. I have cereals with milk every morning, the cereals have over half of the daily recommended amount for vitamins and minerals , so I think I am pretty well covered, being the fruit and veg. fan that I am ! So thats why I am hoping that the non-fusion is an unlucky fluke.

I think I remember, one has to give up calcium supplements when taking fossamax,from my nursing days, but so many of the tests and meds are new or just have a different name over here, its just so confusing in Danish,and the Gabapentin is melting my ability to hold a thought for more than 2 minutes anyway, researching on the net is exhausting!

My CT scan is tomorrow afternoon, the appointments for the other tests have not come through yet, so I have an eye on the post box every morning, not that it helps !
Glad to see you posting, and hope you and your dad are doing better.

Love and Best Wishes Viking

viking- I found out I had osteoporosis just as a routine test from my gyn for my annual female exam. I was surprised to find out that I had it. It was diagnosed with a DEXA scan, a painless X-ray like test that took maybe 10-15 min. I hope your tests turn out OK. jade

what do people do when they are allergic to calcium like pills Fosamax and milk products.

Hi Razzle,
There is a blog on here "10 ways to get enough calcium if you are lactulose intolerant"
http://www.spine-health.com/blog/osteoporosis/10-ways-get-enough-calcium...
However, I have not heard of anyone being intolerant to calcium and some meds like fossamax and other pills come with different sorts of bulking agents so you can find one you can tolerate, hopefully.

Thankyou Jade. I am still waiting for the post on that one , but glad to hear it is such a quick passive exam.The CT scan confirmed the earlier pictures I have had taken and my re-do is now booked for the week beginning 15 September.

Viking

Viking,

I am surprised that your surgeon wants you on FOSAMAX before your fusion. I was taking it for years before, but about three weeks prior my surgery the doc told me to stop it, and I did not resume taking it 'til I was almost fused at 5 months. There was a thread here (maybe in the old forum?) about FOSAMAX and fusion, but apparently it inhibits fusion. I don't quite understand how, as it is quite counterintuitive to what I would think, but that is the way it is. So do some research on this before you begin taking it. Once you are fused, it is a very good idea to begin taking it.

Kin