Last year I suffered a nontraumatic femur fracture of my left femur. In July, 2008 I read an article that described femur fractures identical to mine and a possible link to long term use of Fosamax. Since then I have had a bone scan which shows increased activity in my right femur which could very possibly be a stress fracture. I am very worried about the risk of a fracture occurring in my right femur. I would love to communicate with others who have had this experience. I am also interested in learning about how I can protect myself from this happening again.
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Sorry you feel this way about bringing suit against a company (Merck)that kept this serious "side effect" to themselves and people like you and I are now suffering. Yes, Fosamax has a 10 year half life so I only have 9 1/2 years to go. This is not about $$, it is about responsibility and accountability. I am, essentially, disabled and not able to perform my job at this time. In fact, I may not have a job to go back to. My job was only guaranteed for three months. I suffered with increasing pain for several years and feel that I have been a burden to my family for at least the last year. My activities have been severly limited and, therefore, I have not been able to enjoy my life to its fullest and as I knew it before Fosamax. Hang in there. Cee
June 10, 2009 - 11:36amThis Comment
Dear Anonymous May 31,2009, I, too, have had bilateral femoral fractures with rods placed three weeks apart. I am recuperating now after months of physical therapy. I am still in therapy once a week with a promise to duplicate my exercises at my gym due to insurance issues. I still walk with a cane and have not worked since Sept. 2008. I had taken Fosamax since 1998. My pain increased over the last few years and I had seen 8-9 doctors, all of whom were not able to diagnose my problem. I finally had a femur x-ray done and lo and behold, bilateral femoral fractures. Of course, I was ordered by my surgeon to stop the Fosamax immediately. There are a lot of articles out there. Google "Fosamax and femur fractures". I have retained an attorney who I was referred to and is an expert on the damage this drug has done. Fosamax is a sinking ship. Hope you are feeling better. Cee
June 9, 2009 - 5:29pmThis Comment
Thank you both for your comments. I have completed physical therapy for the one surgery, and of course will have more after the second surgery when they input the rod in the left leg. Since I last wrote I tripped and injured my back, which I have had 7 surgeries on as well. I had a lumbar fusion in February just a month prior to the fall that broke my femur of the right leg. My pain level is rather high at this time and I have leg pain in the upper thigh area, so I am so afraid the other leg will just "give way!" My life has changed forever and the doctors said that with the compounded spinal and now leg problems there is no guarantees about ever walking without a cane. I own a hot tub and do daily exercises in it. It is my salvation from a wheelchair I think.
I hate the thought of starting any kind of legal action, but I took Fosamax to avoid my older years (I am 60) being painful and I certainly did not want to be a burden to my family. This is a nightmare! I started taking Fosamax in 1998 as well and if it stays in my system for "years," my kids will have to "part me out" to get their inheritance from the titanium!!
Vicki
June 9, 2009 - 6:15pmThis Comment
Hello fellow leg surgery survivors. I stubbed my toe in a hole in our yard on March 21, 2009. My right femur snapped before I hit the ground. I was home alone and no one was expected back until the evening of the next day, so I literally crawled (Scooted) as far as I could screaming for help. Finally an angel heard my cries and called 911. I had a break at the high thigh-bone area and they also discovered a hairline crack on the other leg in the same position. I was life-flighted to a larger city where I had the appropriate intramedullary rod and pins put in the leg after a surgery for skeletal traction overnight. I have had several other surgeries in my life, including seven on my spine, but this has been the most hellish and painful in my life--including childbirth. I was sent to a rehab center for another 2 1/2 weeks and with intensive physical therapy I walk mostly with a cane. However, after seeking another opinion, I will be having surgery to have a rod put in the left leg with the hairline. Both doctors initiated the conversation about Fosamax which I have taken for 10 years. There certainly does seem to be a pattern here and though they are saying it is rare...I am betting it really isn't. Has anyone approached legal counsel about this. My medical bills are staggering and I ain't done yet!
May 31, 2009 - 7:42pmThis Comment
Dear Anon,
First, all I can say is "ouchouchouch." The description of your fall and your injury makes me wince. I'm so sorry you've experienced such pain.
So you have been dealing with this for a little more than two months. Is there a prognosis that you will be able to recover further? Are you finished with the physical therapy or still continuing to work? I hope that you won't have to walk with a cane for a long time.
I'm interested that both your doctors initiated the conversation about Fosamax. Have either one suggested that you go off the medicine now, or replace it with something else?
June 2, 2009 - 8:18amThis Comment
I forgot to tell you Diane that yes, I am off of Fosamax now and I too have increased my vitimin D dosage, but not because I tested low for it. I just thought it was a good idea since I am trying to take more calcium now to offset the loss of the "wonder drug." I always took an extra 1200mg of calcium anyway, but this is no life and if I can be in control somehow in a small way right now, it's worth a shot!
Vicki
June 9, 2009 - 6:21pmThis Comment
Yes, I have seen an endocrinologist. My Vit D levels are fine. He wanted to put me on Forteo for 2 years to build up bone. I injected myself every day for 1 month. The black box warning is that it has caused osteosarcoma in rats. That was warning enough for me, and I'm not a rat. Before the Dr. prescribed Fosamax for me 10 years ago, my dexa scan showed ostopenia not osteoporosis. However, I believe, that when a woman reaches middle age, late 40's and over, the Drs. start talking hormone replacement therapy, meds for bone loss, anti-anxiety meds, etc. I want more men to be prescribed all of that. They usually are not, are they? As of right now, I am taking OTC generic brand Calcium with D three times a day. Aleve, which is an anti-inflammatory and a multi-vitamin, that's it. I love to garden, as well. Try to sit on a stool. My Dr. ordered no squatting, no lunges, and limit the stairs. I use ice packs at night and have knee sleeves which I put on for several hours a day. I hope you are healing quickly. Can you feel the screws when lying on your sides? I can. It doesn't hurt but I can feel them. Cee
May 23, 2009 - 6:26amThis Comment
Cee, My orthopedic surgeon and my endocrinologist both wanted me to go on Forteo, too, but after I researched it myself online I decided against it because of the black box warning and other side effects. I don't think they have any long term studies on that drug either. I also was on hormone replacement for a few months (quite awhile ago) until I started getting leg cramps, and then I took myself off that because they can cause blood clots. I take OTC calcium w/ d, too, but I'm taking (Rx) 50,000 iu's of Vit D every other week. I was taking them once a week. I take ibuprofen sometimes, too. But I did find out that your meds like aleve & ibuprofen can hamper healing of broken bones. I didn't know that until a few years ago. When I garden, I've been using a kneeler and that does help. I have a stool on wheels, too, that I probably should get out and use. I think I'm going to see if my dr will write me another Rx for physical therapy because I think that will help to strengthen my knees. And maybe they can give me some more exercises that I can do at home as well. I can't feel the screws specifically, but sometimes I can't lie on any one side for a very long period either. It's been almost a year and a half since I had my surgery, and I think I'm doing pretty good. I try to walk about 5 times a week and I can walk 2 miles. However in the winter I'm rather limited because of snow/ice, etc. Hope you are healing good as well.
May 26, 2009 - 8:07pmThis Comment
I wrote back in October, 2008. See above for Cee's comment. I have now had 2 surgeries (bilateral femoral roddings) on my fractured femurs as a result of taking Fosamax for almost 10 years. My surgeon has done his homework and consulted with the above mentioned specialists, also. I am now recovering well but am dealing with arthritic knees. Cee
May 22, 2009 - 6:29pmThis Comment
Have you seen an endocronologist for testing? I think that before doctors prescribe Fosamax patients should be tested to see why they have osteoporosis to begin with. I think in my case that maybe if they found out sooner that I had a Vitamin D deficiency that I might not have needed to be put on Fosomax. I also don't think they had any long term studies of the effects of Fosomax until now. I think the femur situation is a lot more extensive than what they originally thought as well (as far as several other people having the same problems). My knees are bothering me a little now, but I've gained weight since last year (which I hope to take off), but I'm also doing a lot of gardening now, too. I don't know whether or not that's good therapy for the knees, but I don't want to aggravate them either. I think I was very fortunate that after my fall, that the orthopedic surgeon on call just happened to be aware of this fosomax problem. That was the only medication that I was ever on.
May 22, 2009 - 7:16pmThis Comment