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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The Fosamax (Alendronate) study done for FDA approval failed to show any benefit for the majority of the worried well, which is the osteopenia group defined as T score greater than -2.5. This Osteopenia Group actually had higher fracture rates than placebo. This was published by Cummings in JAMA in 1998.
Bisphosphonate drugs like Fosamax have severe adverse side effects of jaw necrosis (OJN), spontaneous mid-femur fracture, heart rhythm disturbances, and severe bone and joint pain.
The spontaneous mid femur fractures are especially troubling, since these are spontaneous fractures without any trauma. Subtrochanteric fractures are pathological fractures, indicating the underlying bone matrix is abnormal. This anormal weakening and brittleness is directly caused by the bisphosphonate drug.
Bottom Line: These are BAD drugs that actually make the bones weaker not stronger, and they should be banned by the FDA . However, knowing the FDA which is in the pocket of the drug companies, no action will be taken until many more women victims suffer from these drugs, and many more cases work their way through drug litigation court..
http://www.drdach.com/Fosamax.html
jeffrey dach md
March 17, 2010 - 11:07amThis Comment
Hello Dr. Dach!
I have written my story for this web site and have included your web site as a reference for women to refer to. Your expertise has been a great comfort to me and encouragement as well. Thank you! Vicki
March 17, 2010 - 8:56amThis Comment
The Fosamax (Alendronate) study done for FDA approval failed to show any benefit for the majority of the worried well, which is the osteopenia group defined as T score greater than -2.5. This Osteopenia Group actually had higher fracture rates than placebo. This was published by Cummings in JAMA in 1998.
Bisphosphonate drugs like Fosamax have severe adverse side effects of jaw necrosis (OJN), spontaneous mid-femur fracture, heart rhythm disturbances, and severe bone and joint pain.
The spontaneous mid femur fractures are especially troubling, since these are spontaneous fractures without any trauma. Subtrochanteric fractures are pathological fractures, indicating the underlying bone matrix is abnormal. This anormal weakening and brittleness is directly caused by the bisphosphonate drug.
Bottom Line: These are BAD drugs that actually make the bones weaker not stronger, and they should be banned by the FDA . However, knowing the FDA which is in the pocket of the drug companies, no action will be taken until many more women victims suffer from these drugs, and many more cases work their way through drug litigation court..
To Read More:
Fosamax Induced Fractures
jeffrey dach md
March 17, 2010 - 7:27amThis Comment
Hello Janis and Cee!
Janis, I feel your pain...boy do I feel your pain! I am glad your femur is healing or completely healed by now, but I would not be so quick to have that rod removed! It is preventing another break from happening forever! Fosamax stays in the bones for AT LEAST 10 years and if the rod is removed, you could break it again, not to mention that the other leg could be susceptible as well. I am not saying that as a scare tactic, just stating the facts as I know them. I have had both femurs break, plus my back and unless those rods shift and start to migrate on their own, they are there until my kids harvest them for their inheritance!! (The little screws holding that rod in place was billed at $5,000 each!!!) I am very glad you wrote and Cee I am very glad to hear you are up and at 'em again!!!
Best regards!
March 15, 2010 - 7:43pmVicki
This Comment
I watched (the ABC News) segment regarding Fosamax (aired on March 9, 2010)
with shock & amazement!
This was MY STORY......my life altering story to say the least.
I was taking fosamax on a regular basis from 1997 until 2006 when my accident occurred.
Now backing up to a year prior in 2005, I was experiencing pain in my right leg. It was so uncomfortable that it was affecting my employment.
As per Doctor’s orders I went to physio 3 times weekly, but to no avail. My Physiotherapist sensed there was more going on with my leg, so he sent a letter to my physician suggesting an M.R.I.
The M.R.I. indicated nothing to account for my pain, so by the process of elimination my Doctor advised me that she suspected I had a pinched nerve. Shortly thereafter I went to the local hospital for a spinal nerve block which provided me with some relief.
Then on January 20, 2006 while helping my daughter relocate, my right foot became lodged between a box & the wall. I simply tried to pull my leg up & out to free it. It was then that my right femur snapped in two. As the lady mentioned in your segment the pain was indeed excruciating. By the time the ambulance arrived I was going into shock.
After X-Rays at the St. Catharines General Hospital the doctor in
emergency stated that the only time they had ever seen a break so severe was the result of an automobile accident.
Surgery & physio followed.
Unfortunately my femur did not heal completely and the rod and hardware had to remain in my leg, otherwise it would re-break.
I became very proactive and last March 4th (2009) I had a bone graft done from my pelvis to my femur at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario.
This March (2010) I was elated to learn that the femur has finally healed after more than four years!
I am presently awaiting my third surgery to remove the rod & assorted screws.
Let me assure you that the past four plus years have been a living nightmare for me.
I commend you on airing the segment on fosamax, for now I have the missing pieces to my life altering “puzzle”. Thank you G.M.A.!!
We need to address this condition, and get this vital information out to women everywhere!!
If my small part in this issue saves just one woman from enduring the pain and suffering I have been subject to, it will be most worthwhile.
Sincerely yours
Janis
CANADA L2M 1X5
(Note: Post edited by EmpowHER moderator)
March 14, 2010 - 4:01pmThis Comment
Hi Janis, What an ordeal. If you read back on the posts from Cee, you will see that I had a similar experience. I had several diagnostic studies over the course of a few years but not a simple X-ray. That was the the missing piece to my puzzle. I, also, was lucky enough to be referred to an excellant Orthopedic Surgeon who had done his homework and was aware of the Fosamax/fracture correlation. None of the other six Specialists were aware of this. I have titanium rods in both of my femurs and they are with me for the rest of my life. I am back to work now and walk like a normal person, pain free. Good luck to you and God Bless Cee
March 15, 2010 - 5:58pmThis Comment
I have been on fosamax for numerous years and have broken both femurs at the same time. I now have screws and rods in both legs. While being on fosamax I have also broken my leg, my ankle and my arm.
March 12, 2010 - 8:14pmThis Comment
The pain is different for each individual of course, but if I were in your shoes, I would get a nuclear bone scan done ASAP. The pain is constant by most reports and for some of the women in our support group of which I am a member (contact Dr. Jennifer Schneider at [email protected] to join us) have reported the pain for years, months and weeks before the femur snapped. Believe me, you do not want that to happen. I have given birth three times and there is no pain like a femur fracture. Best wishes, Vicki
March 26, 2010 - 12:43pmThis Comment
I am wondering if I have a Fosomax Femoral fracture? I have taken Fosomax religiously since age 40 about 15 years...then switched to Boniva. My left thigh/groin have ached for nearly 3 years now with no diagnosis even tho I have done CAT scans, MIR's and X-rays....Now looking back the tests were looking at my Lumbar 4 & 5...I am wondering if new tests need to be done looking at my femure.
What was your pain like? My pain exists 100% of the time, for nearly 3 years, more painful during sitting and re-standing. Pain level about 5 but constant. I'm anxious to compare. Thank you.
March 11, 2010 - 12:30pmThis Comment
There are hundreds and maybe thousands of us out there now. Since ABC News aired the special on it two days ago they have had a flood of comments and questions from men and women who have suffered. So much so, they did a follow-up program last night and today the FDA finally announced they will "look into the situation." Finally!!!! Your one-year "holiday" most likely did nothing for the Fosamax or whatever brand you are taking. It stays in your bones for 10 years at the minimum. Start doing Internet searches and read all you can, there is going to be more and more information available now that it has been announced on national news and was in USA Today this morning. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-03-11-bones11_st_N.htm
As for taking calcium, taking more than 1200 units a day doesn't add anything, but increasing the amount of Vitamin D (D3) does. Be sure you are taking 1,000-2,000 units (or more) each day or whatever amount your doctor might suggest. Your best bet is to do some follow-up with an endocrinologist to be tested for the amount of vitamin D levles already in your system. He or she may prescribe more. Also get a nuclear bone scan to see if you have any other stress fractures lurking in your other leg especially. If so, you are at very high risk of another snapped femur and a preventive rodding would be the best course of action. Like I said the Fosamax or bisphosphonates stay in your bones for a decade.
March 26, 2010 - 12:41pmThis Comment