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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Hi Olive, Thanks for writing. With regard to the article for those who aren't familiar, there was a study out of Cornell
and New York Presbyterian Hospital that links long-term use of Fosamax to fractures.
To read the article, click here.
Olive, have you chatted with your doctor about alternatives to Fosamax? If so, what did he or she say? Thanks.
This happened to me also, last October. I have not yet healed. Have you had this problem.? If so, what are you doing to help it heal?
Hello, I spent a lot of time writing a blog last evening but now I can't find it. The long and short of it: I have been having "thigh pain" for quite a while. Have seen 6 Drs, had many tests and blood work with no diagnosis. Finally, my Dr ordered an X-ray of my femurs, sure enough, bilateral femur fractures. Went to an Orthopedic surgeon, low and behold, I was the second patient in one month with the same problem. Yes, we both had been taking Fosamax. I am now walking with a walker, have been out of work for 5 weeks, (I am an RN) and am contemplating surgery for bilateral femur rodding. I am waiting one more month to make this huge decision. I am praying that they will heal on their own, a possibility. Hope this is of some help to you. Pls respond if you feel you need to. Good luck
Wow, my exact same story. It has been 3 years of constant pain in my thigh/groin. Fosomax for almost 15 years, now taking Boniva. Thinking I need to take your comment to my orthopedic dr. Are you ok now? What did you do?
Comment by Sandy on March 3, 2009
I had been walking in pain which became worse by the month for about 6 months.The thigh bone area hurt so bad I could hardly walk. I finally went to an orthopedic doctor and he found that both femur bones were fractured and had to have surgery within the week to insert a rod in each leg. I had been taking fosamax for several years. I am now recovering from the surgery.
anon, thanks for writing. When did you have the surgery? Did your doctor say the fractures may be attributed to the Fosamax? If not, what was behind the fractures?
I slipped on ice in December 2007 and broke both my femurs. At the time I had been taking fosomax for about 7 years. A few months prior to the fractures, I had been having pain in my legs but couldn't pinpoint it. It wasn't the knee or the hips, but I think I probably had stress fractures in the femurs. I had a rod placed in each of the femurs and I was very pleased with the results. I would recommend that treatment if you have the fractures. My orthopedic surgeon said the fractures were probably attributed to fosomax.
What made your surgeon suggest the connection between your fractures and fosomax?
My physician studied under Dr. Joseph Lane, chief of metabolic bone disease at the Hospital for Special Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. Click on the link http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/healthday/080319/fosamax-linked-t...
This article explains that in certain cases some women have been having unusual femur fractures related to the use of fosomax. My dr suggested I go off fosomax (it can stay in your body for several years after you stop taking it). I was referred to an endocronoligst and after several tests he found out I had a severe Vitamin D deficiency. I've been on high doses of that since I've been seeing him. The article I referred to above would be beneficial to anyone who is taking fosomax and is having pain in their legs, and/or has had a femur fracture. I was very fortunate that when I had accident that the orthopedic physician on duty at the time was familar with this situation and fosomax. Hope this information helps you and anyone else that has questions on it.
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