1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Polymyalgia Rheumatica and GCA

pmr and alundronic acid

Posted , 3 users are following.

pauline36422
pauline36422

after been on pred for 13 months staring at 20 and now down to 6mg and lowering by a quater at a a time. i have stopped taking alundronic acid, as it was giving me problems. i started taling vit d 3, will this be sufficient for my bones. all through my pred does i have been ok , apart from a little pain in the 2 bones i sit on which are still a little sore. but i can live with this pain. i just wonder if it will get progresivly worse when i get lower in my pred dose

can i just say this forum has been very helpfull so far polly

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • MrsO-UK_Surrey
    MrsO-UK_Surrey pauline36422

    Posted

    Pauline, you need to ask your GP for a Vit D blood test.  If you are found to be deficient you will need a high dose supplement of Vit D3 to bring levels up to normal, generally over 3 months or so.  I don't know what dose of Vit D you are taking at present but if your levels are low it may not be sufficient.  Also, have you had a DEXA scan to check your bone density.  This is another test you should have had before being put on Alendronic Acid - if your bone density was normal you didn't need it.  Many of us because aware of the possible risks of this drug and decided not to take it.

    If you still have pain on sitting then do be careful with further reductions in the steroids at this stage - it might be wise to take a little longer between reductions especially as you have only been on the steroids for 13 months.  Flares in the disease can be very common in the first 12-18 months, so, yes, at this stage your pain could get worse as you lower the dose.  Slowly, slowly is key to getting better - remember that the steroids are not curing PMR, but are just controlling the inflammation until PMR decides to go into remission.

    • pauline36422
      pauline36422 MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      THANKS MRS O, I WILL TELL MY G P ON MY NEXT VISIT.NO I HAVE NO DEX SCAN. THE VIT D3 I AM TAKING IS FROM HOLLAND BARRETS  25UG.   I WILL KEEP IN TOUCH  I AM ON HOLIDAY IN 1 WEEK  SO  HOPING THE HOT SUN WILL HELP
  • EileenH
    EileenH pauline36422

    Posted

    You should have been given calcium and vit D tablets at the beginning - you need calcium too. You should also have had a dexascan to see how your bone density was. 

    The "pain in the bum" might be a little extra, not simply PMR, and there are other things to look at if it does get worse. Wait and see!

     

    • pauline36422
      pauline36422 EileenH

      Posted

      THANKS EILEEN  BOTH YOU AND MRS O  SEEM TO KNOW  WHATS WHAT,   THE PAIN IN THE BUM  I HAVE HAD FROM FIRST DIAGNOSIS OF PMR.  BUT IT  DISSAPEARD AT 20 MG.

      AND CAME BACK   AROUND THE 12 MG RANGE  BUTNOT GOT ANY WORSE  ON FUTHER REDUCTION.

      HTANKS FOR THE INFOE. IAM 72 YEARS, AND  APART FROM THE PMR I AM IN GOOD HEALTH.

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.