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Fracture Risk Assessment
According to new guidelines in Canada, if your fracture risk is less than 15% there is no need to go on medication. If you are moderate risk, 15 to 20% medication may be required upon consultation with your doctor. Above 20% medication is required. When I was diagnosed, my fracture risk was 14% and I was offered Actonel which I did not go on (I was a little concerned about the risk). I'm relieved that after a year my fracture risk reduced to 11% by starting resistance exercise and taking low-dose strontium, vitamin D, vitamin K, and melatonin.
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I'm at 18% so hard to know how to proceed in the gray area. My doc recommended I go on meds, but I believe I know more about this topic than he does (he told me the only Prolia side effect was soreness at the injection site). He is my second opinion and, believe it or not, he was more knowledgable than the first MD I saw. The system is amazing in the worst of ways as it relates to OP treatment (and more). It's interesting to note that in Canada I'm at moderate risk at 17% according to their fracture assessment and in the USA, I am at severe risk at 18%.
As a new member I am unable to post a link to the Canadian fracture risk assessment.
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4 ReactionsMy doctor immediately wanted to put me on a bisphosphonate. I did my own research, found osteoporosis Canada, and joined their support group. Their information has been so valuable.
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6 ReactionsIt looks like Canada currently uses the Frax Calculator. Is this the link you wanted to post?
https://www.fraxplus.org/calculation-tool/
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3 ReactionsLooks similar - if you go through osteoporosis canada there is a link
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2 ReactionsYes, that's it. Thanks for posting it.
Can you join the Canadian support group if you don't live in Canada?
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1 ReactionI really don't know. I can only suggest reaching out via their contact information on the website.
All the best!
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1 ReactionI subscribed to their newsletter and they also have Facebook and Instagram pages, but it looks like you have to live in Canada to join the support group.
Interesting! I just used the Frax link above to calculate my risk. It doesn’t ask for spine T-score. Mine is bad! But using my hip score, even with checking the glucocorticoid box (I took some prednisone last year) my risk was only about 5% fracture.
I want to get a spine X-ray to make sure I’ve had no silent compression fractures. I’m doing regular osteoporosis exercises now including resistance bands and will add weights when my body is ready. I’m trying to eat right, but my diet has always been pretty good and I was taking all the suggested supplements prior to my most recent Dexa. I’m working on reducing stress which is the hardest risk to control. I’m hoping I can stay fracture free without the scary meds.
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4 ReactionsI wondered why they only ask for t-score of femoral neck? All the best on your navigation of this "bone journey". 🙂
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