Dr recommending fosamax after serious wrist fracture .

@bridget11 There are underlying diseases that can make your bones soft. Someone here recently was diagnosed with hypophosphatasia (HPP). This is a genetic disease which is confirmed using genetic testing. I’m mentioning it because of your surgeon’s comment on your bones being soft. Bisphosphonates like Fosamax are contraindicated for people with HPP and can make the disease worse.

This is why it’s important to see a well-informed endocrinologist. I started seeing one last year and found out that I have a condition which worsens osteoporosis (idiopathic hypercalciuria). No one ever did full testing on me before her and I’ve had osteopenia/porosis for 12 years.

I took ONE FLOSAMAX PILL FALL '25. IM STILL DEALING WITH WALKING ISSUES AND STILL SM PAIN GOING UP STEPS. RUN FROM THAT STUFF! READ ABOUT THE LAWSUITS. MERK, THE DRUG CO HAS BEEN SUED IN CLASS ACTION SUITS.

A good pretty comprehensive overview of the history of osteoporosis treatment and the various drugs. https://medshadow.org/conditions-treatments/osteopenia-osteoporosis/osteoporosis-treatment-screening-medications/

Your DEXA score is not even within the osteoporosis starting point of -2.5. My scores are much worse than that (-2.7 at hips and -4.1 in spine) and I have refused any bone meds thus far (no fractures to date).

Like you, my doctor recommended Fosamax (I can't take Tymlos or Forteo due to parathyroid issues). I have decided not to take it based on articles I read that said it offers minimal fracture prevention benefits in postmenopausal women without a prior fracture or vertebral compression. It does make your DEXA numbers better because you retain old bone. The only reason I'd consider a bone drug was if it offered considerable fracture prevention, because isn't that the reason for taking a medication?

There are many articles about studies done on this, here is one: https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(24)00101-3/fulltext
The last paragraph offers a summary of findings: "for patients with osteoporosis based on bone density alone, treatment benefits are less certain. Hip fracture risk reduction is modest and not supported in patients without a history of fracture. Reductions in vertebral fractures are substantial regardless of baseline risk, but whether these reductions correspond to less chronic pain and disability is unclear. Clinical evidence is weaker for newer agents. Future guidelines and reviews on osteoporosis treatment should clearly distinguish between primary and secondary prevention of fractures to best inform clinical decision-making. Despite guideline recommendations and calls for more screening and treatment, there are legitimate reasons for some clinicians and patients to opt out."

Another article by Consumer Reports: https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/04/popular-osteoporosis-drugs-come-with-mounting-concerns/index.htm
From this article: "Bottom line. Bisphosphonates offer only modest benefits in building bone and preventing fractures, and that should be considered along with the risks."

@llc52infofo Stop. Your problems have nothing to do with taking a single pill.

@cat1203 Thanks! This is really good. It seems maybe I would qualify for the anabolic meds (not that I want to) if they call my fracture a fragility fracture. Not sure who decides that - I fell super hard running downhill. This is why I need a specialist to look at my case.

I took ONE FLOSAMAX PILL FALL '25. IM STILL DEALING WITH WALKING ISSUES AND STILL SM PAIN GOING UP STEPS. RUN FROM THAT STUFF! READ ABOUT THE LAWSUITS. MERK, THE DRUG CO HAS BEEN SUED IN CLASS ACTION SUITS.

@bridget11 something I've always wondered about - seems like there is no difference between a fragility fracture and a traumatic fracture as far as osteoporosis goes. I do not believe I broke my wrist because my bones were too frail to survive a car wreck involving an air bag smacking my wrist and breaking it. And that was the opinion of the EMT and the ER doc... that people break their wrists commonly in wrecks; not just we little old ladies! But like trying to achieve the baseline DEXA of a 30-year-old woman just another piece of confusion in regard to osteo.