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Anyone been on a clinical trial for osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis & Bone Health | Last Active: Aug 16, 2022 | Replies (21)Comment receiving replies
Hello @billie3. Great question about Osteoporosis and clinical trials. I would like to bring in few others, @contentandwell @rwinney @jmanj @artscaping @predictable, that have been active in discussions related to Osteoporosis in hopes they can give us some ideas.
I did find this information on the National Osteoporosis Foundation: https://www.nof.org/patients/clinical-trials/about-clinical-trials/
It looks like there are many reasons to be a part of a clinical trial for Osteoporosis (innovative treatments, medicine, etc.). If you are willing to share, is there a specific reason you are interested in clinical trials?
Replies to "Hello @billie3. Great question about Osteoporosis and clinical trials. I would like to bring in few..."
My most recent Bone Density DEXA was last Nov (Nov '19) which revealed osteoporosis in my lumbar spine (T-score -2.6). I have pain if I lift something over 10# or exert myself with different exercise ex. biking up a long hill. My primary care doc has "pushed" Prolia. I've resisted to accept this recommendation. I have 2 older sisters who were on Prolia for a number of yrs and now no longer get those injections due to their newly diagnosis of kidney disease.
I've done some research on TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) and osteoporosis and the use of Qiang GuYin'. I'm trying to find out if there's a clinical trial for patients willing to try TCM or other alternative medicine/innovative treatments. I can look at the link you sent from the Nat'l Osteo Foundation. Thx, Kelly
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@kellyhahn1 @billie3 My osteoporosis crept up on me because my PCP had neglected to order DEXA scans for over 5 years despite my having osteopenia in the last one, in January 2014, and also being on prednisone which is known to affect bones. When I had a minor hip fracture in July, I asked my PCP about having a DEXA and he prescribed one. I discovered I had somewhat advanced osteoporosis.
Having osteoporosis to that degree would cause me to not risk being on a clinical trial. Although I have not begun treatment due to other medical conditions, I do not want to delay treatment known to help. I have taken part in a couple of other clinical trials but they were basically diagnostic ones so did not delay necessary treatment.
It's definitely a very tough decision since the clinical trial could be for a great new treatment, but the opposite is true also. I think a big part of the decision would be how advanced your osteoporosis is.
JK