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prednisone and oteoporosis

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/8/2008 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
There seems to be a fair amount of people on pred or steroids of some sort and I am just wondering how many of you have had a bone density scan and do you have osteoporosis?

I had a bone density scan ordered by my GP and it showed that I have osteoporosis in my lower spine although my hips seem to be okay. I have been on pred two times in the last 17 years and I have taken entocort enemas probably another 5 times. I usually took the meds for three months, but less than six. I didn't really think I had taken enough pred to cause serious long term side effects and when I told my GP I was surprised by the bone density results she seemed to think I should have known this was coming. She also indicated that the entocort enemas play a role in the osteoporosis just like the pred. I don't think the side effects of pred were ever explained to me very well when I was younger and I was definitely told by my GI that entocort is not systemic and does not have the same risk of side effects as pred.

I want to talk to a specialist or something before I start taking another medication (fosamax) with more side effects.

I'd really like to be healthy later in life so I can continue to be active.
Posted 10/8/2008 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
I have had a few bone density tests and fortunately I am just fine.
I also do strength training, and expect that has helped.

The lists of possible side effects are so long, it's hard to know which ones are likely to occur and which are just defensive medicine!
Posted 10/8/2008 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
I had a bone density scan in jan of this year. It looked good, i have had my fair share of prednisone too. Also I am only 26 so I still have youth on my side. I would imagine the older you get the chances of a bone density scan showing stuff would be greater wether you took something like prednisone or not....
Posted 10/8/2008 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
I had a bone density in 2005 and again in 2007. Both showed normal bone density in the hip and spine. In between the two, I sustained a pathological fracture of both of the bones in my left lower leg due to osteoporosis. I had been on oral Entocort for about three years; my GI also told me it wasn't systemic because that's what they believed at the time. Now, thanks to people like me, they're not so quick to say that.
Posted 10/8/2008 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
I have only had one bone density scan done, about 4 years ago when I was 19. I had already developed osteopenia in my lumbar spine and femur head from prednisone use by that point, after being on and off prednisone multiple times for 4 years prior. I would really like to get another scan done soon though since I've taken it several times since then, to see if it has progressed. I sure hope it hasn't.
Posted 10/8/2008 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone for responding.
Judy, I am very sorry you have to deal with leg fractures on top of UC. Did the doctor offer any information as to why the bone scan showed normal for the spine and hip, but you obviously have major bone density problems in your leg? When you fractured your leg, did they do a bone scan on the leg to determine it was osteoporosis? What does avascular necrosis feel like?

I am very distraught over the osteoporosis diagnosis. UC is bad when it flares up and I have realized that I do feel ill most of the time, but it is not completely debilitating. I am still able to cycle to work everyday and do a lot of physical activity. If I start having problems that completely prevent me being physically active I am going to seriously lose it.

This probably isn't the best place to ask this, but if you have a colostomy do other ailments that seem to come with UC go away? Joint, skin, GERD probelms. I am beginning to consider surgery. I don't want to take anymore drugs.
Posted 10/8/2008 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
maybe have your vitamin D level checked. I have heard that if you take vitamin D with calcium you can kind of reverse some of the affects. (((((((((((hug)))))))))))
Posted 10/9/2008 9:10 AM (GMT 0)
I had a bone density scan done in 2004 (age 29) and was diagnosed with osteopenia in my hip although spine was fine.  I now take calcium and vitamin d and also a bone strengthening pill (can't remember the name). Since then I have had another 3 doses of steroids, my doctors don't seem concerned, I am but pred seems to be the only thing that will get me out of a flare.

Posted 10/9/2008 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
Robray, when I had the fracture they had to do surgery, and they saw the osteoporosis right there. Why did it affect that area? I have no idea, it just did.

As far as the AVN, it generally affects the hip, knee or shoulder. For me the pain was the absolute worst I've ever had. Much worse than pain after surgery. It was a deep, extreme pain that eventually hurt from the base of my skull all the way into my hand, from the front to the back in my shoulder area, and sometimes it hurt so much I couldn't even concentrate.

Just to be clear, I had an extreme sensitivity to steroids, apparently. I had injections into the palms of my hands for trigger fingers after my second shoulder surgery, and had some trouble sleeping for the next week. I won't even use a steroid nasal spray for my allergies now.
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