• Clip
• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 70+ >> Carol - Interview 15 >> Following a wrist fracture Carol’s GP send her to have a DXA scan. But while waiting for the test results she put Carol on medication as a preventativ

Following a wrist fracture Carol’s GP sent her for a DXA scan and put her on medication for osteoporosis as a precautionary measure. She is on Bonviva (ibandronic acid) 150 mgs, once a month plus Adcal D3 twice a day. She fasts for six hours before taking Bonviva.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 60-69 >> Christine - Interview 18 >> A nurse raised the possibility that Christine might have osteoporosis and told her to ask her GP for a DXA scan.

Diagnosed in 2004 with what she described as a ‘mild form’ of osteoporosis. Medication since diagnosis: alendronic acid and calcium tablets. A second bone density scan revealed that her condition has improved after two years of treatment. Her mother has osteoporosis.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 50-59 >> Iris - Interview 24 >> After a fracture, Iris received a letter from the osteoporosis specialist nurse inviting her for a DXA scan.

Her diagnosis of osteoporosis was prompted by her being invited by the osteoporosis nurse for a bone density scan. The type of fracture she had was unusually severe for the type of fall she incurred and, her age. She takes Actonel 3mg once weekly and calcium tablets.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 60-69 >> Valerie - Interview 03 >> Valerie talks about her experience of having a DXA scan.

Diagnosed in 2004 following complains of back and neck pains; on alendronic acid, 70 mg once weekly. She has had three bone density scans and there was improvement on the second but the third revealed a small deterioration of bone density.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 60-69 >> Linda - Interview 21 >> Linda had a DXA scan after stopping HRT which showed a slightly below normal result. Three years later after her mother developed osteoporosis, anothe

Diagnosed in 2005 and prescribed Fosamax 70 mg, once weekly and calcium tablets twice daily. A bone density scan in 2007 revealed that her bone density has improved and that she is osteopenic rather than osteoporotic. Linda continues taking her medication.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 50-59 >> Pat - Interview 32 >> Pat was involved in successfully campaigning for a DXA scanner which is now available at her local private hospital.

Diagnosed in 1994 after complaining of severe back pain. She is currently on Actonel (risedronate) but was first put on Didronel (etidronate) and then Fosamax once a week. Recent DXA scans revealed that her bone density has greatly improved.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 60-69 >> Valerie - Interview 03 >> Valerie who was diagnosed four years ago waited ten days to have her first DXA and had her second scan three years after that.

Diagnosed in 2004 following complains of back and neck pains; on alendronic acid, 70 mg once weekly. She has had three bone density scans and there was improvement on the second but the third revealed a small deterioration of bone density.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 50-59 >> Gloria - Interview 06 >> After waiting for a year to have a second bone density scan Gloria wrote to the Minister of Health. She received an apology and an immediate appointme

In 1999 and following a wrist fracture, the doctor at the hospital advice her to ask her GP for a bone density scan to test for osteoporosis. No maternal history of osteoporosis, but surgery to both her kidneys. On alendronic acid once a week and on Adcal D3 once daily.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 40-49 >> Emma - Interview 14 >> Emma is taking strontium ranelate and would like her GP to refer her to have a scan more frequently so that they can monitor any change.

In 1984 Emma had a hysterectomy. In 1992 she complained of severe headaches and was started on hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Diagnosed with osteoporosis around 1994-6 following ribs fracture. Current medication: Strontium ranelate (Protelos) 2 grams every night. Emma also takes omega 3 and cod liver oil.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 23-39 >> David - Interview 37 >> David who has had arthritis most of his life and was diagnosed with osteoporosis when he was 23, has a bone density scan every six months to monitor p

David was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis (re-diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis) at the age of two and on 2006, following a hip fracture, he was diagnosed with osteoporosis. He thinks that osteoporosis is the result of his arthritis and the long-term use of steroids. On alendronic acid once weekly and calcium two tablets a day.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 50-59 >> Margery - Interview 40 >> Margery has had six DXA scans that over the last twelve years have monitored the effectiveness of her treatment and changes in bone density.

Diagnosed in 1994 after a DXA scan revealed severe osteoporosis. Her consultant prescribed Fosamax at first, then added Calcium, Vitamin D and HRT. Currently she carries with the same treatment minus HRT and takes Calcichew D3 Forte. She has regained bone density and is osteopenic.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 60-69 >> Clare - Interview 20 >> Clare took part in a couple of surveys on osteoporosis, which led her to see her GP and request a DXA scan.

Participation in a biomedical study revealed that her bone density was below the normal margins. A DXA scan confirmed a diagnosis of osteoporosis. Prescribe alendronic acid 70 mg once weekly and Adcal D3 two tablets per day. Maternal history of osteoporosis.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 40-49 >> Chris - Interview 23 >> Chris hasn’t had a scan for a while because her nearest DXA scanner is quite a distance away and it is only available one morning a week.

Diagnosed in 1999. She is taking Actonel and Calcichew D3 Forte. Initially she was taking Actonel 5 mg once daily but found it impractical, especially during working days. She now takes 35 mg once weekly. She still experiences back pain but not as severe as before diagnosis.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 50-59 >> Laurence - Interview 07 >> Despite having a maternal history of osteoporosis, Laurence’s wife was denied a DXA scan on the NHS because she was aged 55 years and hadn’t broken a

Diagnosed in 2003; was initially put on Didronel and then on Actonel and currently on weekly alendronic acid. He has doubts about the effectiveness of his medication. He suffers from severe back pain. Last DXA scan showed that he has three vertebral fractures. Recently he was referred to a consultant.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 60-69 >> Ann - Interview 35 >> Ann’s local support group raised money to donate a DXA scanner and computer to their hospital, so that GPs now have the resources to accurately interp

Diagnosed in 2001. Ann has had side effects from several of the osteoporosis treatments; problems with swallowing, heartburn and pain. She is currently on Bonviva (ibandronate) once monthly orally, but she is changing to the intravenous injection form administered every three months. She was also diagnosed with coeliac disease.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 50-59 >> Margery - Interview 40 >> Margery’s support group found out that other specialists in the hospital didn’t know they had a scanner they could used. A committee was set up in the

Diagnosed in 1994 after a DXA scan revealed severe osteoporosis. Her consultant prescribed Fosamax at first, then added Calcium, Vitamin D and HRT. Currently she carries with the same treatment minus HRT and takes Calcichew D3 Forte. She has regained bone density and is osteopenic.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 60-69 >> Joan - Interview 10 >> Changes in Joan's spine affected the accuracy with which her bone mineral density (BMD) could be read because it was making the bone appear denser tha

Since her forties Joan has had several wrist fractures that were not investigated for osteoporosis. It was only when she fell and fractured both her arms that the diagnosis came about. She was put on medication; alendronic acid but due to side effects it was changed to Strontium ranelate.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 70+ >> Diana - Interview 22 >> Diana has blood tests now instead of DXA scans.

In 2003 Diana was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis of the spine. She paid herself to have the Forsteo (teriparatide) treatment that consists of daily subcutaneous injections for 18 months. Describes Forsteo as ‘marvellous’ Currently on Actonel once a week.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 50-59 >> Margery - Interview 40 >> There was no DXA scanner in the area were Margery lives and she had to travel to a big city to have it done and subsequently to see a consultant.

Diagnosed in 1994 after a DXA scan revealed severe osteoporosis. Her consultant prescribed Fosamax at first, then added Calcium, Vitamin D and HRT. Currently she carries with the same treatment minus HRT and takes Calcichew D3 Forte. She has regained bone density and is osteopenic.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 60-69 >> Sarah - Interview 27 >> Sarah feels bitter that she has lost six years of treatment after the results of her DXA scan were misplaced.

In 2002 Sarah took part in a clinical trial were she was first diagnosed with osteoporosis. It seems that her diagnosis wasn’t sent to her GP. In 2008 she fell and hurt her back and her GP sent her for an x-ray and it was then that her condition was officially diagnosed. Current treatment: alendronic acid once weekly and calcium tablets.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 40-49 >> Robert - Interview 28 >> Robert had spinal surgery which left him disabled and in pain. No-one considered that he might have osteoporosis and he did not have a DXA scan.

Robert was diagnosed with osteoporosis at the age of forty-three. Robert had to wait seven months before been referred to a bone metabolic specialist who sent him without delay to have a bone density scan. Now his osteoporosis is under control but he continues experiencing severe pain due to the damage caused by the condition.

• Condition
• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Osteoporosis

Publication date: April 2009          Last updated July 2011

Review date: July 2013

 

Osteoporosis means 'porous bone'. With this disease bones lose density and become more fragile with a greater risk of fracturing. The loss of bone occurs 'silently' and progressively. Often there are no symptoms until the first fracture occurs. We interviewed 40 people with osteoporosis about their experiences of this condition. Select from the key topics below or choose from the 'Full list of topics' to explore all the topics covered.

• Topic
• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> DXA scans and other tests for osteoporosis >> DXA scans and other tests for osteoporosis

DXA scans and other tests for osteoporosis