Anyone with severe back issues taking Prolia?

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Soccermom4force
Soccermom4force Member Posts: 631
edited July 2014 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

hello all,

I'm almost 9 years out. I did chemo and finished AIs 3 years ago. My Oncologist suggested I begin Prolia injections to help my bone mass ( I'm osteopenic).

I have degenerative disc disease and stenosis and recently had to have surgery to fix a lumbar herniation which left me unable to walk. One month later my T1 herniated. I put off the injection not wanting to add fuel to the fire . 

   Today the Oncs office called to see if I was coming in tomorrow for what was to be my second injection, and I declined. I'm just not sure this is my best interest overall as I had a hard time on bisphosphonates orally and have a feeling it will be the same SE on injectable Bisphosphonates. Any credible information and or studies on the subject will be greatly appreciated!

Marcia

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  • ktlearn
    ktlearn Member Posts: 12
    edited July 2014

    I don't have an answer for you because I am just about to start Arimidex, but my bone density scan showed me to have severe osteopenia, so I will be getting the twice yearly injection of Prolia.

    I should have my first injection in a couple of weeks. I can let you know how it affects me after that.

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  • Soccermom4force
    Soccermom4force Member Posts: 631
    edited July 2014

    thanks Ktlearn,

    Fingers crossed you will have smooth sailing with bisphosphonates!

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited July 2014

    soccermom - Prolia is not a bisphosphonate, it is a monoclonal antibody and works by a completely different mechanism.  Bisphosphanates coat the bone, making them less elastic and potentially prone to fracture.  The mechanism by which Prolia works is by slowing down the removal of old bone, which can speed up as we age, and allowing newly made bone to catch up, improving density.  I was osteopenic and have degenerated disks at L4 and L5 - predating breast cancer by at least 6 years and have received five Prolia injections so far. I tried taking both Actonel and Boniva after being diagnosed with osteopenia but I could not tolerate the GI SE as I have also had reflux surgery.

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  • toomuch
    toomuch Member Posts: 901
    edited July 2014

    I became osteopenic after 1 year on Arimidex. I was also having lumbar back pain and I was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis at L3-L4. My back pain resolved after my first Prolia injection. A year after my first injection, my bone density improved back to it's pre-AI density. I have no side effects at all from the injections.

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  • spendygirl
    spendygirl Member Posts: 231
    edited July 2014

    I had severe (debilitating) back pain with Fosamax and Actonel.  Prolia gives me some flu-like symptoms but that's all.  And my last Dexa scan showed great improvement.  All the best to you.

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  • ICanDoThis
    ICanDoThis Member Posts: 1,473
    edited July 2014

    Prolia gives me no symptoms at all, and my endocrinologists' office is very high on it.
    The effects gradually wear off, I am told, if you discontinue treatment
    Next DEXA in a couple of weeks -- we will see!
    It doesn't seem to improve my back - I am doing water walking to get exercise with a miserable lower back

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  • Soccermom4force
    Soccermom4force Member Posts: 631
    edited July 2014

    thanks ladies! Will rethink my decision to not have injection :)

    Part of the issue is the OOP of $136.00

    Still paying off recent surgery .

    Thanks again, Marcis

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