“I am no longer frightened of my osteoporosis diagnosis now I have so much information on how to deal with it. I thank God and Vivian for giving me back my pain-free life.”
Deirdre Emperor is a 70-year-old woman from London, UK, who has completely transformed her bone health and regained her independence after years of debilitating pain caused by osteoporosis medications. Today, she enjoys swimming, long walks, and gardening, living a vibrant and pain-free life.
Deirdre’s bone health journey began in 2005 when she was diagnosed with osteopenia. Prescribed Risedronate (Actonel), she believed the medication would prevent osteoporosis. However, over time, she experienced severe side effects, including:
By 2012, Deirdre could barely walk and feared ending up in a wheelchair. A DXA scan in 2014 revealed she had developed full-blown osteoporosis with a spine T-score of -3.6. Doctors recommended stronger medications like Zolendronic Acid, which she refused, worried about further side effects.
Deirdre faced years of frustration and pain, as medical treatments failed to improve her condition. Her physical limitations made her feel hopeless, and the side effects of bisphosphonates left her questioning conventional treatments. She struggled to find an alternative solution until she discovered Save Our Bones.
Discovering Save Our Bones was a turning point for Deirdre. She embraced the program wholeheartedly, making transformative changes to her lifestyle:
The results were profound. Within 20 months, her spine T-score improved by 4.1% (to -3.3), and she eliminated the chronic pain that had plagued her for years. She now lives an active, independent life without fear of her osteoporosis diagnosis.
“I’m 70 (nearly 71) and am petite at 5ft1” and weigh 7 stone.
In 2005 I was diagnosed with osteopenia by a mobile screening unit offering tests at the firm I was working for at the time. The radiologist scanned my left forearm and warned me that the problem would reach my hip within 10 years without treatment. This worried me so I made an appointment with my GP who began treating me with Actinol (later Risedronate) taken orally once weekly) which I took until 2014. She originally told me I would only need to take it for 5 years which sounded reasonable as I thought it would prevent me from getting osteoporosis. After taking it for the 5 years I was then told to have a break for 6 months which I did, and then re-start it again. I had no bad symptoms for the first few years but very gradually pain started to creep in beginning with teeth and jaw problems, which I just put down to the ageing process.
By 2012 I had severe teeth and facial pain and also very painful joint pain in my neck and then my lower back although my blood tests always came back normal. My GP called the body pain ‘mechanical neck and back pain’ and after tests could only prescribe painkillers, none of which ever worked to ease the pain.
Eventually, my own private dentist diagnosed the oral pain as being Atypical Odontalgia, a very painful facial type of pain which feels like toothache in the absence of any significant dental problems. I had had 2 successful routine root canal treatments which may have triggered the severe pain in my other teeth as well he thought. He referred me to the pain clinic at the Eastman Dental Hospital in central London where the specialist confirmed this condition. The Xray of my jaw revealed changes to the bones from taking bisphosphonates for such a long period of time but did not show osteonecrosis. The consultant there was very kind and tried treating me with Amitriptyline for the nerve pain but this didn’t help at all so I stopped taking it.
As I had severe body pain by then and lost a stone in weight I became very fragile and could no longer carry out normal everyday tasks and my son had to help with housework, shopping and cooking etc which I could no longer do myself. I and many of my friends thought I would end up in a wheelchair and I had started looking in mobility catalogues at mobility scooters which I thought I may soon need as I couldn’t walk much anymore due to the pain.
I then started doing some research on the Internet to try to help myself as no-one else seemed to be able to, and saw several articles about concerns that bisphosphonates could cause severe body pain in some people. I went back to my GP and insisted she send me for a DEXA scan at my local hospital (the first proper hospital DEXA scan I’d ever had) which revealed full blown osteoporosis. All the hospital there did though was send the results back to my GP with a note saying ‘Treat patient’. I then stopped taking the Risedronate as it hadn’t worked anyway. I mentioned this to the specialist at the pain clinic at the Eastman Dental Hospital and it was he who then referred me to the Osteoporosis Clinic at UCLH where a year later I had another DEXA scan, X-rays, bone turnover blood test etc. They were very thorough there and recommended Zolondronic acid intravenously or Teriparatide injections as my osteoporosis was quite bad by then (though I have not had any fragility fractures). I refused this as I didn’t want even more pain so the specialist later suggested raloxifine as an alternative which I could get from my GP, as he understood my concerns. As you will see from his letter, I didn’t take it.
It took about 2 years after stopping taking the bisphosphonates and a lot of private physio before most of my pain began to subside. I do have a bit of wear and tear in my lower back still but its manageable now. All my teeth and jaw pain has disappeared and I can now chew food like everyone else instead of having to eat a soft diet for all those years.
I now thank God for giving me back my pain free life and for finding Vivian on the Internet who I came across while researching my problem. In my opinion she’s an angel sent to help people like me. I am no longer frightened of my osteoporosis diagnosis now I have so much information on how to deal with it and it doesn’t interfere with my life anyway. I am now a regular swimmer and will soon be re-joining the gym which I had to give up 5 years ago. I go for long walks + do a bit of running (all with good footwear!) and can do my own gardening now and everything I ever did before as long as I’m careful not to fall or overdo it.”
Deirdre’s story proves that taking charge of your bone health naturally is possible. Ready to start your journey?
Get started by joining our Save Our Bones Newsletter for FREE to rebuild your bones naturally without drugs and live without fear.
