Hello, I've had lingering bone, joint and muscle pain starting 24 hours after my first reclast injection. My doc said it wasn't related but I don't believe it, and the Aclasta (reclast) hotline said it could happen (esp if you have fibromyalgia, which i do), though it was unusual. Has anyone else here had that? If so, how long did it last and how did you cope? I am now on daily Percocet and wondering how long I have to endure this. My injection was about 2 months ago. Thx! SMac
Lingering bone and joint pain after reclast?
Question posted by smack99 on 19 Aug 2010
Last updated on 9 August 2024 by Ileneliberman
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22 Answers
It has been 12 yrs that I have dealt with the after effects of Reclast. It is not as painful as it once was but I basically learned to live with it. A few yrs ago my Gyn insisted that I get on medication again because my Dexa Scan showed a worsening of my osteoporosis. After much fighting with the doctor I went on Prolia. After a year & a half weird stuff starting happening again, & I knew it was from the Prolia. My endocrinologist didn’t believe it was from the medicine but I kept a journal when I had problems from the Reclast, & similar things were happening. Then I found out you can’t go off Prolia cold turkey because it can cause spinal fractures. So I went on a weekly dose of Actonel since it’s the lowest dose. Three days after I’d take it the pain in my joints would kick in & I was miserable. This went on for 1 month, & then the issues with pain stopped. I guess my body acclimated. I’m still taking it.
My numbers in my spine improved after the Prolia by 1 point so it did help me. I won’t know until next yr when I repeat the Dexa if the Actonel is working. I really was using the Actonel to wean myself off all the bone meds since they all made me hurt so much. But as I said when my body adjusted to the meds I stayed on them. I personally think it’s the low dose that I can handle.
Ilene
This has been the 3rd time I received the Reclast infusion. The first and second infusion I only had short time pain and tingling in my arm for about a week. The 3rd Reclast infusion has been a nightmare for me. I received it in November of 2023. After a few days I had pains in all my joints, wrists, neck knees, ankles. All my muscles are painful and week. This has all been going on for 9 months. I don’t have fibramialga. I asked my primary dr how long am I going to live with this pain? I know it was from the infusion because I was feeling great in my body before getting the Reclast and this started almost immediately after.
Oh my gosh! I’m so glad you made the post and to read all the answers. I had a reclast infusion for the first time nine days ago. I did pretty well, aches in my back that got worse. Yesterday the pain was all over my body, every single joint. It is still continuing. I don’t really know what to do. Getting that idea that it could last for years! I can barely walk, it hurts bad!
I have fibromyalgia and had Aclasta (reclast) infusion in September. Had terrible pain in areas that I had experienced injuries in years past, right ankle, right knee and right lower back. My walking pace was limited but I could still walk my two miles a day. Only now do I feel more or less free of pain.
I have been on Prolia for about 4 years a shot every six months, with no side effects, then was advised to get Reclast because it is a once-a-year infusion, I was never told of the side effects just to drink lots of water and take Tylenol. Within six hours I was shaking so hard my husband had to hold me to try to stop the shaking, 102 fever, then severe joint pain in both wrists. Complained to the doctor and was told to come in, he wanted to put me on prednisone, and I asked for cortisone shots to relieve the pain it was so bad, and he gave me the shots with an attitude. My wrists were still in agony and asked him how I am going to drive home his response "the same way you got here!" It has been about two months since the infusion, I now have to go to a rheumatologist because I have arthritis in both hands and my right knee. NEVER AGAIN.
Something similar happened to me. I had my first (and last) reclast infusion about 4pm. That night I woke my husband because I sat upright then my body contorted in a fetal position. My body was ridged and I was shaking.
That, it turned out, was the easy part. In a nutshell I experienced intense pain and aching, couldn’t sleep, could not walk, could not keep food down.
Over that week my vision got blurry, my skin got mystery lumps (only finally identified this year), and my short term memory was spotty at best.
This was 10 years ago. I gained 70 lbs in 2 months, developed psoriatic arthritis (despite no family history of psoriasis, PA or even RA, at work I could not remember emails I sent . . . )
It ended my career, and almost ended my life at the start—it will shorten my life expectancy. It triggered several autoimmune disorders—we all have some potential things like that and often as not they remain dormant—he said it was as if everything I could develop, I did develop. I’m now officially disabled. I’m pursuing all options to get some semblance of my life back.
I found out shortly after it happened that reclast/boniva is basically what is used to remove barnacles from ships. Also, it does not protect your bones. Because the cells aren’t allowed to slough off or whatever, you have a crust of dead, brittle bones. You Dexa scan will show denser bones because you have the dead bone crust, but it doesn’t truly doesn’t strengthen bones or stop osteoporosis.
I had Reclast 3 weeks ago. I have aches in fingers, low grade fever and feel tired.
I too have had a reaction to Reclast. Shaking chills and soreness the first night. The shaking chills went away but I am left with joint soreness and even swelling in my fingers a week later. Every joint I suspected arthritis in has now become exacerbated with pain. I can't believe it is unrelated. The usual activities I did have not become difficult as I have joint pain. I will never again have a Reclast infusion and am upset that I was so cavalier in thinking of the possible side effects I could be left with. I can only hope and pray they subside as my body adjusts to the medication.
I got my Reclast infusion one week ago. The first night I had flu like symptoms with severe chills. The flu like symptoms continued the next day. A week later, I have severe pain in my shoulder, neck and knee. Even my finger joints hurt.
I had an infusion of Reclast 11 yrs ago. It was the worst decision I've ever made in my life! I experienced flu like symptoms that lasted for several weeks. Muscle & joint pain that was unbearable & migratory. I was in constant contact with my endocrinologist. I was extremely healthy & was on zero medications. My doctor had me go to a rheumatologist & a neurologist & I passed all the tests with flying colors. There was never any doubt all my symptoms were from the Reclast since nothing else changed to have caused this. Briefly I tried steroids but as the dose decreased all the symptoms returned.
To this day I have residual discomfort & burning in my legs. Change of season, weather, barometric pressure all cause flare ups in my body. I feel as if it created a rheumatoid reaction in my body. Not sure how else to describe it.
I have continued taking calcium, vitamin D, vitamin Super K, & exercise 5 times a week with heavy weights. Now my recent Dexa Scan has my doctor alarmed & wants me to follow up with an endocrinologist & meds again. I truly am at a loss as to what to do. I didn't mention that severe gastrointestinal issues from the oral meds was the reason I tried the Reclast. It seems that my body is telling me I can't handle any of these meds & I am terrified to try any of them again. What should I do? I am open to any suggestions.
My doctor warned me prior to my infusion about the pain and flu like symptoms. Stressed the need for me to be hydrated before and after infusion. Also suggested that I schedule my infusion when I could take time off of work to deal with side effects. The day after my infusion I woke up feeling like I had the flu. Had the chills and muscle aches. Forced my to drink fluids and spent most of day in bed.. Awoke next day with pains in my ribs and spine. Horrible pains never experienced anything so horrific. Extra strength Tylenol and Advil helped. Pains disappeared after three days. It took about 3 weeks for all injection symptoms to disappear.
I had this injection 2 months ago and have had joint pain in my wrist along with swelling ever since. It seems to be getting worse. Recently my knee has begun to hurt as well. I have not in the past had any joint pain or arthritis, am fit and am not over weight. The wrist pain began 1 day after the injection and has not subsided. I believe it directly related to the recast infusion. I won't be repeating this next year.
Had my first reclast infusion yesterday 12/28/18, I'm in so much pain in my joints I don't know what to do, I have pain medication and it's not helping at all. Anyone have any suggestions?
I have had two treatments of Reclast and had, both times, the severe pain and 103 temperature afterwards.
However, it is the lingering episodes of the same pain in joints (all joints especially hands, wrists, feet, ankles, elbows, hips and shoulders) that have continued since the last infusion over a year ago. I have had tests to determine the cause of the pain (rheumatoid arthritis, immunological issues, arthritis) and all negative, no cause found. I do not have Fribromyalgia.
The pain is extreeme making movement very difficult. Pain medication is not helpful. It seems to relapse after unusual exertion outside normal activities or barometric changes. The pain is specifically in my joints, not in the muscles. I can barely walk as it feels like everything is sprained or on fire.
I’ve not been able to get any answers from my Endocrinologists regarding long-term lasting side-effects. Because the pain is exactly like the pain I’ve experienced immediately after the infusion, and there seems to be no other discoverable cause, I have refused further treatments.
I am hoping this goes away in time.
It would be helpful to know if there are doctors aware that this is an issue for others. Will this go away? Am I permanently in pain as a result of the two infusions?
I had my infusion two months ago. Luckily only my wrist continues to be effected. I had two days of extreme joint pain that subsided after the 2nd day, except for my left wrist. That has continued to ache and is swollen which feels like a sever sprain. Previous to this infusion, I did not experience joint pain. I am fit and healthy. I know this is from the drug. Only hope the pain subsides. I won't be repeating the treatment.
I commented to another person's question but I relate to so much of what you experienced. Your description of how it feels is very much the way I'd describe it. It's been 11 years for me so I don't believe it's ever going away. Thankfully, the pain is not all the time the way it was in the beginning so I have learned to live with it. When it is really painful I wear compression socks & it does help.
I have the same pain. I wish that I had read all of the contraindications before I allowed them to poison me. I now have increased risk of developing Lukemia.
How long has your joint pain lasted?
I also had my 3rd reclast infusion for osteoporosis in my wrists about 5 months ago. I had no problems with the first two treatments but my bones hurt now all over my body. My hip bones began to hurt within a day or two of the treatment and has not stopped. Now my hip bones hurt so much it is painful to sit or stand or walk. My fingers, my shoulders and my ribs and legs all hurt. I too would like to know when and if it will wear off.
Related topics
aclasta, reclast, osteoarthritis, pain, muscle pain, injection
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