Teriparatide and Joint Pain: What Users Say

• Hop...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 20, 2019

For Osteoporosis "Been on Forteo for 12 months. I was in acute pain with 6 or 7 compression fractures in my spine causing disc to herniate. Took several months before my clinic found out that I had a severe case of osteoporosis. In unbearable pain for 5 months and finally I was given Forteo. I felt a difference in one week. And felt wonderful after a month. Each month it felt that my spinal fractures improved with Forteo, but now I am getting some side effects not so easy to ignore. A lot of joint pain, hands, fingers, knees, neck, hips...everywhere. Headaches I can tolerate it all. I will stay on Forteo as long as I can afford and am prescribed, but am concerned about 'What's next?' I think I am going on Reclast and am very worried about that drug. Hopefully, I will glide onto that with ease. I am in my 70's."

• Jas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 7, 2019

For Osteoporosis "I took Forteo daily injections for one month and had to stop. As a result of Forteo, I now have severe debilitating bone pain, all-over muscle weakness, knees are buckling, severe joint pains in legs, knees, shins, ankles, and toes, as well as wrists and fingers. Cramping and swelling in my legs. My mobility is affected. I fell down as my knees were buckling and had to go to urgent care and ER. From a brisk walker, I am so debilitated due to Forteo that my mobility is slow and painful. How can the Forteo manufacturer release such a product into the market that has such serious side effects? Forteo Manufacturer must understand that human beings are not rats and they cannot conduct real-time Forteo study on human beings."

• Bri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 23, 2019

For Osteoporosis "I've been on Forteo for a little over 2 years and it has been a blessing. I'm 56 years old with T-scores of -3.0. I've fractured my hip and pelvis without any type of fall or accident. I fell last November and sprained both of my ankles. Without being on the Forteo, my orthopedic doc said that my ankles would have been broken. I'm starting to have joint pain now, but still, it's better than breaking bones. I have to come off of it this month and dread going on Reclast or Prolia due to the horror stories I've read."

• Tho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 6, 2022

For Osteoporosis "I began taking Forteo on August 25, 2022. After four doses, I began to experience painful side effects, including severe leg cramps while both awake and asleep, pain in my knees and ankles, headaches, and a stiff neck. I messaged my doctor, and she suggested injecting the Forteo every other day for a few days. So, I skipped August 30th and September 1st, but I did inject the Forteo on Wednesday, August 31st, and on Friday, September 2nd. Then, on the afternoon of Saturday, September 3rd, approximately 16 hours after my last injection, during a casual walk, I experienced a sudden pain in my right leg and knee so severe that I was unable to walk without a cane or walker. Since then, despite not having taken any additional Forteo, the extreme pain has persisted. I sincerely hope that it will start to abate soon. After taking only seven doses over the last thirteen days, and none for the last four days, I am still experiencing pain so severe that I have difficulty walking. No more for me."

• Tho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 6, 2022

For Osteoporosis "I began taking Forteo on August 25, 2022. After four doses, I began to experience painful side effects, including severe leg cramps while both awake and asleep, pain in my knees and ankles, headaches, and a stiff neck. I messaged my doctor, and she suggested injecting the Forteo every other day for a few days. So, I skipped August 30th and September 1st, but I did inject the Forteo on Wednesday, August 31st, and on Friday, September 2nd. Then, on the afternoon of Saturday, September 3rd, approximately 16 hours after my last injection, during a casual walk, I experienced a sudden pain in my right leg and knee so severe that I was unable to walk without a cane or walker. Since then, despite not having taken any additional Forteo, the extreme pain has persisted. I sincerely hope that it will start to abate soon. After taking only seven doses over the last thirteen days, and none for the last four days, I am still experiencing pain so severe that I have difficulty walking. No more for me."

• Dr ...
• September 2, 2018

For Osteoporosis "70-year-old male. Diagnosed with osteoarthritis with nonunion of clavicle. Prescribed 2 months of daily injections with weekly calcium blood draws. Multi-joint TAC/Lidocaine inject since my mid-20s. Sero-positive for AS but no real definitive symptoms aside from SI minor joint fusions as a teen. Have severe shoulder degenerative arthritis that will most likely lead to arthroscopic resurfacing/replacement. Side effects of increased joint pain and depression/loss of energy. Insomnia is also not helping. I’m sticking with it for at least 6 months to help my nonunion and perhaps keep my fused spine from further degradation. I’m a retired clinical pharmacist and am feeling I can tolerate the side effects while my nonunion heals."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 24, 2021

For Osteoporosis "I have been on Forteo for just 6 weeks short of 2 years. I’m off briefly waiting for my refill. I had several vertebrae break and my tailbone after a major surgery several years ago, and due to osteoporosis. I have joint pain, but I have it when I’m off of it also. I fell several times after another surgery a little over a year ago, but nothing broke. Then, 3 months ago, I fell again on the same knee on concrete. This time it broke. I’m recovering fine, and the doctor said there is no way to know if it’s my osteoporosis or not. Don’t know why I fell this time. Maybe dizzy because of Forteo, but can’t be sure. It’s not time yet for my bone density test... you know insurance? Can’t wait for the next bone density to see where I am."

• Sil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2017

For Osteoporosis "No pain with actual injection or at the injection site. Heart palpitations, severe leg cramps, bone and joint pain (not severe)."