The Hideous Re

 turn of Fossy Jaw... back to the future!

A case of osteonecrosis of the jaw in a woman on bisphosphonate therapy. From the Journal of Clinical Oncology
(Cesare Migliatori, J Clin Onc, 2003; 21:4253-4254).

 In the 19th Century match factory workers were found to develop "Phossy Jaw" or "Fossy Jaw", the death of bone tissue in the jaw
 that led to hideous deformation, a draining of disgusting and smelly pus, and an inability to eat or talk, that led to death
 unless the jaw was surgically removed (a remedy that didn't always work). This disease was so terrible that many people killed themselves.
 Fossy Jaw was related to the phosphorus from the matches that found its way into the bony structure of the jaw, inhibiting
 bone turnover, and causing death of the bone cells (medical term: osteonecrosis of the jaw). Unfortunately, Fossy Jaw is back,
 but this time the "Fossy" comes from "Fosamax" (alendronate), a bisphosphonate drug (like risedronate (Actonel) and others),
 that is used for the treatment of osteoporosis. These drugs (like phosphorus) get into the bones and decrease bone turnover.
 While that can in the short term increase your bone mineral density (BMD) measurement and make your doctor happy,
 in the long run they (like phosphorus) can make your bones more brittle. And the short term benefits are not that great.
 Studies have not consistently shown that they have the ability to prevent hip fracture, the only type of osteoporotic fracture
 that leads to lasting disability in the elderly. So my recommendation is DO NOT TAKE. Ditto for calcium and Vitamin D.