osteoporosis in hips but normal bone density in spine

[GlasgowHen]

I have just been told I have osteoporosis in my hips with a T score of -2.6. I am 49 and on long term steroids so assuming this is the cause. A number of years ago I was prescribed oral biphosphanates that I didn’t tolerate following an osteopenic result on dexa scan

I am not sure if anyone can answer this but my spine T scores were in the normal range. There has been deterioration but normal. I don’t really understand how I can have osteoporotic hips but normal bone density elsewhere and whether this warrants Intravenous zolendronate as the rheumatologist has recommended. Thanks for any advice

[Knitterbox]

I have the opposite with -2.7 score in my spine but hip score in the osteopenia range so not normal but not osteoporosis either. My dr said this is enough to warrant treatment as you are diagnosed with osteoporosis when any of the scores is below -2.5. I have just started once week Fosamax and so far so good. Upped my dietary calcium intake, taking supplements and increasing my walking. You are young so want to try and do everything you can to slow down bone loss. Don’t know if this is helpful but wishing you all the very best.

[usr2022]

I too have osteoporosis in femurs , but not in spine. Also forearms are OP (wrists in particular have very low numbers).

I am 41 and not (post-)menopausal and I don't know the cause of my OP.

I was told Z-scores are what matter for young adults that are not post-menopausal. And any Z score at -2 or below is osteoporosis.

Here is an online explanation of same thing doctors told me:

femhormones.co.uk/Interpret...

I had first scan 3 years ago.

My total femurs were at -2.7 and femur neck -2.3

Spine L1-L4 was -1.6 (lowest -1.9 in L4)

Had another scan last month, after two rounds of MBST therapy.

Total femurs are -2.4

Femur necks are -1.7

Spine L1-L4 is -1.4

There is another thread where i posted more about my progress and the therapy that helped:

healthunlocked.com/boneheal...

[t1gernidster in reply to usr2022]

Have you been tested for hyperparathyroidism? I fractured my wrist and was found to have a score similar to yours and a blood test showed that a had a faulty parathyroid gland.

[usr2022 in reply to t1gernidster]

Yes, I had many tests done. My PTH is normal.

[Rocknlily in reply to t1gernidster]

This is interesting. As I found out recently I was hyperthyroid. I wonder if that has an effect on osteoporosis? The numbers weren’t explained to me on bone density. Was just told I had osteoporosis.

[t1gernidster in reply to Rocknlily]

Hyperthyroidism and hyperparathyroidism are different things. The parathyroid glands, located behind the thyroid at the bottom of your neck, are about the size of a grain of rice. The parathyroid hormone produced by the thyroid glands helps maintain the right balance of calcium in the bloodstream and in tissues that depend on calcium for proper functioning. If a simple blood test shows excess calcium in the bloodstream it can be an indication of a faulty parathyroid gland and the calcium is not going to the bones as it should which can result in osteoporosis. Hope this helps. More info here -parathyroid.com/

[Rocknlily in reply to t1gernidster]

Thank you for the information! I had hyper parathyroid for years before Transplant. It’s in normal range now that I have a good functioning kidney.