Review of REMS

[Bertiepuss]

Hi Everyone,

I thought I'd post a review of the REMS scan I had done with Nick Birch from Osteoscan (UK) in case anyone is thinking about having this done and is unsure. I have only positive feedback to give and was impressed with the service I received. I felt it was value for money. My Mum had a scan at the same time and it gave her the push she needed to start to make some changes to improve her bone health.

I had my first ever DEXA in April 2023 aged 44 as my Mum has osteoporosis and my Grandmother broke a hip because of osteoporosis (she died a few months later) so I wanted to see my starting point before going through menopause when you loose density rapidly. I was surprised and disappointed that my hips and spine were already in the osteopenic range and so were starting from a less than favourable place. I spent the next 3 months doing intensive research and decided to start HRT as I was having perimenopause symptoms and I was also encouraged to try it having learnt it can help slow down the rate at which bones loose strength/density around menopause. The ROS website has a couple of videos on HRT and bone health which I found helpful. My GP also saw it as a positive step at this point.

What was strange about my DEXA was a discrepancy between L1/L2 against L3/ L4. Mt T-scores were -1.2/1.3 at the top but -2.4/2.5 at the bottom. When he remeasured me with REMS all 4 vertebrae were much closer, ranging from -1.1 to -1.4. This was reassuring and although my T-scores were very slightly osteopenic my Z-scores were still in the normal range.

For me, what was more interesting was the bone quality score. Both my hips and spine were in the green range showing that the quality was good - very reassuring.

Nick is very personable, took a lot of time with me and my Mum (we decided to go in together which was actually really helpful) and explained everything thoroughly and in easily understandable terms. He also talked through what to do next - for me to carry on with my supplements, wholefoods diet, strength training and also HRT. My Mum being 30 years older, not having taken HRT around menopause or done any strength training has more work to do. But he was encouraging that despite her much lower bone density and quality that there was a lot that could be done to improve her situation with lifestyle measures as a first step. As I said, this gave her the push to make changes. He also sent information afterwards by email with suggested resources to look at.

I will continue getting REMS in the years to come despite it costing more as long as I can afford it as I personally feel I get more information from it than the DEXA. My Mum felt the same.

This is just my personal account and I know everyone's situation is different.

[pussycatwillow]

I couldn’t agree more. I am so pleased I found out about REMS and Nick from this site.

I had a DEXA scan a few months ago, I was not happy with the way it was carried out and the skill of the technician, Result came back as Osteoporosis.

My REMS scan results were different and I am osteopenic. I would not have another DEXA scan again as I believe they can be inaccurate

[Kellycornwall]

I also agree with you. I had a DEXA scan which turned out to be inaccurate - even my height and weight were recorded inaccurately! I have mild scoliosis which I informed the operator of but this wasn’t addressed by positioning and was reported incorrectly. I was also incorrectly prescribed Alendronic Acid! Thankfully, I have had a number of REMS scans with Nick and his careful and thorough operating of the REMS scanner coupled with his extensive knowledge and experience as an orthopaedic consultant has given me an accurate understanding of my bone health and advice on how to improve/maintain this.

I, like so many other people are so happy to have found Dr Nick Birch and Osteoscan.

[Bertiepuss in reply to Kellycornwall]

Yes, my Mum has mild scoliosis and her DEXA positioning was all wrong too. Good to hear you had a positive experience with Nick too 👍

[Bertiepuss in reply to Kellycornwall]

Yes, grateful to those on here that recommended Nick to me. I had already looked at the Osteoscan website but wasn't really sure whether to spend the money on it but after positive reviews by others I gave it a try and am glad I did. Hope the technology becomes more widely available in time.

[Verauk in reply to Bertiepuss]

Hello everyone,

How can I have Dr Nick contact ?

Thanks to all

[Bertiepuss in reply to Verauk]

Here we go - osteoscanuk.com/

[Verauk in reply to Bertiepuss]

Thank you!

[ROSModerator Partner]

Hi all,

Thank you for sharing, we really appreciate respectful discussions we see here in our online community. As discussions around REMS and DXA frequently come up in our community and sometimes note confusion around the topic, we put together some information in our Frequently Asked Questions pinned post that can be helpful to look through: healthunlocked.com/boneheal...

We hope that this may be useful for anyone coming across the thread 😊

We wish you all the very best,

ROS Moderator

[Bertiepuss in reply to ROSModerator]

Thank you, great pinned post with lots of information 😊

[MWZ3]

I decided to have the REMS too as was refusing the drugs for osteoporosis. The only area that agreed with the DEXA even remotely was the hips area. It was slightly into osteopenic range. The back is stuffed but not because of osteoporosis. It’s the strength component. I have scoliosis, disc degeneration, osteo arthritis and one other I’m trying to recall. My guy was also great at explaining and showing what and where. Some information I’d also gotten from an X-ray. The state of my back would not have been capable of a correct DEXA scan diagnosis yet that has never been addressed by any medical person.

[MWZ3 in reply to MWZ3]

Spondylosis is the other condition on my back. It’s the neck as well. I think it’s caused from the arthritis.

[Bertiepuss in reply to MWZ3]

Sorry to hear you have so many problems with your back 😥 It shows how important it is to have a technician who knows the actual capabilities of DEXA and in what situations it can't be used or relied on to give an accurate result.

[MWZ3 in reply to Bertiepuss]

Exactly and the fact that this has never been addressed by anyone at any level or even understood. If we’re old we have deterioration in every part of our bodies. It seems a basic concept.

[Granniebythesea]

thanks so much for posting this I’ve got a REMS scan booked with Nick in September

[Bertiepuss in reply to Granniebythesea]

You're welcome 😊