Yay good bones

[Angiejnz]

Because I had a bone marrow transplant in the 90's I have a density scan every 5 years and just had the latest done after being diagnosed with pmr. My back with compressed vertebrae and failed fusions has improved, with t score going from .7 to .8 and z score going from -0.1to 0.2, forearm score going from 1.1 to 1.4. My only deterioration was in the femur head which has gone from t score -1.1 to -1.5 and z score going from -2.2 to -2.5. I was told this is good news but can someone point me in the right direction to understand t and z scores, consequences and relativity please.

[Soraya_PMR]

nof.org/patients/diagnosis-...

This should cover it all.

Congrats on improving some of the scores. (Was this scan done on the same scanner as previously?)

[Angiejnz in reply to Soraya_PMR]

Thanks that was exactly what I was looking for, brilliant!

[karools16 in reply to Soraya_PMR]

Thanks for that link. Very informative.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

t-scores are the important figure - they compare your bone density to what it was likely to be at its best in your 20s. A figure of -1.0 and above is normal, between -1.0 and -2.5 is osteopenia, reduced bone density, and below -2.5 is osteoporosis.

So -1.1 was barely below normal and -1.5 is well in the good range. My scores are about the same and I'm perfectly happy with them. Your spinal scores are significantly better than mine!

The z-scores don't really mean much - they compare to a population of your age. They probably quote them because of the statistics programme they use!

[Angiejnz in reply to PMRpro]

I'm really lucky as the bone marrow transplant meant I was post menopausal at 25 so this is extra good news. I'm sure it's because I dyed my hair red as a warning to bad news not to come near me!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Angiejnz]

So did that mean you were put on HRT?

[Angiejnz in reply to PMRpro]

Nope nothing hence my surprise

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Angiejnz]

Blimey - but it does suggest that some of their theories about the causes of loss of bone density may not be entirely certain...

[yogabonnie]

Very nice!~