Dexa scan

[Constance13]

I had a scan 2 years ago (hips -3.4). Dr wants me to have another one. What do others think? Is there any point as it seems excercise is the only thing that will help OP? They are not exactly “safe” are they?

[SheffieldJane]

The guidelines say that it is advisable for our gender and age group to have a DEXA scan every two years as a precaution against osteoporosis or worsening existing osteoporosis. The level of radiation is much less than an x Ray. In fact it is about the same as we would pick up normally ( in the atmosphere) in about 3 days. I had one on Wednesday this week. It occurred to me lying there, just how many hundreds of pounds out of pocket I would be, without the NHS.

[Constance13 in reply to SheffieldJane]

How many of us would even exist if there was no health systems intact, and most are at least doing their best to help people?

We may moan sometimes but there is not one of us who complains when things get better.

[yogabonnie in reply to SheffieldJane]

You aren’t kidding! the cost of health care in the US is INSANE and sadly some people cannot even get it or it doesn't cover extensive chemo etc. Yea for NHS

[MaryA_]

I use to do Dexa Scans and they are safe.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Not unsafe at all - it is a very low dose of radiation, comparable to 3 hours of natural background radiation!

radiologyinfo.org/en/info.c...

[piglette]

I was told that in my area of U.K. I could only have a Dexascan every three years. There seems to be a vast shortage of machines, just one in my county.

[Constance13 in reply to piglette]

They seem to be getting scarce here in Germany too. We have 2 hospitals in the local town, each have stopped doing dexa scans. Are the machines so dreadfully expensive, or can’t the hospitals make enough profit from the use of the machines I wonder?! Such a fag trying to find one.

[piglette in reply to Constance13]

I helped fundraise for ours, we probably would not have one otherwise. Apparently U.K. has fewer scanners than in the rest of Europe. Perhaps Germany will overtake them or is that undertake them?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Constance13]

We have one for the region - in Bozen in a private clinic which provides the service for the healthcare service.

[Constance13 in reply to PMRpro]

I’ve heard there are more in private clinics. The scan itself wouldn’t cost much, but I don’t know what the “add ons” would cost. Haven’t been able to find one yet.

[HeronNS]

Exercise is essential, but the bones need nutrients to maintain themselves so diet is also important.

[AndrewT]

Dear Constance,

A nice Short answer.....Yes you should get it done!

AndrewT

[Constance13 in reply to AndrewT]

👍🍾🍸

[GCA1947]

Hi Constance13

I'm a man only got G.C.A. but I also have life-time Klinefelters Syndrome which gave me osteoporosis many years ago I don't know when exactly as I was only diagnosed with K.S. in 1996 so I might have had it for 47-years before diagnosis. I do know that my spine curved when I was fourteen as two discs fused together. I do know that I had it when I was diagnosed in 1996 and had been fracturing bones for ten years before diagnosis and was recovering from a fracture at diagnosis. I have a Dexa Scan every two years to check up on my Osteoporosis bone condition. I last had a Dexa on 22/08/18 and had lost two centimetres in height since 2016 so for me it is essential that I keep checking. I'm on Testosterone Replacement Therapy for the Klinefelters because my natural; testosterone is practically non-existent. The T.R.T. held the Osteoporosis at bay for ten years from 2003 to 2013 when the G.C.A. started and a high dose of Prednisolone that I was on caused the Osteoporosis to reactivate.

So have the DexaScan,

Nuffield Health in Ipswich charge £110.00 if done privately, providing you are being seen by a Consultant at Foxhall Hospital. Phone number is 01473 279100 give them a ring to enquire.

Regards

Colin

[Constance13]

Wow, Colin you have certainly had a difficult life, haven’t you? And I have the gall to complain about PMR (which caused the OP) and Polyarthritis, and they only started when I was 72 (79 now)! Until then I was lucky enough to have a reasonably healthy, carefree life.

I WILL have the dexa scan now. I didn’t realise it was only a low dose of “rays”!

I live in Germany (have done for 47 years) so I must find someone privately to do the scan - neither of our local hospitals has a machine! (I don’t even think it is as expensive over here as it is in England).

ATB 🍀🍾🍸

Constance

[Hidden]

Feel for you MR_Elmes, and Constance 13 for every reason do have the scan - the results do give advice of where we are at ! - at least it shows where we are compared with our

Pred / calcium state- I am just waiting for my update Dexa