Osteoporosis

[Healthworrier]

I have been taking pred since January and currently on 8mg. I have now had a dexa scan. I had to pay for it gp wouldn't send me for one. I have received the results. Hip and spine were t score minus 1.4 and minus 1.9 respectively. Femoral neck t score was minus 2.7. To date I have never broken a bone and have no family history of broken bones. I am very anti medication and would prefer the natural route. Calcium magnesium citrate vitamin d3 and k2. I am exercising as well. Is this foolish? Any comments would be most welcome.

[HeronNS]

Well, I for one do not think you are foolish. I was encouraged to go the natural route by a friend who was diagnosed with osteoporosis (sorry, I don't know her numbers) and had used only natural means to improve her scores out of the OP range and when I last was in communication with her about this her t-score continued to improve. I also improved enough that a recommendation I take medication was dropped after my second scan.

[Healthworrier in reply to HeronNS]

Thank you. How long was it between your scans. I was told three years. I thought I could suggest I do the natural stuff and look again in six months perhaps.

[HeronNS in reply to Healthworrier]

It will depend where you live what you are allowed. I appear to have been quite lucky in that I was allowed a second scan after one year - although they did try to cancel it on me at the last minute. However I have had to wait between 3-5 years for the next. I'm actually eligible for another scan this fall but I may ask for one next year instead. As I had good results with the second one I feel more confident waiting. But I would certainly have pushed for an earlier date if my t-score had been worse to begin with, and had not improved as much as it needed to in the first year.

There's no point having them too frequently as bone turnover is so slow.

[piglette in reply to Healthworrier]

I can get one every three years in my area. However if you paid for the first scan you can get another one whenever you want if your GP will let you have one. In my area we fundraised to get our scanner and now it is fully booked for a huge area. There seems to be a shortage. At my last scan they thanked me for fundraising for the scanner which was nice.

[Blearyeyed in reply to piglette]

What a great and practical idea.

Did you get a free go if you helped raise the money😋😂😂

Actually , that would be worth it .

[piglette in reply to Blearyeyed]

Yes the taxpayer paid!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Healthworrier]

I doubt however you do it the change will be major in 6 months - also the way the machines work does not give absolute figures so really to compare you need to have scans done on the same machine. Otherwise all you really know is the approximate status.

There are many other risk factors in avoiding hip fractures. You could, at the same time, concentrate on them.

[SheffieldJane]

I admire your determination. I would also much prefer to avoid Alendronic Acid at all costs. You need help in interpreting your results.

[Hidden]

What Your T-score Means. According to the World Health Organization (WHO):

A T-score of -1.0 or above is normal bone density. Examples are 0.9, 0 and -0.9.

A T-score between -1.0 and -2.5 means you have low bone density or osteopenia. Examples are T-scores of -1.1, -1.6 and -2.4.

A T-score of -2.5 or below is a diagnosis of osteoporosis. Examples are T-scores of -2.6, -3.3 and -3.9.

Yours are generally in the osteopenia range for your hip and spine and JUST in the osteoporosis range for your femoral neck. I have similar scores for spine and hips so have osteopenia. It was recommended I drop calcium (but keeping it on). There is not much change for me since 2017 and they recommend a scan in 3 to 5 years. I am sure that you can use diet and supplements to keep it all in check - that's all.i will be taking.but make sure you check out the nation osteo website for handy hints and heronNs story of self management.

theros.org.uk/

[Healthworrier in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply. It was very encouraging.

[Blearyeyed in reply to Hidden]

Great useful info on how to read our figures.

Perhaps it could be put up in the side bar links as alot of people ask this sort of question on how to read Dexa Scan results so it would help to be able to know where to send people to.

Hugs , Bee x

[Hidden in reply to Blearyeyed]

Yes I will find a way. I have cut and pasted it so can do a what your t scores mean post.

[SnazzyD]

So, are you going to get a refund now that it has been shown that it was worth doing, especially if they base clinical decisions on it! Mine was osteopaenic for hip and femoral neck and on the WHO FRAX risk calculator I came out as just in the supplement range rather than needing meds which I flatly refused anyway. I get another scan between 1 & 5 years depending on which doc I speak to.

[Healthworrier in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks for your reply. I did the Frax calculator and it recommended meds. I think I will try it my way first. Seems to me for every tablet we take we need another to counter it's side effects. The nurse who did the scan was amazed that my gp had refused my request for scan as I fulfilled all of the criteria. It cost 160 quid. Ouch!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Healthworrier]

It is worth fighting - but you have to know the criteria better than the GPs do!