Had my first bone density scan this week one year after PMR diagnosis so we have some benchmark data. I think prompted by fracturing my big toe recently.
For anyone who has not yet had a dexa scan it’s straightforward and takes about 15 minutes. It involves lying on a bed whilst the machine scans hips and then back bone which apparently give best results. It uses very low level radiation and just takes measurements with no visuals. I have to wait up to 6 weeks to get the results.
Very impressed with our local NHS hospital in Tunbridge Wells and the level of care from staff.
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Mikeysaab
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Thanks Sheffield Jane. You just put your finger on my next challenge. For the first six months I did really well with exercise and diet and lost a stone. Then I had a flare up and other illness and broke the big toe so the exercise went to pot and I’ve put on half a stone. Now I need to resume exercise and diet- where are the motivation pills I need one 😀
It always amazes me how long it takes hospitals in England to get results of tests/xrays, etc to the patients.
Here in my part of Germany I have the dexa scan, wait in the waiting room for 1/2 an hour, the rheumatologist then discusses the results with you and gives you a copy for your doctor.
It is getting better though. My hospital now has an online portal through which we get results after logging in. Still takes a day or two though. I think it is the lack of people to report on the results.
My report was written the same day - and emailed to GP.
Unfortunately because it was sent in a letter format rather than that as a test result or diagnostic report it was filed under Correspondence instead of Test Results. That meant I couldn’t read it online.
After a few phone calls the surgery finally managed to find it - but when I did eventually see the GP to discuss it , it was still filed incorrectly - so I had to tell her where to find it!
Hi ShirleyAb- yes it’s all very straightforward. I made the mistake of not asking the radiographer for a verbal comment on the results straight after so have to wait now. Hope it goes well.
I had my first about 1.5 months ago. It’s interesting, they take the worse number from the sites scanned and base diagnostics on that one number (USA) and not the average of the 3. I think mine was like -1.4 at my left hip (don’t quote me on that number, it whatever correlates with 8% change of suffering a fracture in the next 10 years🤣) Anyway, at least it wasn’t < -2.0 which is when they start talking about giving meds that can have some nasty side affects.
The not-so-funny part of this is there will be variability in results obtained with the same scanner the same day, variability between same scanner on different days, and results obtained from other scanners of same or different makes even if calibrated frequently. Since I have no idea what those pooled variances are I don’t know how much weight (e.g., -1.4 +/- 0.#### @ 95% conf) to put on this 1 result.
Many don’t realize this , and maybe the error is extremely small. I doubt even if the site even knows. Before retirement I ran an Environmental / Process Chemistry lab that had a large range of equipment from XFR, XRD (x-ray) and OES (optical emission), plus a much larger diverse instrumentation. I maintained a database of capability (limits of detection, P&A, etc) which was reassessed annually by Sr. Chem. or me not counting the daily check standards we ran. Don’t how well (or if) it is done in the medical profession.
I’d feel more comfortable if they reported each result with the quality data, but...
Of course they use the worst number - that is the one most likely to get damaged in a fall. Especially if it is the neck of the femur - that's the one that is very likely to lead to life-threatening or life-changing injury.
True. I also read that few just have the bone fracture spontaneously due to osteoporosis, but due to falls. Meaning, more effort should be placed on providing exercises that focus on balance and keeping eyes on path so less likely to trip.
There is a wide range of measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of falls - starting with not wearing slippers but house shoes, removing trip hazards such as loose mats and keeping pets off the stairs! Then there are dietary and exercise approaches and, above all, adjustment of medications that may lead to poor balance and dizziness.
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