I am waiting for a DEXA scan appointment. Meanwhile I'm looking at my last results from 2019 and I'm not sure if they're good or bad or borderline. Can anyone clarify for me please?I've been on pred nearly 7 years and have declined bisphosphonates in the past so I'm a bit nervous about what my next scan will show.
2019 results:
lumbar spine-0.9
Left neck femur -0.8
Left total hip -0.7
Your last one looks good.
The difference between your measurement and that of a young healthy adult is known as a T score,
The difference between your measurement and that of someone of the same age is known as a Z score.
The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies T scores as follows:
• above -1 SD is normal
• between -1 and -2.5 SD is defined as mildly reduced bone mineral density (BMD) compared with peak bone mass (PBM)
• at or below -2.5 SD is defined as osteoporosis
Thank you so much. Keeping my fingers crossed that the next one will be okay 🤞
Thanks DL, Im due really for a Dexa scan. I just cant face it!! My last one was ok, osteopania, but i think one of the markers lumbar region cud be pushed into osteoporosis!!! Need to get the courage up. I do worry constantly about the bones cos i just cant bear having to go on meds for it!!!
Saying osteopenia is meaningless - it ranges from almost normal to almost osteoporosis and it is a very wide band!
Just checked -2.1 the lowest score. Lumbar. So probably have not a lot of wiggle room if im reading that right?
not a lot of wriggle room, but osteopenia doesn’t always develop into osteoporosis. It’s not inevitable.
Fingers crossed!! Tks.
And spines are often lower than the other readings - what were they?
Hopefully nothing for you to worry about. Good luck.
They are all normal
That looks pretty impressive. I would not be worried.
Thank you everyone! I can relax a bit now. Much appreciated x
I would say you have excellent bones and am envious. Are you having your second scan at the same place, that is important for comparison. You certainly don't need any medication for bones with those scores.
I had my first and second at the same place and my consultant has requested my third at the same place too.
Maybe my bones were/are strong because I used to do a lot of running (20 to 50 miles a way depending on what races were coming up). Not run since 2016 though.
I’ve been on Pred for about 5-years. During the first year after I was diagnosed with PMR I was still suffering with back pain, but I’d hurt my back in the gym the previous year, which stopped me going immediately. I paid privately to have an MRI scan and I had suffered a spine thoracic compression fracture and the damage was irreversible. This prompted a Dexa scan being organised by my Rheumy. The scan showed a T-score of -3.8 for my spine and -3.4 for my pelvis and hips There was concern, so I agreed to take MTX to help reduce my Pred. It helped and I’ve been on less than 5mg daily for a couple of years. I was taken off Alendronic Acid after the first Dexa scan and given annual in fusions of Zoledronic Acid. My T-scores in September last year had improved to -2.3 pelvis and -2.6 spine. I try to be sensible when it comes to lifting heavy weights, but I still race cars, ride a motorbike and fly an aeroplane. 😊 I hoped this reassures you.
Wow! Thanks, that is reassuring 
I have found that supplements have really helped me build my bones back up. Not just calcium and Vit D.
I've taken Adcal, additional Vit D (on doctor's advice following a low Vit D reading once) and Vit K2 (following advice on this forum and with Consultant's approval).
I would kill your your scores!!! keep exercising. keep eating right. keep on enjoying life! Lift light weights if you can. do heel drops. !! They are not bad scores AT ALL!
Those scores are excellent!
powerwalk My result was -2 but I instituted a fairly strict (but not difficult or unpleasant) natural regimen and a year later my score was -1.6. For over half the intervening year my pred dose was still over or at 5 mg. This was 2015-16. Haven't had a scan since, was due one but ..... covid, and it hardly seems worth braving the medical care system at the moment to have another.
Yes Heron ive read with intense interest your bone posts which i found very interesting and encouraging. I do my very best, take the right supplements, i do walk, though i am limited with the fibro and ME for weights, etc. Hope for the best, as they say. Thank you.
I don't really do weights. I have an exercise to strengthen thigh muscles (for my wonky knees) and I do carry a backpack which sometimes has heavy weight in it when I'm walking home from shopping, but I've really let the weighted vest thing slide. Weight lifting is not in my schedule! I walk a fair amount, and I do a number of physio exrcises for targeted areas of concern, but nothing specifically for bone building. I let being active generally, and taking my Vitamin K2 supplement, do the work for me!
Dexa Scan Results/Quandry
Dexa scan
Update: DEXA scan today
DEXA Scan Results
Dexa scan 
