Just had my 7 year anniversary of my PMR diagnosis. The last couple years have gone well with a couple minor flares but I've been at 1 mg and in a holding pattern for a few months until seen by Rheumy #5 in another week, another one I've never talked to before. I did have a DEXA scan in the first year after the PMR diagnosis, so that should have given a good base line. My second scan was just over 3 years ago and showed minimal change. Just got the results of todays scan:
Lumbar spine t-score .02 (previous scan was .04)
Left Hip T-score -2.0, a 3.5% decrease supposedly (previous scan showed -1.7)
Right Hip T-score -1.6 (previous scan showed -1.8)
Now my GP wants me to see a Bone Health specialist for my osteopenia. I'm not sure that I see the justification for that, with so little change. And here in the USA I'm always leery of being sent to specialists when I'm not certain it's necessary. My bank account balance suddenly becomes much less.
Evidently the -2.0 for the left hip is what interests them the most. I'm tempted to say no thanks and keep sucking down the calcium and vitamin D but would appreciate thoughts/comments from those understanding this part of PMR better than I.
This forum has educated me well on PMR overall but I'll admit to ignoring everything involving bones and the DEXA scan over these 7 years. Thanks for your responses!
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Raven1955
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Yes readings have changed a little - but even with -2.0 for R.Hip you have osteopenia- but that doesn’t automatically mean it will go to give you a diagnosis of osteoporosis-
Understanding Bone Density Test Results
1. A T-score of -1.0 or above is normal bone density. Examples are 0.9, 0 and -0.9.
2. A T-score between -1.0 and -2.5 means you have low bone density or osteopenia. ...
3. A T-score of -2.5 or below is a diagnosis of osteoporosis. ...
4. The lower a person's T-score, the lower the bone density.
If your Z score is below -2, your bone density is lower than it should be for someone of your age.
Although BMD results provide a good indication of bone strength, the results of a bone density scan will not necessarily predict whether you'll get a fracture.
For example, someone with low bone density may never break a bone, whereas someone with average bone density may have several fractures.
This is because other factors, such as age, sex or whether you have previously had a fall, also determine if you're likely to sustain a fracture.
Another thing to keep in mind is that Dexa scans are not low in technician error. Also it only measures density, not quality/hardness. IThere is another test called REMS that measures hardness. It is newer than the Dexa, so Dexa is still the “gold standard” but that may change in time. I’m going to post a link to a YouTube video from a doctor who was an orthopedic surgeon, but is now an integrative/functional medicine doctor helping people understand osteoporosis and the big-pharma-fueled misconceptions. There’s also a lot of good information here on Health Unlocked in a group on Bone Health.
he’s got a bunch of really informative videos up. He backs everything up with citing scientific studies. An important thing that has come out recently is that you need to take vitamin K2 with your vitamin D to help calcium be absorbed by the bones and not by the blood vessels. And calcium is best taken through diet and not pills.
he has another video about how estrogen is one of the most helpful supplements for women’s bone health. But it was dismissed by a faulty study, linking it to breast cancer some years ago. He kind of goes through in a video telling what was wrong with that study? And why most – not all – women will be fine supplementing with estrogen to help their bones.
again. The bone health group on Health Unlocked is an excellent source of up-to-date information.
Thank you for this. Looks very helpful on all aspects of bone strength from bisphosphonates to exercises and even HRT. Thank you. Off for my Dexa tomorrow - after 2.5 years! Fingers crossed!
all a BONE specialist will do is take your money and offer you Fosomax or some such medication that YOU DO NOT NEED for osteopenia. Your numbers are great I think. Carry on with what you are doing and ignore the rest!!!(there is a great book called Your Bones by Liza Pizzoli on amazon. or in the library!
My numbers are pretty bad... wrist minus 3.2 and the rest minus2.8 so solidly osteoporosis but I have NOT broken a bone. they say I have a 12percent chance of fracture in the next 10 years which is an 82 percent chance of NOT breaking a bone. Good odds I say!!!
The test results of mine mentioned an 11% chance in 10 years. I had the same thought as you - I thought that it was rather positive! I'm going to disappoint my GP once more and pass on seeing the Bone Health specialist. Thank you everyone for the information, thoughts and opinions!
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Really bad DEXA scan result
DEXA scan results and thanks to this forum. 
Dexa scan
Update: DEXA scan today
DEXA Scan
