Does Mayo have an echolight machine?

Posted by pjebp @pjebp, Dec 27, 2023

Has anyone had an Echolight scan that had more accurate results than a Dexascan? Are there any doctors at Mayo who are more interested in finding the cause of your bone loss/treating with food and exercise rather than pushing the drugs?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

i agree all the drs do is push the drugs and while the drugs may help they are also very powerful and can cause many many more problems

REPLY

I’m seriously thinking about making an appointment at the echolight center in north Jersey. I’m too wondering if the results are more accurate. Yes I have thin bones-always did. But are they weak and full of holes? I’ve read thin bones aren’t necessarily osteoporotic. I’d like to not have to worry that sneezing or bending wrong might cause a compression fracture.

REPLY

I had a REMS scan with an Echolight machine in New Jersey. I'm not sure if it's more accurate but it does give an overall assessment that seems about the same as a dexa. Insurance doesn't cover the cost. I plan to use the test as my guide to whether my bones are getting worse or better. I plan to take it again in 3 months and then in 6 months.

REPLY
@rik123

I had a REMS scan with an Echolight machine in New Jersey. I'm not sure if it's more accurate but it does give an overall assessment that seems about the same as a dexa. Insurance doesn't cover the cost. I plan to use the test as my guide to whether my bones are getting worse or better. I plan to take it again in 3 months and then in 6 months.

Jump to this post

Would it be easier and cheaper (covered by insurance) to do periodic blood draws to check bone marker activity, e.g., CTX and P1NP? Or is REMS somehow better? I am doing a REMS in February but never thought of repeating it after a few months. Did the doctor recommend that? Not being critical, just trying to determine if there is a better plan than the one I have.

REPLY

I'm doing a series of tests because my last dexa after taking Prolia for 1 year showed a decrease of 12% in my spine where I had 4 fractures. All other areas increased. I'm hoping there was some mistake so now I have a baseline on a new technology and want to compare apples to apples. I think there may be less error with the Rems test as opposed to dexa. I also plan to take the blood tests for ctx and prep but never have in the past.
My doctor did not make these recommendations. He suggested taking Tymlos in addition to the Prolia at the same time. That scares the devil out of me since Prolia is dangerous enough. I think that most doctors are not sure of anything when it comes to osteoporosis and the drugs have limitations. I'm 70. Prolia for life is fine if you're 80 but I started at 69 and not looking forward to what will happen after 10 years.

REPLY

Hello @pjebp, the research on Radiofrequency Echographic Multi Spectrometry scans is promising: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10217295/. The study concluded: "To sum up, REMS technology has proven its worth in osteoporosis diagnosis and in predicting fracture risk in large populations. Future works and ongoing research will help us understand the role of REMS in diagnosis and follow-up in osteoporosis patients with respect to DXA and will also help us understand target populations in which REMS could represent a better alternative to DXA in assessing bone quality and fracture risk."

It is a newer technology that is still being researched, which may be why some medical centers still don't have the machines. Providers often prescribe what they think is best for the patient, but if you have concerns, it is best to ask questions and have an open dialogue about those concerns. @pjebp, if you are comfortable sharing, have you been diagnosed and prescribed a medication but are hoping to seek alternative treatment routes?

REPLY
@baguette

Would it be easier and cheaper (covered by insurance) to do periodic blood draws to check bone marker activity, e.g., CTX and P1NP? Or is REMS somehow better? I am doing a REMS in February but never thought of repeating it after a few months. Did the doctor recommend that? Not being critical, just trying to determine if there is a better plan than the one I have.

Jump to this post

Where can I find a REMS scan?

REPLY
@paddle

Where can I find a REMS scan?

Jump to this post

When I googled this came up:
Echolight therefore evolves and grows continuously, positioning where “things happen”. Contact us here for activities in North America: 509 Madison Ave RM 1510 New York, New York 10022, USA +1-833-263-7367 +1 425 658 060
http://www.echolightmedical.com › en › new-york

New Headquarters in New York - Echolight

REPLY
@rik123

I had a REMS scan with an Echolight machine in New Jersey. I'm not sure if it's more accurate but it does give an overall assessment that seems about the same as a dexa. Insurance doesn't cover the cost. I plan to use the test as my guide to whether my bones are getting worse or better. I plan to take it again in 3 months and then in 6 months.

Jump to this post

Where in NJ? Dr. name, address and phone please.
Thanks so much!

REPLY

https://xbodyus.com/?utm_source=gmb_aut
This is the link. It was a technician who performed the test and a nurse practioner who read and explained the report.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.