REMS (Echolight) Scan - anyone?

Posted by andreamayo @andreamayo, May 12 7:38pm

I would love to hear from anyone that has had a REMS (Echolight) scan and how you feel the results compared to your DEXA?
I'm considering booking one in Toronto as I cannot find a clinic in Vancouver. I'm doubting my DEXA because my average spine is apparently -3.7 with my L4 vertebrae at -4.3. Hips are -2.8.
I'm 56 years old, I haven't fractured, pain free and I'm very active but these scores are scary and I'm considering changing my lifestyle because of them. Can I still jump off our sailboat when docking? Ski? Paddleboard? I've heard of people fracturing turning to look at something with scores like mine, or fracturing when sneezing. YIKES! I am so very afraid to fall.
To be truthful, I want the REMS to tell me my bones are strong and then I will worry less. I hope it's not a case of "be careful what you ask for".
I have met a friend in this discussion group that had a REMS recently and I'm most grateful that she shared her experience with me. I look forward to hearing more.
Thank you in advance from anyone that has had a REMS scan and hopefully the discussion will stay on topic. 🙂

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andreamayo | @andreamayo | May 18 7:41pm

In reply to @glojo "Do you mind sharing about the experience and results?" + (show)

The REM just gave me outstanding results compared to my first DEXA 6 months ago.
My spine went from SEVERE osteoporosis of -3.7 to osteopenia -1.1
I am cautiously optimistic, I have another DEXA booked in 3 weeks time for comparison.
The experience was OK, I went to the Friday Naturopathic clinic on Broadway where he had most likely rented a room to run a few scans that day. He seems to travel around as you will see on the booking app. Someone completed the scan then we talked briefly afterwards and I received a full report.

grammy9 | @grammy9 | May 18 7:48pm

In reply to @grammy9 "I had a dexa scan 2 years ago with a spine score of -3.1. I just..." + (show)

It seems like both scans are pretty much the same results.

glojo (Gloria) | @glojo | May 18 8:08pm

In reply to @andreamayo "The REM just gave me outstanding results compared to my first DEXA 6 months ago. My..." + (show)

How did the femurs compare? I cannot find anyone who can explain how the density can be so different between the two machines. I so want to believe my -1.8 REMS lumbar and not the -3.7 DEXA, but I don’t feel like we know enough yet. Mine was also done by someone traveling to four different sites in the Dallas area, also a naturopathic clinic. I was told my bones were just fine.I think there are some holes here somewhere.. Don’t want to burst anyone’s bubble, but we need more information.

baguette | @baguette | May 18 8:13pm

In reply to @nme1985 "What is a Rem?" + (show)

It is an ultrasound of the spine/hip.

andreamayo | @andreamayo | May 18 11:24pm

In reply to @glojo "How did the femurs compare? I cannot find anyone who can explain how the density can..." + (show)

My DEXA from 6 months ago for the right femur neck was -2.3. REMS (last week) was -1.8
I have another DEXA booked at Lionsgate hospital June 7th, looking forward to yet more information.
I had a Zoledronic Acid infusion in January and have been doing everything right ever since - diet, exercise, Vitamin D, getting enough calcium through diet and just started HRT.

debbie1956 | @debbie1956 | May 19 1:09am

In reply to @rgibson123 "Did you go to the place in Blackfoot? I contacted them to ask some questions but..." + (show)

I went to the Clinic in Blackfoot, Calgary -- Wosler Diagnostic. I found the service seamless - no referral required, got in right away and $150.00 full cost. My REMS results were similar to my DEXA 6 months ago -- total hip DEXA -2.0, total hip REMS -2.1, spine DEXA -3.5, REMS -3.0. The most valuable information for me was the fragility score and fracture risk which showed good bone quality still on the border of low fracture risk. The DEXA can't assess bone quality without the TBS.

rgibson123 | @rgibson123 | May 19 6:59am

In reply to @debbie1956 "I went to the Clinic in Blackfoot, Calgary -- Wosler Diagnostic. I found the service seamless..." + (show)

Yes, that’s the place I was thinking of. It’s encouraging to learn your bone quality is good!

mrwoolley | @mrwoolley | May 19 10:10am

In reply to @rgibson123 "Did you go to the place in Blackfoot? I contacted them to ask some questions but..." + (show)

yes, 8500 Blackfoot Trail, Wosler Diagnostics. $150 . ($185 Vancouver, but drive not flight...I found it too late, but next time!) You can also pay for Dexa at couple of clinics in Vancouver but the one I had my first scan with, would only take referral from doctor

debbie1956 | @debbie1956 | May 19 4:43pm

In reply to @mrwoolley "yes, 8500 Blackfoot Trail, Wosler Diagnostics. $150 . ($185 Vancouver, but drive not flight...I found it..." + (show)

Yes I learned of the Vancouver clinic too late also, but will try it next time. $35.00 extra is much cheaper than the Calgary flight, hotel and car rental costs but all well worth it. Were your Vancouver DEXA T score results similar to your REMS T scores?

tetris | @tetris | May 19 8:22pm

OsteoBoston recently had an informative presentation by Kim Zambito, MD, on REMS and other scan technologies. It's at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7vViRvAizA. If you want to skip over the DXA, TBS, and MRI stuff, start listening after 17:45. The presentation also covers how to read a REMS report, including the fragility score. One of Dr. Zambito's takeaways was that a person needs to compare DXA to DXA and REMS to REMS over time, and not to compare DXA to REMS.