Has anyone had a rems bone scan or tbs bone scan?

I just had a Dexi scan today. My 1st was 2 years ago. I take notes of things, and I will ask about the 2 items you mentioned. Hopefully someone else like a moderator has info to post.

I'm getting an Echolight in a month and a DEXA in two months, so it will be interesting to compare. Insurance does not cover Echolight, but it's not very expensive (relatively speaking, of course.)

njx58- Please come back and post about the experience. My Dexa is to see if my low osteopenia has changed in 2 years. Compared to a bone scan which my tech today said is to check for cancer, this one takes 5 minutes. All clothes stay on. The bones scan had you get the infusion 3 hours before to light you up inside for the bone scan machine. My insurance has covered all of these, yet I know if it is not medically needed it is a denied.

I’ve had Dexa and REMS. Dexa showed osteoporosis in spine and osteopenia in hip. REMS showed both as osteoporosis. REMS scanned both hips Dexa only 1. Yes more info with REMS with a slight difference in score - Dexa -2.5 REMS -2.7 and REMS gives a fragility score . Will do another in a year for comparison

Here is a link for a YouTube video "NEW OSTEOPOROSIS TECHNOLOGY: Understanding Your REMS Report for Future Stronger Bones" hope I am not violating any rules by putting this in the comments. https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=v0tclg8LYAo&list=PLxPQBmErvbUcto7krhJsNXElm1RxUyU3W&index=32&t=490s
I'm no expert, but the most interesting part of REMs to me is that there is an "echo" from an ultrasound machine showing the center or "contents" of the bone vs with DEXA you are seeing how x-rays penetrate the bone based on density. And again, I may be getting this wrong, but it seems they look at "info" from your the echo / ultrasound and compare the with the "info" they have gotten from thousands of others who have had rems done. These thousands of others have been grouped into categories of those who have had fractures and those who haven't. And your bone strength and fracture risk are arrived at by comparing your ultra sound echoes with the ultra sound echoes of others and your are given results based on past fractures or non fractures of others. Excuse me for over or under simplifying things, but do watch the video.

I don't know where you live, but in Minneapolis, I recently got a DEXA scan through Park Nicollet in St. Louis Park, MN on a Horizon Hologic machine that had the TBS add-on. My TBS score was 1.243, which indicates my trabecular bone is partially degraded. My insurance covered this TBS score. Since this is my first TBS score, I have nothing to compare it to, so don't know if I am have improving or worsening traebecular bone. Apparently the TBS score is a software add-on for DEXA machines. You may be able to request a TBS score from your doc or radiologist. Sadly, none of my docs knows what a REMS score might be, or where to get one.

Not all DEXA machines have the option of TBS software. In my area it was plain DEXA. My score of severe osteoporosis (-3.8 and -3.6 for two vertebrae) seemed off because of the big variance between low and high scores. Plus I fell several times after the scan and nothing broke despite my doctor telling me I was very fragile. I got a REMS and scored as osteopenia. The doctor looked at my DEXA scan and said it was done wrong. Whether the tech positioned me wrong, or my vertebrae distorted the x-ray, or the machine wasn't calibrated correctly, I don't know. As of 2024, Medicare didn't cover the REMS procedure. Mine cost $150. Medicare did cover the doctor's cost, both the initial visit and a follow-up consult. If there is a DEXA machine near you with TBS, you have to ask for TBS beforehand, they don't automatically provide it. The doctor who oversaw my REMS said he was comfortable with me getting a DEXA scan again but only with TBS. It's easier for me to do the REMS so that is what I will continue to do. Here is a link to a REMS locator. I don't know if all providers are doctors. I felt comfortable using the relatively new technology because it was offered by an orthopedist who is becoming somewhat of an expert on the equipment in the US: https://www.echolightmedical.com/en/find-your-rems-center-in-usa/

https://osteostrongmn.com/locations/
You can get an Echolight REMS scan in Minnesota at more than one location.

It’s inexcusable that your scan was screwed up. Listen to Keith Mc Cormick about scans
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/critically-speaking/id1463016517

Are you saying I can go to Osteostrong and get a REMS scan? Must I be a client? Off to check on this. Thanks.