1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

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. 🙂

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

andreamayo | @andreamayo | May 19 9:37pm
In reply to @tetris "OsteoBoston recently had an informative presentation by Kim Zambito, MD, on REMS and other scan technologies...." + (show)
@tetris

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.

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Thank you!

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andreamayo | @andreamayo | May 20 10:11am
In reply to @glojo "How did the femurs compare? I cannot find anyone who can explain how the density can..." + (show)
@glojo

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.

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Did you see this post? Thanks to Tetris for this. Worth watching...

"tetris | @tetris | 13 hours ago
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.

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1 reply
glojo (Gloria) | @glojo | May 20 12:21pm
In reply to @andreamayo "Did you see this post? Thanks to Tetris for this. Worth watching... "tetris | @tetris |..." + (show)
@andreamayo

Did you see this post? Thanks to Tetris for this. Worth watching...

"tetris | @tetris | 13 hours ago
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.

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Yes, it’s very good. That was how I learned that my 40% risk of fracture was actually only 4% since that number was based on 1000 and not 100!

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andreamayo | @andreamayo | May 22 9:19am

Same! Thank goodness, although I am reeling after the difference in my REMS to Dexa.
Dexa had my lumbar spine in severe osteoporosis, REMS in osteopenia.

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1 reply
glojo (Gloria) | @glojo | May 22 12:50pm
In reply to @andreamayo "Same! Thank goodness, although I am reeling after the difference in my REMS to Dexa. Dexa..." + (show)
@andreamayo

Same! Thank goodness, although I am reeling after the difference in my REMS to Dexa.
Dexa had my lumbar spine in severe osteoporosis, REMS in osteopenia.

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Reading about others with same results. Like you, my lumbar was osteopenia on REMS, osteoporosis on DEXA with quite a wide disparity in density. The opposite happened with the femur, from osteopenia to osteoporosis on REMS, although the femur densities were a little closer to those on the DEXA. On both tests, there is a significant discordance between lumbar and femur, and I’ve just about given up trying to find the reason. I’m happy with the REMS results, and it’s enough to make me hesitate longer before going on meds, but going to keep close watch!

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lizaag | @lizaag | 4 days ago
In reply to @mrwoolley "I went to Calgary for REMS. Then I found this in Vancouver. Buddy Osborne BoneHealth BC..." + (show)
@mrwoolley

I went to Calgary for REMS. Then I found this in Vancouver.
Buddy Osborne
BoneHealth BC
New Business Development
Education and Clinical Liaison
https://bonehealthscan.janeapp.com/
buddy@bonehealthscan.ca
778-389-5643

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Buddy was a great help to me. I had a terrible result on my DEXA - spine - 4.3 but I felt healthy and strong and there were no compression fractures when I had an X-ray done. I got an REMS scan and my severe osteoporosis went to osteopenia with a score of -2.1. That number fits in better as to how I feel and walk. I think the REMS scan is more accurate. Because of the difference with my DEXA score, Buddy gave me a followup REMS scan for free and it confirmed the earlier reading. It costs very little to get this followup and worth every penny.
I plan to get an REMS every year so that I can track my progress.

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1 reply
shexy | @shexy | 3 days ago
In reply to @lizaag "Buddy was a great help to me. I had a terrible result on my DEXA -..." + (show)
@lizaag

Buddy was a great help to me. I had a terrible result on my DEXA - spine - 4.3 but I felt healthy and strong and there were no compression fractures when I had an X-ray done. I got an REMS scan and my severe osteoporosis went to osteopenia with a score of -2.1. That number fits in better as to how I feel and walk. I think the REMS scan is more accurate. Because of the difference with my DEXA score, Buddy gave me a followup REMS scan for free and it confirmed the earlier reading. It costs very little to get this followup and worth every penny.
I plan to get an REMS every year so that I can track my progress.

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I had a REMS of my lumbar spine this past summer with a score of -2.8. My prior DEXA showed -4.0 of the same area. I have no compression fractures, feel fine, and have been working out regularly with strength training and Pilates for the past 10 years. I am 5 feet 2 inches and have small bones, which may have influenced DEXA score.

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