My Echolight experience

@njx58 Glad you started this discussion. I've just had my first Echolight scan also but I got the opposite of what is so commonly reported. My bone density / t-scores were much worse than my DXA scans.
Each vertebrae ranged from .8 to 1.2 t-score points less. So L1 went from -1.4 to a -2.6 t-score. And of course the actual density numbers were much worse also.
Paradoxically my fragility score for my spine was better than my TBS score from my DXA.
My femur neck was also worse but pretty close.

I find it very difficult to know what to think from this one Echolight test. More than one standard deviation off between the Echolight and DXA in my T-score is a lot of deviation.
With the DXAs I have 7 scans over 5-6 years. The scans were consistent overall. My scores didn't stay the same but each DXA showed further loss than the previous one up until I did Evenity and I had two after Evenity and they both were close. I had TBS 3-4 times and those were consistent to and I also had TBS improvement from the Evenity. If I was rich I'd go have another Echolight right away to see if the results of that were consistent.

The only reason for such a variance I can think of is that I have slight to moderate scoliosis. Could scoliosis make my DXA t-scores higher? Echolight claims scoliosis and arthritis do not effect the Echolight reading? But why would my L4 at the base of my spine before the scoliosis curve starts have the same variance as the other 3 vertebrae that are more in the scoliosis curve?

It's quite frustrating. I'll try to research beyond the marketing materials when I have more time. For now I'm going to base my decisions on my DXA scores which I have proven are consistent. I wish an objective third party would do a good comparison of these two approaches. I'm interested to see what else gets posted in this discussion.

Many doctors aren’t receptive to this. Mine isn’t. I went on my own and then shared results.

Where do you live? Maybe I can help you find a place.

@njx58 Glad you started this discussion. I've just had my first Echolight scan also but I got the opposite of what is so commonly reported. My bone density / t-scores were much worse than my DXA scans.
Each vertebrae ranged from .8 to 1.2 t-score points less. So L1 went from -1.4 to a -2.6 t-score. And of course the actual density numbers were much worse also.
Paradoxically my fragility score for my spine was better than my TBS score from my DXA.
My femur neck was also worse but pretty close.

I find it very difficult to know what to think from this one Echolight test. More than one standard deviation off between the Echolight and DXA in my T-score is a lot of deviation.
With the DXAs I have 7 scans over 5-6 years. The scans were consistent overall. My scores didn't stay the same but each DXA showed further loss than the previous one up until I did Evenity and I had two after Evenity and they both were close. I had TBS 3-4 times and those were consistent to and I also had TBS improvement from the Evenity. If I was rich I'd go have another Echolight right away to see if the results of that were consistent.

The only reason for such a variance I can think of is that I have slight to moderate scoliosis. Could scoliosis make my DXA t-scores higher? Echolight claims scoliosis and arthritis do not effect the Echolight reading? But why would my L4 at the base of my spine before the scoliosis curve starts have the same variance as the other 3 vertebrae that are more in the scoliosis curve?

It's quite frustrating. I'll try to research beyond the marketing materials when I have more time. For now I'm going to base my decisions on my DXA scores which I have proven are consistent. I wish an objective third party would do a good comparison of these two approaches. I'm interested to see what else gets posted in this discussion.

How much do the Echolight scans cost? Do insurance cover these? Also, what is Evenity?

It's all so confusing! I had a Zoom with my new endo this week and requested a TBS - but she says she can't just order that up, usually the radiologist does it only in severe cases where they need more info. I had read that the patient has to pay for the TBS which is just an add-on program to the DXA, so I don't know why there would be a problem. I am especially interested in the quality of the bone, which presumably the TBS would be the major resource to gain.
I'm happy to get an Echolight, however, which you also have to pay for, $280. I especially like the 5-year risk of fracture feature, since I'm 86. She at first seemed baffled by the Echolight mention, but then said she remembered hearing about it. I can get all the scans I want, she says, but the fact is that I fractured my femur, the heaviest strongest bone in my body, in falling over a case of wine while moving quite fast. It seemed like a good argument for medication, but I don't want to take any if I don't absolutely have to. I also have hematology issues, Factor 5 and MGUS, which argues against Prolix, etc. She suggested Reclast, yearly infusion. I hate infusions; my veins are tiny, wiggly and they collapse in infusions. After reading some of the reactions here, I seriously don't want to take it. Getting a second DXA soon and we'll see where calcium, D with MK-7, weigh-lifting and exercise have gotten me.
Plan C is a consult with Keith McCormick of GREAT BONES.