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Question about DEXA Scan inaccuracy
Osteoporosis & Bone Health | Last Active: 2 days ago | Replies (18)Comment receiving replies
I am like you as far as small build, weigh 120 lbs, with my spine at -4. I asked my endocrinologist the same question about the DEXA scan accuracy and he said it was accurate. But I do wonder since my hips are -2.7, why is my spine score so much worse? I've been told I have osteoarthritis in my spine and read that can make your DEXA look worse than it really is.
For now, I'm not taking any meds (Tymlos and Forteo are not options for me due to parathyroid issues). I am very careful with my movements and don't lift anything heavy and am starting to do some spine strengthening exercises.
Have you asked your doctor to check your parathyroid levels? Like you, my blood calcium levels were on the high end of normal, or slightly above. A 24 hour urine test showed I was excreting too much calcium. I had my PHT levels tested and they were too high. I won't go into my journey trying to fix that as it's a long story. But my PHT issues were definitely a cause of my osteoporosis.
Replies to "I am like you as far as small build, weigh 120 lbs, with my spine at..."
@daisy17 my husband also excreted excessive calcium in his urine. It was checked after he had a compression fracture. Other tests were normal. He was placed on hydrochlorothiazide (a mild diuretic) and his urine calcium has normalized. Hope this may be helpful to you.
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@daisy17, my bone specialist ordered many tests to try to diagnose the underlying cause for the severe osteoporosis: 1) Vitamin D 1 25 Dihydroxy, 2) Celiac Disease Screen 2 Years and Over, 3) Calcium, Urine, 24 Hour, 4) Creatinine, Urine, 24 Hour, 5) Cortisol, AM, 6) Adrenocorticotr Opic Hormone, 7) Protein Electrophoresis, 8) Phosphorus, 9) Parathyroid Hormone Intact without Calcium, and 10) Comprehensive Metabolic Panel. During my appointment, my bone specialist said that she would order a lot of tests to try to determine the underlying cause for the osteoporosis, but she said that usually the root cause can't be determined. The only thing useful I got from these labs was that I was excreting too much calcium. My rheumatologist said that I already had risk factors for osteoporosis: being asian, around 100 lbs, having small bones, and menopause around 49.