Connect
← Return to If newly diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis of spine
Discussion
If newly diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis of spine
Osteoporosis & Bone Health | Last Active: May 9 9:04pm | Replies (24)Comment receiving replies
"The nature of a compression fracture is to make the bone appear denser. So the t-score will appear better than the one previously taken, before the fracture." If that's the case, and your DEXA shows osteoporosis, then your "true" bone density is actually *worse* than what appears on the report. Also... DEXA gives you bone density in your hips, which is obviously important.
An X-ray basically shows you what happened, not necessarily why it happened. Let's say you had an X-ray years ago and it showed a history of compression fractures. OK, what next? Maybe you need an MRI to diagnose any disc problems. if you have aches. Maybe you need a DEXA to check bone density. An X-ray alone isn't going to cut it.
I totally agree with you that any one test is not sufficient! The more information we have, the better. If you go to the orthopedist complaining of back issues, then an X-ray is often one of the first things they do, followed by an MRI if necessary.
The doctor also matters. I am male. I had a compression fracture not from a fall. The orthopedist did an X-ray and MRI. He did not once mention osteoporosis, probably because I'm not female. My PCP suggested a DEXA which showed a T-score of -3.4. Otherwise, I would not have known.
So tired of bones... 🙂 🙂
Replies to ""The nature of a compression fracture is to make the bone appear denser. So the t-score..."
@njx58
This all so frightening. I was in an accident 2 years ago. Fractured my spine T12,L1. The nightmare began. after a few months of recovery,my other doctor sent me for a DEXA scan. I was 63 and female. Hadn't been told prior to have one. I'm health, exercise and eat correctly.. I had -4 osteoporosis. Started me on Tymlos once my insurance stopped playing the cost game. Tymlos was horrific. I had every symptom possible. After about 4 months, the heart palpitations started so then she had to get the insurance to switch to another medication. That took 6 months. Now I am on Prolia. First injection was February, so far so good, but back pain is still with me. My insurance is Fed. Blue Cross/Blue Shield.. My doctors since the accident have stated I need via Disc procedure because my disk is compressed and fragmented. But insurance is making me go through lame procedures. Steroid injections. Latest one was Lumbar Medial Branch Block Bilateral. Now I will be turning 65 and making the choice for Medicare. I hope the procedure gets approved. As far as getting the -4 score lowered seems like an impossibility. I hate being negative, but there really doesn't seem to be anyone getting better from Osteoporosis.
Connect
Thank you @nycmusic and @njx58!
If I implied an x-ray was sufficient, I'm sorry! Didn't mean to. I think it's a necessary first step in ascertaining how the t-score of the spine was derived. What you describe about the orthopedist not thinking to order a DXA . . . makes me shake my head. It would seem to be a logical test for anyone with a compression fracture.
More evidence of the need to be advocates of our care . . . and have doctors who are willing to listen and think logically.