1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

Should I pursue a TBS score?

Posted by katwhisperer @katwhisperer, Dec 3, 2022

Hi all: my first post, although been lurking a while. What a terrific forum and kind group of people! I've read a few articles touting the growing value of TBS as a complementary tool to DXA, given its ability to measure bone strength. Wondering if anyone here had it done and if it yielded insightful results?

My first baseline DXA this past spring yielded -3.0 (back). Tymlos was recommended since I have major dental issues. I am 55, extremely fit with 35+ years of daily weight training and fairly high protein/clean eating - but am small framed. Could my bones be low density but stronger than avg thru decades of weight bearing exercise? Perhaps if my bones WERE stronger, even though less dense, I could maybe stall starting on these pharma solutions for a year or two?

I asked my PCP: he never heard of TBS. My rheumotologist dismissed it: didn't feel it would change his recommendations. Neither seems to want to write an RX for another DXA.

The facility for my 1st DXA can't do TBS or I'd just have them add it. No one will add a TBS score to an existing DXA unless it was done at their facility- and I need an RX to get a new DXA.

I was slated to start Tymlos this month. Do you think it's better to pause, find a new doc willing to write a DXA RX and see what the TBS reveals, before committing to a lifetime regimen of drug therapy (I have no clue what I'll be able to take after Tymlos, given my dental problems, which worries me.)

Any opinions most welcome! 🙂

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

Teri | @tsc | Dec 6, 2022
In reply to @inthemoment "Thank you so much for this information. There will be a TBS machine available near me..." + (show)
@inthemoment

Thank you so much for this information. There will be a TBS machine available near me in the near future. I'm so glad I reached out to this forum.

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Maybe you can post what you find out when you get the results of the TBS. Thanks!

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sheilad1 | @sheilad1 | Dec 7, 2022
In reply to @inthemoment "Hi all: Has anyone had results that have included both a DXA and TBS score, where..." + (show)
@inthemoment

Hi all:

Has anyone had results that have included both a DXA and TBS score, where the TBS actually affected the recommended treatment? In other words, would your doctor have recommended the same course of treatment based on the DXA alone? (I understand the TBS score measures the strength of the bone. ) Does the TBS score provide additional information for treatment or is it primarily for diagnostic purposes?

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If it changes the diagnosis it changes the treatment.

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kolika | @kolika | Dec 8, 2022

Thanks to all who brought the TBS information to our attention. Sadly, I have not been able to locate a reliable source for this test in my area. I wish I could have as I'm having a DEXA scan this month in anticipation of an appointment with my endocrinologist in early Jan.2023. Also, thanks to those who mentioned Dr. Loren Fishman as I found his book very helpful.

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1 reply
sheilad1 | @sheilad1 | Dec 9, 2022
In reply to @kolika "Thanks to all who brought the TBS information to our attention. Sadly, I have not been..." + (show)
@kolika

Thanks to all who brought the TBS information to our attention. Sadly, I have not been able to locate a reliable source for this test in my area. I wish I could have as I'm having a DEXA scan this month in anticipation of an appointment with my endocrinologist in early Jan.2023. Also, thanks to those who mentioned Dr. Loren Fishman as I found his book very helpful.

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Here is a link to find facilities that so TBS
http://www.medimapsgroup.com/

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1 reply
lynnhaz | @lynnhaz | Dec 9, 2022

i just joined the Bone Coach program which is absolutely amazing. Its hard to even describe what you get in the program. They have 5+ functional medicine coaches, a nutritionist, stress management, daily live Zoom calls, hundreds of videos, theyve broken it down to 3 areas, Identify (the underlying causes), Nourish (dietary), and Exercise. They break down what you need in lab testing, interpreting the tests, bone strengthening exercises, nutrion, supplements,,,, the list is exhaustive
I had no idea when i signed up the amount of information you get. It is expensive but incredibly worth it. it is a way to avoid taking medication, learning everything about bones, and building bone strength. This summary doesnt do justice to what they have. Its like going to bone college!! Kevin Ellis is the founder of Bone Coach. He was diagnosed Osteoporosis at age 30

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2 replies
kolika | @kolika | Dec 9, 2022
In reply to @sheilad1 "Here is a link to find facilities that so TBS http://www.medimapsgroup.com/" + (show)
@sheilad1

Here is a link to find facilities that so TBS
http://www.medimapsgroup.com/

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Thank you so much for the link! I have gone to the website and found it very helpful. It's hard to pursue treatments when your docs don't seem to know about them.

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sheilad1 | @sheilad1 | Dec 9, 2022

Only endocrinologists and rheumatologists have been trained in osteoporosis and even then they need to be younger to have been trained. Yet so many primaries and gynecologists treat it. Finding the right doctor is not easy.

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sheilad1 | @sheilad1 | Dec 10, 2022
In reply to @lynnhaz "i just joined the Bone Coach program which is absolutely amazing. Its hard to even describe..." + (show)
@lynnhaz

i just joined the Bone Coach program which is absolutely amazing. Its hard to even describe what you get in the program. They have 5+ functional medicine coaches, a nutritionist, stress management, daily live Zoom calls, hundreds of videos, theyve broken it down to 3 areas, Identify (the underlying causes), Nourish (dietary), and Exercise. They break down what you need in lab testing, interpreting the tests, bone strengthening exercises, nutrion, supplements,,,, the list is exhaustive
I had no idea when i signed up the amount of information you get. It is expensive but incredibly worth it. it is a way to avoid taking medication, learning everything about bones, and building bone strength. This summary doesnt do justice to what they have. Its like going to bone college!! Kevin Ellis is the founder of Bone Coach. He was diagnosed Osteoporosis at age 30

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Do they have any clinical studies showing the results of the bone coach program?

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1 reply
lynnhaz | @lynnhaz | Dec 10, 2022
In reply to @sheilad1 "Do they have any clinical studies showing the results of the bone coach program?" + (show)
@sheilad1

Do they have any clinical studies showing the results of the bone coach program?

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I’m not sure it really works that way you’d have to see the amount of content they have to understand what they have to offer it’s hard to describe how much they have. Each person then has a choice to use as much or as little as they’d like. They have a PhD physical therapist for example that worked for the osteoporosis foundation for years and has her own Pilates for osteoporosis who teaches bone strethening exercises what’s safe what’s not safe, along with a nutritionist, a woman’s health functional medicine practitioner, and several other coaches it’s hard to explain unless you see it for yourself. When I try to describe it to other people it’s always inadequate

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1 reply
kolika | @kolika | Dec 10, 2022
In reply to @lynnhaz "i just joined the Bone Coach program which is absolutely amazing. Its hard to even describe..." + (show)
@lynnhaz

i just joined the Bone Coach program which is absolutely amazing. Its hard to even describe what you get in the program. They have 5+ functional medicine coaches, a nutritionist, stress management, daily live Zoom calls, hundreds of videos, theyve broken it down to 3 areas, Identify (the underlying causes), Nourish (dietary), and Exercise. They break down what you need in lab testing, interpreting the tests, bone strengthening exercises, nutrion, supplements,,,, the list is exhaustive
I had no idea when i signed up the amount of information you get. It is expensive but incredibly worth it. it is a way to avoid taking medication, learning everything about bones, and building bone strength. This summary doesnt do justice to what they have. Its like going to bone college!! Kevin Ellis is the founder of Bone Coach. He was diagnosed Osteoporosis at age 30

Jump to this post

This Bone Coach program sounds like it would be something that could be very helpful. I was interested to see that they have "functional medicine" specialists among their coaches. I'm wondering if you or anyone else reading this message has had experience with functional medicine doctors. If so, I'd be interested in knowing your experience as I've been thinking about looking into this approach.
Thank you for this info.

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