Osteoporosis and Petite Women

Any one searching for an imaging center that offers DEXA with TBS should fill out the form on https://www.medimapsgroup.com/ but be prepared, even though medimaps is very responsive, you may have to do a lot of leg work, making calls and confirming that the imaging center knows that they can do a DEXA with TBS and then fighting to get the results. At least, that was my experience.

Trains as in weight training?

What’s TBS?

How do you know the injections are working after six months only?

Trabecular Bone Score. Integrated TBS software installs on DEXA scanners to estimate fracture risk based on determination of bone texture.

Thanks! Very interesting - actually I’m on Prolia and due for next injection this afternoon!

Doctors should be doing baseline BTM (bone turnover marker) tests before starting patients on osteoporosis medications and then running the tests again a few weeks after starting the meds. The key term here is “should be”. My personal finding is that most doctors who claim to treat osteoporosis are really good with prescribing medications and fail to do much of anything else. Most ppl diagnosed with osteoporosis are never told to have bone turnover marker tests run because, again, most doctors in this field are severely lacking. If osteoporosis meds (Prolia) are working properly, you can tell by the change in BTM results between the 2 tests.

Thank you for your response and info. I’ll use this info should I decide to use any of these drugs.

I'm new to this health problem. The prescribed Alendronate upset my stomach, despite taking it before eating and sitting up for half an hour afterword. Does osteoporosis and osteoarthritis always come together? Also have an autoimmune Connective tissue disorder. The bones are one. Does anyone have any thoughts about how these things may be related?

You are soooo right!!!! Thought I was golden when I fell off my chair realizing there were 3 places in my close geographic area. Only then to be sooo disappointed to find one place said , yes we have that but we don’t use it. - that was at a drs office so I moved onto a large creditable hospital that was also listed. I had to eventually get connected to the imaging lab to inquire as those on the general phone knew nothing of this at all. When I spoke to a person that actually does imaging there , her respond was again we do have that (the TBS) but our drs have made the decision not to use it. I couldn’t believe my ears. I asked why and she couldn’t tell me the answer. I asked her to please ask the question and to call me back. I’ve never heard from her. Then one last lab to try. This one further , but still easily doable. An hour away.
I had a phone number and tried for half a day to get to the correct people. Such a run around I finally gave up. Then a few weeks ago I decided to drive to the address so I could find someone to talk to directly. I got there and asked if they did the DEXA WITH THE TBS. She had no idea. Waited for the lab worker in between pts. I asked her , of which she said , “I don’t know”…. I’m thinking is this possible???? Then she said , “you know yesterday I did a DEXA and the read out was different. Let me go check”
She came back to say yes the extra read out was a TBS. She explained as a lab person you just run the test as you’re told and that’s it. Crazy!!!! Anyway, she was excellent… I explained I had a DEXA scheduled in 3 weeks and would like to cancel that one and have one with the TBS. She set up an apppointment with me on the spot and last week I had it. Gave me the read out and an extra copy for when I meet with Dr McCormick in August. The lab worker did in conversation tell me that they have the most up to date machine to do DEXA’s in the whole area. Glad I persisted!!! However, as I also found out , I could have called that phone forever and never got them as it’s hooked up through the hospital somehow and calls are not put through to the lab at all. SO just know you may need to SPEND TIME to really make this happen!!!