1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

Z score for age group

Posted by oretsina @oretsina, Oct 29, 2022

Where can I find the Z score for my age group? The z-score tells you where your measurements fall relative to everyone else in your age group. Would be useful info to have for comparison and it have come up.

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kristie2 | @kristie2 | Aug 29, 2023
In reply to @sophie93 "My situation was this: I'm 30 years old and I have been diagnosed with osteoporosis more..." + (show)
@sophie93

My situation was this: I'm 30 years old and I have been diagnosed with osteoporosis more than a year ago. Even then, my T score and my Z score AS WELL showed that my bones are a mess: T-score in the osteoporosis range, Z score weaker than my age group (as expected).
Next year on my control DEXA ist was even worse.

Tried going the natural route, it didn't work.
So I started with meds recently.

I know my situation is very different than yours, I just try to offer you a different perspective.
And I know meds can have side effects, but I'm also TERRIFIED of fractures 🙁 So for me personally, the benefits outweigh the risks.

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I also tried going the healthy way without meds. I have always worked out , lifted weights, jogged and ate healthy foods mainly plant base. My DEXA dropped by 13% . Sorry to say that didn’t seem to help me. I have put my fears aside and started Evenity.

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jsmigielski | @jsmigielski | Aug 29, 2023

This definition of scoring may help anyone who is confused. This is from Mayo website:
T-score
Your T-score is your bone density compared with what is normally expected in a healthy young adult of your sex. Your T-score is the number of units — called standard deviations — that your bone density is above or below the average.

T-score What your score means
-1 and above Your bone density is considered normal.
Between -1 and -2.5 Your score is a sign of osteopenia, a condition in which bone density is below normal and may lead to osteoporosis.
-2.5 and below Your bone density indicates you likely have osteoporosis.
Z-score
Your Z-score is the number of standard deviations above or below what's normally expected for someone of your age, sex, weight, and ethnic or racial origin. If your Z-score is significantly higher or lower than the average, you may need additional tests to determine the cause of the problem.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

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gently | @gently | Aug 30, 2023

https://courses.washington.edu/bonephys/opbmdtz.html
Scroll down to the Z score age chart. This link is the fullest explanation of the process of osteoporosis scoring that I've been able to find

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Sophie93 | @sophie93 | Aug 30, 2023
In reply to @neesie0159 "I already have fractures, and I’m not willing to risk getting more if medication can help..." + (show)
@neesie0159

I already have fractures, and I’m not willing to risk getting more if medication can help prevent it. I had no problematic side effects from Actonel or Fosamax, but they were just keeping my crappy bones from getting worse. I’m willing to try something to improve my bones, and natural remedies aren’t going to do that.

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IMHO I'm more scared of fractures than I'm of the possible side effects (possible, which means they might or might not appear at all). After my first dose of oral bisphosponate, I had no side effects at all. I felt a bit 'achy', like I had done a hard workout the day before, but nothing more than that. If there is any benefit from them... My next DEXA will tell 🙂

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madeleine40 | @madeleine40 | Aug 30, 2023
In reply to @riverpark "Hi Sophie, Thanks for your perspective! Because of our ages, of course our situations are different..." + (show)
@riverpark

Hi Sophie,

Thanks for your perspective! Because of our ages, of course our situations are different but our fears are much the same. I also have finally decided to take the meds. I sincerely wish you well and hope you resolve your bones issue satisfactorily and have a wonderful, happy life!

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So what meds did you decide to take and why?

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Sophie93 | @sophie93 | Aug 30, 2023
In reply to @kristie2 "I also tried going the healthy way without meds. I have always worked out , lifted..." + (show)
@kristie2

I also tried going the healthy way without meds. I have always worked out , lifted weights, jogged and ate healthy foods mainly plant base. My DEXA dropped by 13% . Sorry to say that didn’t seem to help me. I have put my fears aside and started Evenity.

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Same with me. A year of healthy eating, lots of movement, walking, good quality sleep and stress management did nothing. Zero. My scores worsened significantly.

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Sophie93 | @sophie93 | Aug 30, 2023
In reply to @madeleine40 "So what meds did you decide to take and why?" + (show)
@madeleine40

So what meds did you decide to take and why?

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Oral bisphosphonates, montly.
My doctor prescribed them to me a year ago but I postponed, tried going the natural route which only made my bones weaker.
So that's why...

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Sophie93 | @sophie93 | Aug 30, 2023
In reply to @normahorn "My opinion is that we need to balance the possibility of a fracture with the possibility..." + (show)
@normahorn

My opinion is that we need to balance the possibility of a fracture with the possibility of an adverse reaction so severe that it causes us to fall and have a fracture. My balance is already precarious. A fracture to my spine may be nothing compared to a broken neck. Being single and living in a 3-story townhouse with a dog that needs to go outside during the day, I have to consider all of the risks.

My problem is medical providers not fully disclosing the risks and minimizing them by calling them side effects when they are adverse reactions (FDA's term). We need full disclosure to make an informed decision about what is right for us as indivuals.

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...possibility of an adverse reaction so severe that it causes us to fall and have a fracture.

Yes this is absolutely valid. That's why everyone can and should decide for themselves... not only bt the T-scores but also by their overall health and current state.

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1 reply
riverpark | @riverpark | Aug 30, 2023
In reply to @sophie93 "...possibility of an adverse reaction so severe that it causes us to fall and have a..." + (show)
@sophie93

...possibility of an adverse reaction so severe that it causes us to fall and have a fracture.

Yes this is absolutely valid. That's why everyone can and should decide for themselves... not only bt the T-scores but also by their overall health and current state.

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Yes, after tons of research and indecision, I finally began Forteo yesterday. I am 80 but very active with walking, lap swimming, and weight-bearing exercise, and very healthy. I really considered going the natural route but realized I needed medical science for future bone strength, even at my age. Good luck to you all!

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Sophie93 | @sophie93 | Aug 30, 2023
In reply to @gently "https://courses.washington.edu/bonephys/opbmdtz.html Scroll down to the Z score age chart. This link is the fullest explanation of..." + (show)
@gently

https://courses.washington.edu/bonephys/opbmdtz.html
Scroll down to the Z score age chart. This link is the fullest explanation of the process of osteoporosis scoring that I've been able to find

Jump to this post

This was a really good read, thank you!

Still, there are some things I don't understand.

I'm 30 years old, my T-score shows osteoporosis everywhere (spine, femoral neck, hips)
and my Z-score is much lower than normal for my age group ( I think it goes without saying, because the T-score itself compares my bones to a person on the peak their bone density i.e. around 30?)

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