Echolight sonogram scan for bones

On 8/18/23, I had a DXA on a machine that provided me with TBS of my spine. Much to my disappointment my Trabecular bone score was -1.123, which is in the "degraded" range. I was hoping that, although my BMD is low, that my bone quality would be good. Because of this optimism, I searched for Echolight REMS. After receiving the TBS score, I am not as anxious to travel to another State to get a REMS scan.

On the other hand, although my hip BMD T scores were similar (around -2.5) on the new machine to those on the other machine from March 2023, my lumbar spine T scores were quite different. In March, on a Hologic machine at a women's radiology center where I have been a patient for years, my lumbar spine T score was -4.5 (up from -3.5 five years earlier). On August 18, 2023, on a GE Lunar Prodigy Primo DEXA Scanner at a women's imaging center connected to a local hospital and located in the same building as one of my osteoporosis doctor's offices, my lumbar spine T score was -3.8.

I do not what to make of the .7 difference in 5 months on 2 different machines. I am hoping that the March reading was inaccurate for some reason. Even though I have been increasing the amount and quality of my calcium intake since March, I really do not think my T score could have improved that much in 5 months.

what kind of calcium do y take or from food or both?

Can you please tell me where you had the Echolight (Rems) performed.

I alternate between Solaray calcium citrate and VegLife Red Marine Calcium as supplements to food. I eat organic "pasture raised" greek yogurt, greens, goat cheese to get calcium from food. I am in the process of researching bioidentical HRT/estrogen and strontium citrate as alernatives to prescription meds.
I have another appointment with my local osteoporosis specialist next month, and if she insists on prescribing an osteo drug without considering alernatives, I likely will get a second opinion and possibly travel to Central Carolina Orthopedic Associates in Sanford, NC and try to get an Ecolight REMS scan and consult with Dr. Bush.

Teri, do you get new DEXA results this month? I'm hoping that the vibrating plate exercise registers good numbers. Well, I'm hoping for good numbers from any cause for that matter...

Good morning pennykj,
I spoke to the nurse in Dr. Bush's office at Central Carolina Orthopedics. She said the Dr. sees out of state patients on Thursdays. The cost is 150 for the ultrasound. He sees you in person first, but there's a follow-up call to discuss results. The nearest airport is Raleigh Durham. The office is about 40 minutes away. The address is 1139 Carthage, Suite 101, Sanford, NC. (425) 503-4840. There is also REMS group on Facebook. Hope this helps.

I am one of those Thursday appointments for February! 3.5 hour drive, hope there is no bad weather. Other thing to remember is you have to fast before the ultrasound. If you are traveling from out of state, that my affect the appointment time you prefer. I may have made a mistake obtaining a noon appointment. That means no eating for at least 12 hours (Cutoff is midnight. I am not supposed to eat at least a few hours before going to bed so yikes!).