Faithwalker
03-16-2002, 09:00 PM
I am new to the list and sure could use some help.
I was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis after breaking the third finger in my hand by simply turning it wrong.
I was placed on Miacalcin and 1200 mg. of calcium daily +vit.D.
I called and retrieved my Bone Mineral Density numbers and do not understand what it means exactly.
My spine number was: .882
My leg number was: .717
Can anyone help me to understand what these means and what it means to my future?
Thanks.
Earnestine
I was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis after breaking the third finger in my hand by simply turning it wrong.
I was placed on Miacalcin and 1200 mg. of calcium daily +vit.D.
I called and retrieved my Bone Mineral Density numbers and do not understand what it means exactly.
My spine number was: .882
My leg number was: .717
Can anyone help me to understand what these means and what it means to my future?
Thanks.
Earnestine
Sponsor
blondegal
03-17-2002, 02:51 PM
I also recently had a DEXA scan and I'm learning so what I know is not a whole lot. Here's what I can tell you though and this is taken right off my DEXA report.
If your T-score range is from -1 to -2.5 then this indicates low bone mass or sometimes called osteopenia.
If your T-score range is below -2.5 then osteoporosis is what the experts call it.
I'm really confused about your scores being called OSTEOPOROSIS. Your scores are a lot better than mine in the leg and mine was not called Osteoporosis, but rather Osteopenia. These numbers are probably not T-score numbers, however. They sound more like BMD numbers but at this point I'd just have to guess. I know I've not helped too much but maybe you could post your T-scores if you don't mind and if you can find them out.
[This message has been edited by blondegal (edited 03-17-2002).]
[This message has been edited by blondegal (edited 03-17-2002).]
If your T-score range is from -1 to -2.5 then this indicates low bone mass or sometimes called osteopenia.
If your T-score range is below -2.5 then osteoporosis is what the experts call it.
I'm really confused about your scores being called OSTEOPOROSIS. Your scores are a lot better than mine in the leg and mine was not called Osteoporosis, but rather Osteopenia. These numbers are probably not T-score numbers, however. They sound more like BMD numbers but at this point I'd just have to guess. I know I've not helped too much but maybe you could post your T-scores if you don't mind and if you can find them out.
[This message has been edited by blondegal (edited 03-17-2002).]
[This message has been edited by blondegal (edited 03-17-2002).]
Faithwalker
03-17-2002, 05:39 PM
Thank You for your help.
I am not sure what a T score is.
She said there were other numbers on the test but she only gave me the ones I listed calling it a bone mineral density.
She called the spine one something like Lumbar and the other sounded like semoral but of course I could not hear her very well on the phone either.
My dentist told me that my bones are deterioting rapidly and that it may be coming from my asthma inhalers.
The nurse told me that my test results were low but she did not elaborate however.
I would not have known that it was Osteo if my doctor had not slipped and something during a routine discussion with my husband and I.
He thought I had already been told before.
I am unable to take the hormones due to skin cancer and a family history of cancer so the nasal spray is the only solution for me.
Earnestine
I am not sure what a T score is.
She said there were other numbers on the test but she only gave me the ones I listed calling it a bone mineral density.
She called the spine one something like Lumbar and the other sounded like semoral but of course I could not hear her very well on the phone either.
My dentist told me that my bones are deterioting rapidly and that it may be coming from my asthma inhalers.
The nurse told me that my test results were low but she did not elaborate however.
I would not have known that it was Osteo if my doctor had not slipped and something during a routine discussion with my husband and I.
He thought I had already been told before.
I am unable to take the hormones due to skin cancer and a family history of cancer so the nasal spray is the only solution for me.
Earnestine
blondegal
03-17-2002, 06:09 PM
Hello Faithwalker: I had a DEXA about 3 weeks ago and they scanned my lumbar spine and my femur (hip). Does this sound like the same in your case? The T-scores compare our bone density to the bone density of a healthy young adult (25-30 years old but I heard variations on that.) The T-score gives us a risk factor for fracture. Another set of scores, the Z-score compare our bone density to those in our age group. I'd say from what you've said that some kind of treatment is appropriate especially after the info you've added but if you have any doubts maybe you can get a copy of your DEXA report and seek another opinion. I know there is a treatment called Evista for women who cannot take estrogen and is supposed to have a good effect on bone density. Have you checked it out?
I really don't know what to make of my results since my spine is above average for a young adult and my femur is osteopenic. I was told to take Calcium and Vit.D and keep up my exercise program since I'm borderline low density in the femur. I was given the same protocol by two doctors so I'm just going to follow that and then do another DEXA in several years. I wouldn't mind trying the nasal spray if my scores don't improve. What are the side effects on the spray or are there any? I sure hope I'm doing the right thing!
I really don't know what to make of my results since my spine is above average for a young adult and my femur is osteopenic. I was told to take Calcium and Vit.D and keep up my exercise program since I'm borderline low density in the femur. I was given the same protocol by two doctors so I'm just going to follow that and then do another DEXA in several years. I wouldn't mind trying the nasal spray if my scores don't improve. What are the side effects on the spray or are there any? I sure hope I'm doing the right thing!
bjg
03-17-2002, 10:32 PM
i can understand why you are not a candidate for hrt...but instead of the nasal spray have you considered either fosamax or actonel..they do not carry the same increased risk of cancers as hrt.as with all meds they both have their own risk of side effects..problems with the esophagus being one of them...but why dont you research them for yourself and talk it over with your dr ..they may be right for you
Faithwalker
03-18-2002, 09:58 AM
Good morning everyone.
Yes there is a lot of serious side effects from the nasal spray but so far it has done ok.
when I started through menopause 5 years ago I was having a lot of problems so I was placed on hormone medication which gave me some skin cancer really quick.
from that they realized that I could not use those products.
and being on cortisteroids did not help the odds any so my doctor determined that it was the nasal spray or the injections and I was not about to take the injections,me and needles don't get along to well.
I take vanceril for Asthma as well a nebulizer treatment of Albuterol.
My case seems to be too advanced for the fosomax.
My mother takes it and she is having alot of swallowing difficulty as well as constipation.
I am not due to go back to my heart doctor until next month.
I will have to let him know what I have been put on so that he can monitor it as well as my family doctor.
I won't know until then if it will effect my cholesterol medication or not,I hope not because the zocor is doing a really fantastic job of lowering my cholesterol,I went from 245 to 118 in two months time.
The hip and spine that you mentioned sounds about right.
It was a mineral density.
It was ran because I broke my finger without any pressure or anything, the doctor knew the meds that I was on and figured it was from bone density loss and ran the dexa scan to see how much loss there was.
After he got the result in he told me that I had osteoporosis at the age of 39,things that should not be happening until I am older are happening.
I am prone to cancer either way I go so I would rather have the spray than shots.
My main concern now is trying to find out how serious my bone loss is.
I tried to get the other numbers but they would not release them to me said that I need to contact my family doctor for those.
She was not supposed to have given me the others.
This was the lab where I had the test done.
I guess to answer the question about the side effects, yes there is alot of them but that does not mean that you will get them nessacerily so weigh the pros and cons of your choices of the different ones before you decide which one is right for you.
About all of these medications are dangerous in some form or other so what I look at is the consequences of not being on them compared to life's quality on them.
Yes there is a lot of serious side effects from the nasal spray but so far it has done ok.
when I started through menopause 5 years ago I was having a lot of problems so I was placed on hormone medication which gave me some skin cancer really quick.
from that they realized that I could not use those products.
and being on cortisteroids did not help the odds any so my doctor determined that it was the nasal spray or the injections and I was not about to take the injections,me and needles don't get along to well.
I take vanceril for Asthma as well a nebulizer treatment of Albuterol.
My case seems to be too advanced for the fosomax.
My mother takes it and she is having alot of swallowing difficulty as well as constipation.
I am not due to go back to my heart doctor until next month.
I will have to let him know what I have been put on so that he can monitor it as well as my family doctor.
I won't know until then if it will effect my cholesterol medication or not,I hope not because the zocor is doing a really fantastic job of lowering my cholesterol,I went from 245 to 118 in two months time.
The hip and spine that you mentioned sounds about right.
It was a mineral density.
It was ran because I broke my finger without any pressure or anything, the doctor knew the meds that I was on and figured it was from bone density loss and ran the dexa scan to see how much loss there was.
After he got the result in he told me that I had osteoporosis at the age of 39,things that should not be happening until I am older are happening.
I am prone to cancer either way I go so I would rather have the spray than shots.
My main concern now is trying to find out how serious my bone loss is.
I tried to get the other numbers but they would not release them to me said that I need to contact my family doctor for those.
She was not supposed to have given me the others.
This was the lab where I had the test done.
I guess to answer the question about the side effects, yes there is alot of them but that does not mean that you will get them nessacerily so weigh the pros and cons of your choices of the different ones before you decide which one is right for you.
About all of these medications are dangerous in some form or other so what I look at is the consequences of not being on them compared to life's quality on them.
Faithwalker
03-18-2002, 11:10 AM
Blondegal I finally managed to get my T-score number.
It is: -1.36
Is this bad?
It is: -1.36
Is this bad?
blondegal
03-18-2002, 03:12 PM
Hello Faith: Hey, good for you - you were able to get your T-score. Okay, why don't you compare yours to mine. My T-score on the femur was -1.3 and everything I've seen calls it borderline low bone density. Not bad enough to be called osteoporosis yet. The BMD was .839 on the femur. My spine was above that of an average healthy young adult at BMD 1.204.
So your lowest score (my case -1.3) gives me the T-score and that, I believe, is the basis in which I am treated. You mentioned earlier that you had a BMD of .717 in the femur which must be the reason you are getting more assertive treatment. I do believe that they take your whole medical history into consideration when deriving your T-score - at least that is what I was told at my Lab where I had the DEXA done.
I find this whole grading system very confusing but for now it looks like it's the best we have. Like I said I'm new to all this but I feel very good that two doctors had the exact same advise for me right now.
Also there are some good sources for the available and recommended treatments on the internet if you want to do a search on "Osteoporosis Treatments." If you don't find them I'll be glad to send them to you via e-mail if you'd like. Let me know. Thanx BG
[This message has been edited by blondegal (edited 03-18-2002).]
So your lowest score (my case -1.3) gives me the T-score and that, I believe, is the basis in which I am treated. You mentioned earlier that you had a BMD of .717 in the femur which must be the reason you are getting more assertive treatment. I do believe that they take your whole medical history into consideration when deriving your T-score - at least that is what I was told at my Lab where I had the DEXA done.
I find this whole grading system very confusing but for now it looks like it's the best we have. Like I said I'm new to all this but I feel very good that two doctors had the exact same advise for me right now.
Also there are some good sources for the available and recommended treatments on the internet if you want to do a search on "Osteoporosis Treatments." If you don't find them I'll be glad to send them to you via e-mail if you'd like. Let me know. Thanx BG
[This message has been edited by blondegal (edited 03-18-2002).]
blondegal
03-18-2002, 03:17 PM
Hello Faith: Hey, good for you - you were able to get your T-score. Okay, why don't you compare yours to mine. My T-score on the femur was -1.3 and everything I've seen calls it borderline low bone density. Not bad enough to be called osteoporosis yet. The BMD was .839 on the femur. My spine was above that of an average healthy young adult at BMD 1.204.
So your lowest score (my case -1.3) gives me the T-score and that, I believe, is the basis in which I am treated. You mentioned earlier that you had a BMD of .717 in the femur which must be the reason you are getting more assertive treatment. I do believe that they take your whole medical history into consideration when deriving your T-score - at least that is what I was told at my Lab where I had the DEXA done.
I find this whole grading system very confusing but for now it looks like it's the best we have. Like I said I'm new to all this but I feel very good that two doctors had the exact same advise for me right now.
Also there are some good sources for the available and recommended treatments on the internet if you want to do a search on "Osteoporosis Treatments." If you don't find them I'll be glad to send them to you via e-mail if you'd like. Let me know. Thanx BG
So your lowest score (my case -1.3) gives me the T-score and that, I believe, is the basis in which I am treated. You mentioned earlier that you had a BMD of .717 in the femur which must be the reason you are getting more assertive treatment. I do believe that they take your whole medical history into consideration when deriving your T-score - at least that is what I was told at my Lab where I had the DEXA done.
I find this whole grading system very confusing but for now it looks like it's the best we have. Like I said I'm new to all this but I feel very good that two doctors had the exact same advise for me right now.
Also there are some good sources for the available and recommended treatments on the internet if you want to do a search on "Osteoporosis Treatments." If you don't find them I'll be glad to send them to you via e-mail if you'd like. Let me know. Thanx BG
Faithwalker
03-18-2002, 08:15 PM
Thank you for all your help BJ,Blondegal.
You have been a great help.
I am going to ask my Doc a lot of questions the next time I see him!
My husband told me this morning that I have got a curve in my spine that was not there before so I guess it is time for a complete going over.
You have been a great help.
I am going to ask my Doc a lot of questions the next time I see him!
My husband told me this morning that I have got a curve in my spine that was not there before so I guess it is time for a complete going over.