What is the location of your osteo? - Osteoporosis Message Board

taape · 07-26-2006, 08:14 PM

I had an xray of my collar bone after I found a lump there and the doctor told me it was nothing to worry about. I just read the report and it says I have an osteophyte at the sternal junction joint, or it looks that way on the xray. The thing that bothers me is the report also said that my collar bone looked slightly osteoporotic. Does that mean if our DEXA scans show osteoporosis that we have it in every bone in our body? I know about having it in the hip and spine but everywhere??? Plus, I thought that if osteoporosis could be detected on a plain xray that meant there was severe bone loss otherwise you would need a dexa or bone scan to see it? Does anyone know? I also have concerns about having "extra bone" in my joint and wonder if the Forteo is causing this? Does anyone have a clue about this? What causes extra bone to grow where you don't need or want it.

newbones · 07-27-2006, 08:32 AM

taape,
You have raised some good questions. I'm glad that your lump turned out to be "nothing to worry about" but it would be nice to know why it is there, wouldn't it? I guess I just assumed that if you were diagnosed with osteoporosis it affected all the bones of your body, but that the spine and hip were most vulnerable for fractures/breakage and that was why they tested those areas. I don't know if this is correct, though.

Misty800 · 07-27-2006, 09:32 AM

taape,

My 93 year old mother had osteoporosis and in the x-ray of her lungs the ribs showed up almost transparent. So, yes, osteo can affect all bones in the body.

peregrine · 07-27-2006, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbones

taape,
You have raised some good questions. I'm glad that your lump turned out to be "nothing to worry about" but it would be nice to know why it is there, wouldn't it? I guess I just assumed that if you were diagnosed with osteoporosis it affected all the bones of your body, but that the spine and hip were most vulnerable for fractures/breakage and that was why they tested those areas. I don't know if this is correct, though.

peregrine · 07-27-2006, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbones

taape,
I guess I just assumed that if you were diagnosed with osteoporosis it affected all the bones of your body, but that the spine and hip were most vulnerable for fractures/breakage and that was why they tested those areas. I don't know if this is correct, though.

Newbones, this is my understanding as well.