results query - Osteoporosis Message Board

zoe marie · 02-10-2009, 03:01 PM

I have just undergone an Osteo screen test (ankle density) and have been given a z score of -1.85 and a t score of -2.34, my mother has full blown osteoporosis, and I am only 35 years of age, is there any advice, should I be worried as yet?

Any advice will be gratefully received.

starfish81 · 02-10-2009, 05:40 PM

Hi Zoe and welcome to the boards. You'll find good support and advice here. What exactly do you mean when you say your Mom has "full-blown osteoporosis"? Has she actually had a fracture or are her T-scores just very low? I'm not familiar with an ankle scan as a measure of T-score, but I can tell you that different bones in the body will score very differently--at least that is the case with me.
Are you a small-boned person? Are you still having menstrual periods? Do you have any systemic illnesses or malabsorption issues? Any of these can influence density.
Before you worry yourself into a frenzy (been there, done that too many times) get yourself a copy of "The Myth of Osteoporosis" by Gillian Sanson. You might also want to request a more conventional DEXA scan of your hips and lumbar area as a comparison. Hope this advice helps; if you have any other questions, ask away and I/others will certainly respond

.

zoe marie · 02-11-2009, 02:02 AM

Ah, sorry, bad explanation. Mums wasnt discovered until fifties when dealing with a thyroid disorder and her bones were really bad, dont know the actual score, but I know they said it should have been found much sooner due to early menopause.
My frame is medium.
The ankle scan is undertook as a screen test, as apparently the bones in the ankle reflect what is happening in the hip?
I am not menopausal as yet, but periods been messing about for last year and a half so also a concern.
I just worried that the score was so close to the defined osteo result at -2.34.
Is there a big 'actual' gap between -2.34 and -2.5?
or does this mean i'm very close to this distinction?

Many thanks for the reply.

Regards Zoe.

trail · 02-11-2009, 07:03 PM

I would not trust the foot screening because they are ultrasound technology and not an x ray like the DEXA is. If I were you, I would talk to your doctor about getting a baseline dexa or at least a screening P-Dexa( this is a smaller portable machine that scans your forearm called a peripheral dexa). I had the foot scan done at my doc's office for 3 years following menopause and I always came out great-and then lo and behold at 53 I ended up showing severe osteo in spine and hip when she finally approved the full dexa test. So, that is why I have no faith in the foot screening.
Good luck,
Trail

starfish81 · 02-11-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoe marie

I just worried that the score was so close to the defined osteo result at -2.34.
Is there a big 'actual' gap between -2.34 and -2.5?
or does this mean i'm very close to this distinction?

-2.34 is pretty close to -2.5. However, remember that density does not necessarily equal strength.