Body Density Scan

[WILLIAM]

Having finally fixed a date for surgery with Dr Lam I have found out my BD is 'significantly' low. ie I have osteopenia at 82 per cent. This seems to be a different measurement from what I have seen posted elsewhere on this site (normally the measurement seems to involve two figures) Can anyone explain this ? I don't understand what the 82 per cent is of......ie normal for a fifty one year old man which is 100 percent or normal meaning a thirty year old man.....nor am I yet clear whether this is reversible (I understand it is arrestable) and whether I am now ruled out forever from having ADR and newer devices such as the Dascor and dynamic stabilisation, both of which I was previously considering. If so, I guess I now have to rely on medication and wait for medecine to progress.....v. depressing.

[cathydownunder]

Before my ADR and fusion last july I requested a Dexa scan (bone density) although my surgeon didn't think it necessary as I was 45 y/o.
I also was told I have osteopenia and I was concerned as osteoporosis runs in my family. My surgery went ahead as planned so it doesn't automatically exclude you.
My reading was -1.17, fairly mild but only in the hips, the spine reading was normal.
I don't know what your reading of 82% means, it's different everywhere but don't be overly concerned, it's pre-osteoporosis and can be improved with diet and weight-bearing exercises or medication such as Fosamax.

[WILLIAM]

thanks for that Cathy. I think I need to find out exactly what my measurement means and take it from there......

[Alastair]

Talk to Mr Lam William and see what he says, and if you need to do anything about it. Try NOT to worry
Best
Alastair

[spotty14]

Ask to get a copy of the DEXA scan report and a copy of the scan (usually a paper copy of the film) to see what the T Scores are. In addition to the T scores on my reports there is a measurement of percentage - I had a spine T score of -3.1 which was referred to as 67% of the mean in the young adult reference and 72& of the mean in the age matched reference. Plus the bone was measured in gm/cm2 which I'm not sure what that is but it's related to the percentage of bone present on the scan. Your's sound a little better than mine because you hae 82%. Dr. Bertagnoli said that they didn't do surgery unless the T score was -2.5 or better.

[WILLIAM]

I have now discovered my Bone Density reading is -2.1. My surgeon says I have a choice.....either have the surgery now and run the minor risk of verterbral collapse due to insufficient bone strength or postpone the operation a year, build up strength in the spine, but run the risk of my disc space reducing to the point where ADR will no longer be an option, only fusion.
Apart from the difficulty of knowing which decision to make, the bone density has to be tackled one way or another. However, leaving aside diet and medication, weight bearing 'resistance' excercise seems to be the best 'cure' for osteopenia......but that is the one thing I can't do with a degenerated disc..(and is therefore possibly WHY I have osteopenia)..has anyone else encountered this catch 22 and if so, can anyone recommend appropriate excercises that don't involve lifting heavy weights etc but still do the trick ?

[rosedee]

Hi William,

Sorry to hear about your bone density. My specialist has always told me that walking is one of the best exercises for building bone density (unfortunate given my mobility problems!!). It's weight bearing, impact exercise, rather than weight lifting that particularly helps build hip and spine bone density. Weight lifting would be more for arm and wrist bone density.

I take regular calcium with vitamin d supplements. I develped an ulcer from biphosphonate treatment, which put paid to that. Don't know whether you've heard an item in the news this week about a newly developed system of a once yearly infusion of a biphosphonate which has been producing impressive results in trials?

The National Osteoporosis Society (www.nos.org.uk) has some useful info and helpful links.