Nearly three years ago, after a DEXA scan, I was told I had osteopenia. I had requested the DEXA scan because my Vitamin D level was extremely low and I believe my mother had osteoporosis - she broke her arm after a simple fall when in her sixties. The consultant wrote to my GP and told him that I was to have another scan in 3/4 years. Just wondering if it would be best to have the scan in a few months, or wait until 2019. I wasn't given any medication three years ago, but have been taking a Vitamin D supplement regularly. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Hi.i was also diagnosed with osteopenia about 6 months ago. Told it was early stages. My first dexa scan despite having a full hysterectomy 12 years ago! Taking bone/calcium supplements and hoping for the best!
Hi Jacqueline. I only obtained a DEXA scan because of a lovely gastroenterologist I was seeing at the time. He discovered that my Vitamin D levels were very low and referred me to have a scan. Before that, I had asked my GP about it, citing my mother's fracture, but, I didn't fit the criteria, which is very strict, so, when it showed the diagnosis I felt justified in pushing for it. I hope your supplements result in an improvement at your next scan. Take care.
I'd like to see you taking a bit more in the way of supplements and obtaining some of the necessary nutrients for bone health through your diet. Do you do weight bearing exercise? Can be a simple as walking.
You can get some of the nourishment you need from common foods like yoghurt, prunes, leafy green vegetables. You do need to supplement Vitamin K2 (not K1 which is in your leafy greens) and make sure you are getting adequate calcium and magnesium.
I was diagnosed with osteoporosis 5 years ago following a DEXA scan. I was prescribed Alendronic Acid and calcium/ vitamin D supplements which I took religiously. Last year I asked my GP for a repeat scan and he said that he expected that I would have improved, but unfortunately I had further bone loss. I wish I had followed it up sooner. I now take Raloxifen instead of the Alendronic Acid, and I will have a further scan to see if things have improved. I have been very ill and not able to get as much exercise as I would have liked this year, but I was walking several miles a day between the first two scans so I hope things have not got worse.
I would urge you to make sure you get retested to be sure your treatment is working. Good luck.
Some people with osteopenia and osteoporosis were found to be lacking in magnesium. So that is good to have as well. Vitamin K2 is the big one as it aims the calcium onto the bones. Things like bone broth, skins of cucumber and a diet containing fruit and vegetables and others suggested by Anhaga all help support bone health.
All the best.
Thank you Anhaga. I only take Vitamin D, but, will definitely add K2 to this. I've been trying to do the 'Active 10', i.e. 10 minutes brisk walking a day, but I have bursitis in both hips and they're really painful at the moment, so haven't done it for a few weeks. Walking exacerbates the bursitis. However, I'm going to see what else I can do.
Thank you, Susan. After reading your post, I think I'm definitely going to see about getting another scan done in 2018. Sorry to hear that you've been so ill and hope that things have improved for you.
Thank you for your reply, Kathleen. I'll be getting some Vitamin K2 and will also look into magnesium as well.
Anhaga
Have you had a follow up scan yet? I can't get one until 2018. I've just had 2 xrays my femure and hips seem ok but I've sustained two wedge fractures of the lumbar L3 & L4 . Dont know how they happened.
I only take supplements not any busphonates. Magnesium, calcium vit D and vit K2. Prunes. Fruit & veg.
I'm told they will take 8/12 weeks to heal.
Any thoughts on this would help. Or are there any mire supplements we should be taking?
Thank you.
I have Coeliac disease and get a dexa scan every two years. I believe this is the norm now, biennially. I'd go for it as soon as. Bones change quite slowly but I think two years is long enough to make a difference.
Hi Philip,
Where in the world are you? I am in UK and I was told it's every 3 years, but that was when I was first diagnosed 5 years ago. My GP suggested I might be able to get a further scan soon to see if the Raloxifen has helped. If it hasn't done he is suggesting that I may need regular injections/infusions to prevent further fractures.
If it is now accepted in this country that you should have scans every 2 years, that would be good to know. I have several other conditions and sometimes I just don't feel like complaining about all of them, so I let osteoporosis fall off the end of my list, but I know that a hip fractures could change my life.
I'm in Derbyshire, Susan but I can't vouch for other areas. You know what a lottery the NHS can be in this country?
Of course it may also depend on your disease(s) as to how quickly they think your bones may degrade. If my bones get back to 'normal', whatever that is for a 63 yr old, they may lengthen the time between scans.
Hello Cheetah, I have osteopenia and, because my mother had very severe osteoporosis, I have a DEXA scan every 2 years. That way I keep a very close eye on any improvement or worsening of the condition. All the best, Stefania
I had two scans, one year apart. They tried to cancel the second one on me but I showed up anyway and got it. I'm not eligible for another for another three to five years from the second. The first scan was -2, the second -1.6, done on same machine with very careful attention by the technician to get me into exactly the same position. I think if you're eating a well balanced diet heavy on vegetables like leafy greens and low in animal protein (get some of your protein from plant sources) you should be doing well. Fermented foods are supposed to be good, defire, yoghurt and some cheeses all better sources of calcium than liquid milk. I recommend you take up exercises like Nordic walking and tai chi as soon as you are able. These will help your balance and strengthen your body generally. Nordic walking will help you maintain an upright posture, strengthening the upper body in particular, and tai chi is excellent at improving and maintaining a good sense of balance. A physiotherapist should be able to give you guidance regarding exercises which will strengthen the muscles which support your spine, as well as suggestions how to protect your spine in day to day life through the way you move.
All the best.
sorry, not defire - kefir!
Don't worry about the "brisk" if your hips are bothering you. Be gentle with yourself. Consider Nordic walking as the poles will give you a bit of support as well as strengthening your upper body. Can you see a physiotherapist regarding some exercises to help with the bursitis?
Thanks for the reply. I am on Merseyside and I know what you mean about postcode lottery. I attend two different pain clinics for separate conditions, and it's quite a rigmarole getting agreement to fund treatments. I am going to see my GP this week and will see if he's willing to refer me for another scan. He has been very good, but sometimes I think the bureaucracy can overwhelm him, so it's good to go armed with information!
Thank you Anhaga.
It would appear we are all doing our best to mitigate the slow erosion of our bones by taking good supplements, food and exercise. Until the pharmaceuticals come up with something better than what they currently offer, I'm staying away from them.
Does anyone on here have really good news to share with us?
Thanks all.