Bone Density Scan | Arthritis Information
Anybodt here have one? My Dr said I need to start taking Calcium and Vit D. My scan shopwed a reduction in density. Years of Steroids I guessI have never had one but spose I should be looking into it. Is there a certain age that is recomended to start testing for this?I've had 3 over the past 5 years. The last one showed osteoporosis. Not too bad yet in my spine, thank God, but my hips are pretty bad. With my history of falls, I've been warned by my doctors to be extremely careful, as broken hips in older people (or anyone, really) can be devastating.
It's very important that we get a baseline DEXA scan. Others will follow, mostly as warranted by our health. Most of us can expect to have our bones become weaker as we age, but there are things we can do to help keep the damage down. One, as your doctor told you, to take Calcium and Vitamin D religiously. I currently take 1000 units of Calcium twice a day. The minimum suggested is 1200 units, daily, for women. And vitamin D is also extremely important. My regular dosage was 1000 units a day, but a recent blood test showed very low Vitamin D, so I now take 2000 units a day, plus a prescription dose of 50,000 units, once a week.
You are correct, that steroids can affect the density of your bones. Be sure to follow your doctor's advice. I can tell you from experience that losing your bone density can cause terrible breaks.
Good luck.
Hugs, Nini
Thanks Nini. I'm getting the Calcium todayI had to have one when I was taking Pred. When I went in the technician asked why I was having it done and I said the dr wanted a baseline and she said your insurance will not cover it for that reason and I would have to pay the whole amount. So I told her the Pred. was the only reason I was there. She left the room in a huff and the front desk lady came back and said it was all taken care of and the insurance would cover it. I should have asked the technician if she was having a bad day, because the scan was kind of uncomfortable, she strapped my ankle down in a twisted position to scan my hip and I felt she could have at least warned me. I took Boniva the whole time I was on Pred. Hope it all goes well.I guess I had one for my prednisone use also. Mine showed osteopenia. The doctor said it was very minimal and I did not need to use the Fosamax he prescribed for me.I've had a few over the years, all with good results...maybe from all the exercising/weights I did prior to RA.
How many years of steriods before having the scan?
I've had one yearly for the past 4 years and it has showed progressive loss at 12%. My current regimen of calcium, Vit. D, magnesium, Actonel has helped. My last scan showed an increase of 3%!! My doc and I were pretty happy with that. LindyI think I had mine about 6 months into it. Maybe it was a baseline.
I had one last year for baseline and it came out fine. I'm not on prednisone though, so I'm sure that helped. It was covered as a preventive exam on my insurance.
Hope the vitamin D and calcium helps! Are you in a sunny state so you can get even more sunshine?
I have had 2, one because of the steroids, the next was age and disease. They were both not uncomfortable to take, just lying still. Interesting - I also have vit. d deficiency. Osteopenia was the diagnosis on the 2nd one.
I've had two due to early menopause and HRT. The first one showed osteopenia in my hips and then the next one showed it in my spine as well. Not too serious; but it did show progression. I was 34 for the first one I think. I'm due to have another one soon. Went to a new Gyn last year and when I mentioned Prednisone I was quickly whisked off have a scan. Everything came back normal, guess all those years of being a milkaholic and chocoholic have paid off :-) I have a scan once a year. It showed osteopenia in one hip two years ago but last year it had improved a lot. I have been on prescription Vit D (100,000 units per week) and also Calciferol another form of Vit D as prescribed for parathyroid disease secondary to kidney disease. All this Vit D has taken care of the bone problems.
Ann
Normally, they don't bother with the DEXA scan until you're 60 -- but with these diseases, the docs often call for at least a baseline sooner (especially if you've been a pred user.) Mine was fine despite years of pred -- and I'm now free for two or three years.
Hi 65T, I was the same as LynB, had a low reading but it actually repaired itself thru actonel, but I have to have one every 12 months due to long term steroid use. Good luck, Janie.
I had a baseline bone scan done when I was diagnosed 3 years ago. My bone density was off the chart, probably because I was athletic when I was young. I suppose I should have another one done sometime soon to see how things are going.I have one a year. The last one showed osteopenia so it's back to weight lifting again which I drastically cut down on because I can't hold the weights with my bad hands. I use strap on weights now but it's not the same. Also, I had to take prescription vit D for a few weeks but blood work then showed it was fine so my Dr. took me off it. I'm wondering if too much of it might not be good. I live in Florida so I get plenty of sunshine.
[QUOTE=Ninilchicken]I should have asked the technician if she was having a bad day, because the scan was kind of uncomfortable, she strapped my ankle down in a twisted position to scan my hip and I felt she could have at least warned me. I took Boniva the whole time I was on Pred. Hope it all goes well.[/QUOTE]
I just had my very first bone scan. I didn't find it uncomfortable at all. Do you think maybe you might have a problem with your hip?
kween, do you always have to jump on the band wagon and give your two cents worth, geez, you aren't the QUEEN of this board. It ain't all about you. This place rocks!
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