Can Dexa scans reveal a false positive? Why would a normal X-ray not reveal fragile bones?

Thank you Anhaga for responding.

Sorry you have to take prednisone as it would be unhelpful to say the least.

I thought some mention of my bones would be made but not a word!

Other things were reported. I will ask the surgeon when I go.

When I had a MRI on my knee mention was made of tiny bones as I have small bones which I have always known.

What supplements are you taking and where are you?

I am in Australia.

Hi Kathleen.  Recently got a special strong bones supplement from the health food store as before that I had for many years been taking a multivitamin and a calcium citrate supplement.  My life is currently more complicated as I also have to take an iron supplement and iron (twice a day) and calcium (three times a day) can't be taken together.  I have also heard that strontium citrate is very good for improving bone density.  It can't be taken at the same time as other minerals (especially not calcium) so I don't think I can fit it into my schedule until I can reduce my iron intake!  I am getting a bit evangelical regarding opposing the OP medications as I become more and more convinced that none of them are safe.  In the case of the prednisone, I have no alternative treatment, but with the osteoporosis I know there are effective natural treatments.  

Emis Moderator comment: I have removed product/company names as we do not allow repeated posting of these in the forums. If users wish to exchange these details please use the Private Message service.

http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages

Oh dear, I wish I had copied my reply (I don't think there was anything wrong with my content but "Patient" is pretty picky) as I would just have resent it as a private message.  I don't know how to find the moderator to ask for a copy of the offending letter.  Probably because I mentioned a book.

I did see your message. Thanks.

I hope you can remember your above post.

 

Thanks Anhaga! I will look into the strontium.

It is reassuring that you believe in the natural remedies as I too do not trust AA and the rest.

People must not be reporting their side effects because there is a commonly held belief that the side effects are rare.

Keep sharing your findings and experiences because it is helpful.

Just the book title which I private messages to you!  

Learning more about strontium.  Strontium replaces calcium in the bones.  So even though it is harder than the calcium and improves bone density, it is questionable whether even the "natural" strontium is safe as a supplement.  Just having it as part of the diet as some foods are quite high in strontium if it's in the soil where they grow, is probably fine.  But we don't really know what strontium does to other body precesses, where the body evidently prefers calcium!

Yes, I had already decided to give that one a miss. Considering Evista now!

Thanks  Soozib! People have addressed other aspects like side effects but few have mentioned their distrust of the Deza scan.

I think even I was surprised that the ct scans and the X-rays shone light on the back issues.

My GP had said I must rethink my attitude to the drugs if the bones were described as fragile in any way but they were not. She supports my stance now.

The Dexa scan told a different story.

I believe my back issues are not so much osteoporosis as arthritis and discs and narrowing, etc.

 

Yes Chris it would be silly to take a drug that caused you to fall.

Do you have any back issues like arthritis or problems with your discs?

Have you had X-rays or ct scans?

I could not bring myself to take the first AA tablet yet I do have other medications that have warnings but I take them because I weigh up having diabetes controlled or uncontrolled.

So I am not anti medications just these ones!

Hi Kathleen.  Yes, I have scoliosis (curvature of the spine) that is most likely caused by Ehlers Danlos syndrome which is a connective tissue problem, and I have arthritis severely in knees and wrists and a bit in hips and shoulder etc..  I had x-rays on my spine when the genetics team looked at it after I was told it was arthritis by the GP (but he didn't look at it, and I saw another GP, who again, didn't look at it but said it was arthritis) and then when I mentioned it to the genetics team they looked and sent me straight off for x-rays, which confirmed scoliosis.  It's actually the discs that are weakened through the Ehlers Danlos that cause that problem.  But the awful pain I had was sorted out very quickly with the use of a TENS - and that sorted it out permanently!  At least, had no pain for months now.  Yes, sometimes we do have to take horrible meds because there is less risk of the side effects than from the disease it's treating, but it's that aspect that has to be weighed up with osteroporosis.  I had the bone scan after the x-rays and that's when it showed only osteopenia and didn't warrant the alandronic acid he'd put me on, but I'd stopped by then anyway. 

I had forgotten all this. We have just had visitors two being toddlers.

I had thought of following up the Tens machine and then forgot.

Is one brand as good as another. Will a cheap one do the job?

One source of my pain is around the sacroiliac and I cannot sit on most chairs. Strong painkillers do not help once it catches after sitting.

I notice I cannot stand for long either.

Two discs have issues and I have a letter for a surgeon but I will avoid an op. He will be good for explaining the results and maybe advice?

 

Kathleen, I'll email you privately and tell you the one I got, because I think they're different and I'd read reviews on some that didn't seem good but the one I bought is the one that the NHS purchase, I THINK.  Will find it now and email you privately asap.

I am in Australia. How much did you pay for yours?

There is one here for $110. Would that be enough to guarantee a good machine?

So, in England, it would be about half that in pounds.

I could not see the brand you bought available locally to me.

So sorry Kathleen - this didn't come through to my email and only just seen it from looking on the site.  I would have thought that would be a good machine.  You need the FOUR pads on it to be able to place them in the right positions and adjustable strenths on both pairs.  Mine came from the biggest online order site there is and I wonder if they might send to Australia, or if you emailed the company they might do something.

It has arrived and it has four pads. I bought it from a local medical supplies place.

I have yet to use it though.

I will let you know how it goes and if it helps!

Great that you've now got it.  When you get any pain at all, try using it.  The first time I used it it took the pain away completely within minutes and when I went out the next day I had the machine in my pocket and the pads on,  using it.  I hope it works really well for you:-)))  It's so good to find pain relief that doesn't involve medication!

Oh ok, you can take it out with you. So when I sit and it hits me I use the tens?

sitting seems to be the worst or standing in one place or walking too far.

That was EXACTLY what I found - sitting was horrible - had me writhing in pain, and I'd be getting up to try and relieve it, not knowing what to do with myself.  I am SO hopng this will sort yours as it did mine!  I put one pair of pads above the waist just below bra level, about three inches away from the spine,  and the other pair roughly four inches below the waist slightly further out - I got my husband to put them on for me, then tucked loose wires into the back of my jeans and put the machine in my jeans pocket.  I can't remember all the instructions but I think for the first day it said to use it for about five, or maybe eight, hours, and then the next day for less (I'd get it out to check but it's not in a place easy to get to now because I've not needed to use it for so long!) and the next day for the same amount and that got me pain free all the time, but I'm sure yours will tell you how to use it.  If it doesn't then let me know and I'll get mine out and tell you what it says.  So Yes, as soon as you feel any pain, get it out and start using it, and follow the instructions for a few days and if you're like me (hopefully you are!) you'll suddenly realise that you haven't got pain a few days later!  So it doesn't just stop pain while you're using it - it stops it all the time!

That would be wonderful!

Do you mind me asking your age?

I am 71 this Xmas.

I'm 65:-)))  Almost 66:-))))