My latest DXA and TBS report. As a reminder, I was diagnosed with osteopenia in 2005 and given a script for Fosamax. I declined. My intention was to implement my 6 pillars for bone health for a better outcome:
I took my 90 minutes pilgrimage to Hospital of The University of Pennsylvania. DXA during Covid of course had its moments. Masks, temperature testing, hand sanitizer, distancing...we all know the necessary Covid drill.
Below I’m positioned so that my ankles are pointing inward which guarantees a proper reading of the hips. Clearly not a “glam” shot but hopefully you get the message.
Great outcome for my hips and spine all going in the right direction over time. Note the colors in the reports....GREEN!
Below is the Trabecular Bone Score or TBS of my spine. Simply put, the TBS measures the inner bones, while DXA measures the outer bone. Color falls into the green normal area. Inner bones look good.
Below is my DXA for my spine measurement. It also falls into the green (normal) section.
Also measures in the green normal range.
The chart below shows the type of machine used. Each machine has a serial number. If you’re looking at a DXA comparison it’s important to know the DXA machine and the serial number. That serial number can usually be found in the lower right corner of your DXA report. The 2016 ad 2014 were on GE Lunar Prodigy but different machines as shown by the serial numbers.
Yet look at my Forearm numbers…..
Suddenly I was in the range for osteoporosis and my doctor suggested I see an endocrinologist.
Dr. Keith McCormick suggested getting a follow-up CMP (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel) blood test next year. This test measures calcium levels which I will keep track of.
He uses blood work for a deeper dive into bone health.
Also, my trusted and generous friend, who has been in the osteoporosis trenches for many decades, suggested I get and track bone markers:
Dr. Lani Simpson suggested there may be something wrong with the forearm test and suggested getting it re-analyzed. I’m in the process of working with the technician who performed the DXA/TBS. The region of interest in the forearm is Radius 33% often reported at 1/3 distal radius. I also reached out to Dr. Deva Boone who specializes in parathyroid disease.
It takes a community.
Why is the non-dominant forearm added to the DXA/ TBS report?
The spine and hip may have arthritis yet the DXA shows up with stronger results. The forearm may be a possible indication of parathyroid issues.
The learning continues.
My DXA / TBS score was performed at:
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
3400 Civic Center Blvd. – Ground Floor
Philadelphia, PA
phone: 215-662-5680 to book a DXA (numbers may change so ask for radiology to book your DXA.
I requested a full colored copy of my reports BEFORE I left. However Penn’s portal is fabulous and reports can be downloaded.
I’m feeling good about the results.
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Thank you for your time today. I hope my shared experience is helpful.
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7 Day Meal Plan – Easy Cooking for Bone Health Guide
https://www.healio.com/news/endocrinology/20141203/forearm-dxa
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