Deep Bone Scan

[Tilly2]

I took my Dad to hospital yesterday for a deep bone scan (a bit late in the day in my opinion, considering he broke his hip on Christmas Day).
However, I was talking to the radiographer and said that I'd had a scan but It was a machine that I'd put my foot into. He said, in a whisper, 'They are not very accurate. Just go to your GP and ask to be sent for a deep bone scan and the GP will make an appointment for you'.

I'm sure he's correct but can't see it being that easy. What do you think?

[Sqad]

"A deep bone scan?".....sorry never hear of it.....beats me.

Unless he means an MRI scan.....you can't get much "deeper" than that.

[Tilly2]

It wasn't an MRI scan in a tube, sqad. My Dad lay on a table and the machine passed over his body up to his hips. I sat with the radiographer in the same room looking at the computer pictures. It was definitely called a DXRA, not magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

[bednobs]

a dexa scan is for checking the density of bones - ie if you have osteoporosis or not

[bednobs]

so depending on what you had a scan for, a dexa scan will probably be useless to you

[hellywelly4]

I'm going for one on Tuesday - it's called a Bone Densitometry DEXa and I think it's to see if I have got osteoporosis. The surgeon requested it after my op in December, so I am supposing that he saw something which needed investigating.

[Tilly2]

It was called a DEXA scan. Just checked on the paperwork.

[Tilly2]

The scan I had, where I put my foot in a machine, was a Borough Council 'Well Woman' sort of thing. I was given a booklet which contained my results and had useful information about what foods to eat and what exercise to do. I wasn't diagnosed with osteoarthritis. It was just a 'See where you are at the moment' screening opportunity.

[Tilly2]

^ I meant osteoporosis, not osteoarthritis.

[bednobs]

i am talking about osteoporosis (ie how thin your bones are, and how likely you are to break them) not osteoarthritis. The foot think is for that, and the person is right - they are not as accurate at dexa scans. However, before asking your GP for a dexa, i would be wondering if you really need one. As far as i know there is not nationals creening programme for osteoporosis

[Tilly2]

That's what I meant about it not being that easy, bednobs. I'm sure the doctor wouldn't send me for a scan 'just in case I might have osteoperosis.'

[nannybooby]

my rhumatologist suggested that I have a dexa scan as I have been on steriods for so long ,however in the end all I had was an x ray that showed the osteo arthritus clear as a bell. I too had had the well woman scan (ie standing in water )but that was years ago. I dont see that an MRI would be any better. Is your dad going to have a hip replacenment is that why they want to know his bone denisty?

[Tilly2]

No, nanny. He fell and broke his hip on Christmas Day and it is healing nicely, apparently. I think his GP just wanted to see what state his bones were in. He has already prescribed some calcium tablets for my Dad.

[Tilly2]

Why did you stand in water for your well woman scan, nanny? Is that a joke?

[SMP]

I recently had a DEXA scan as my GP was concerned because i started the menopause at 43 and seem to have finished it now at 51. It checked my left femur and my lower spine, hips and pelvis. My spine and pelvis were ok but my femur shows thinning of the bone. It's not osteoporosis yet but i have to take calcium tablets and be scanned again in 3 years.

[Tilly2]

I obviously got it wrong calling it a deep bone scan. I thought that was what the D stood for.
I actually would like to find out if my bones are o.k. I don't want to wait until I've slipped an an icy pavement and broken my hip.

[bednobs]

well you could just take precautions now - either take caLCium and vit d supplements or get more calcium and vit d in your diet. Also, do weight bearing exercise

[Tilly2]

Thanks, bednobs. I'll heed your advice.