JustCare

Do you need a bone scan?

Written by

Dr. Salomeh Keyhani

in

,

I want to talk today about bone scans . Here’s my basic advice: for the 40 million people with osteoporosis, this test is critical to diagnose and start treatment. It is good to develop a bone density baseline, but there is generally no reason to do it until you’re at least 65. It’s recommended for women over 65 and those under 65 only if they have a fracture or arthritis or family history or other indications that demonstrate a need for a scan. Men over 70 should consider the test if there is an indication such as, steroids or low testosterone, for it. (Medicare covers a bone scan every two years for people at risk of osteoporosis with a referral from your doctor.)

Unless the test shows evidence of osteoporosis or serious bone loss or you have other indications, you should be able to avoid scans in the future. You shouldn’t get your bone density tested repeatedly if there’s no evidence you need it. If test results show minimal bone loss, also called osteopenia, you might want to forgo repeated scans.

As you age, it’s natural to suffer some bone loss. Osteopenia has a much lower risk of fractures than osteoporosis and since bone density does not change rapidly, you probably can wait to get scanned again. Similarly, medication generally should not be taken to treat osteopenia. These drugs can carry some risks (as does any medication) and, the clinical benefit for those with osteopenia appears minor at best.  Moreover, medications can be costly and lengthy.

So, if you are diagnosed with osteopenia and your doctor recommends regular bone scans or medications, you should ask your doctor whether you can avoid them. Medications alone could cost you between $38 and $148 each month, depending upon whether you take the generic or brand-name drug.

Instead of undergoing extra tests and getting another prescription, focus on how you can influence your health and reduce your chance of these and other tests. Make sure your diet is balanced and contains Calcium and Vitamin D. Avoid excessive drinking and smoking and medications that promote bone loss. Perform weight-bearing exercises. Finally, make your house and work safe by removing fall hazards.

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Comments

2 responses to “Do you need a bone scan?”

  1. Carol Avatar
    Carol

    I liked what Dr. Keyhani wrote about bone scans. I had one in Dec. ’13 and the result was osteopenia. I wish I had read the article 2 1/2 yrs. ago. My provider made it sound like a very big deal and they put me on Fosamax which I foolishly stayed on for 2 full years, all the time coughing like crazy night and day. Saw GP a few times, 2 specialists and a speech therapist. Had 3 chest xrays: nothing wrong w/lungs. Had chest scan; nothing wrong there. Had larynx scan: nothing wrong there. The wheezing was so bad, strangers came up to me and remarked on it. No one suggested an allergy to Fosomax except the speech therapist on the 4th visit. I went off of it, w/o telling GP who had already pooh poohed that idea. I went to an Asian Natural Health physician. After 3 mos. of his diet and custom tea, the larynx is finally healed and my diabetes Hemoglobin A1C went down 12 points, no thanks to conventional medicine. How can we get our HMO’s and other health providers to stop being cheerleaders for the Pharm. industry? Their solution for me was to be on inhaler w/Prednisone twice a day, I guess for the rest of my life; with no promise of any cure. Daily Prednisone inhaling would surely have a bad effect on what started the whole mess, the bone density problem.

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  2. Minerva Avatar
    Minerva

    This is my main concern all along. The medical community is so predisposed to being reliant to the Pharm. industry in most aspects of healing! I had to wean myself from the gamut of PPI’s(proton pump inhibitors) I was taking from 2003-2007 for the stomach ulcers I had in 2003. By 2007, I can’t see much difference in my condition and was impressed by the information from a PBS documentary special about Digestive Health. I quickly stopped the meds and replaced it with probiotics and prebiotics for 3 months that gave me better results alongside the kind of diet I should have. Now, I still use PPI but very rarely (maybe once in 3 months for 2 days) as well as the Digestive probiotics that I may use twice in a week.

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