Dexascan for osteoporosis: I recently fell and broke my wrist. The doctor at the clinic wants me to go for a Dexascan to check for osteoporosis. To be honest, at my age (72) I don't need the bother or expense of undergoing unnecessary tests.
It may be a bit of a nuisance to have this extra test but your doctor is right. The reason he wants you to have a Dexascan is so that he can assess the calcium content of your bones. If the calcium content is low then the density of the bone is low and is therefore more likely to break or fracture as a result of a fall. This condition is known as osteoporosis.
I thought only women could get osteoporosis.
I'm afraid not. Although menopause can cause a reduction in the level of calcium in the bones, other conditions which are common to both sexes also cause osteoporosis. If you have had problems with your thyroid gland, chronic kidney disease or have been prescribed steroids for other conditions, then, regardless of your gender, you are more likely to develop osteoporosis.
Well, I have been treated with steroid tablets for arthritis, so I suppose I should have the test done.
Yes, do. The test itself is painless, and as it uses very small doses of x-rays (approximately one-tenth of a standard x-ray), it is perfectly safe. Usually the vertebrae of the lower spine and the hip are examined. Lying on a special examination table you will have to hold the same position for approximately five minutes per test; the whole thing takes approximately 20 minutes. The information from the scan is processed by a computer and the result printed out.
So what happens if I do have osteoporosis?
If the scan shows you have osteoporosis, your doctor will prescribe medication to help prevent further fractures. As you have had first-hand experience of how painful and disabling a fracture can be, I'm sure you'll agree it's worth your while doing all you can to prevent another one.