I WAS TOLD BY MY DOCTOR THAT MY 'NUMBER'S (WHATEVER THEY ARE) ARE LOWER THAN A 35 YEAR OLD -- !! I WOULD EXPECT THAT WOULD BE SO BEING TWICE THEIR AGE!! WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS ANYWAY???
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Q: EXACTLY WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS INDICATING OSTEOPOROSIS FOR A 77 YEAR OLD?
Answers (2)
6/ 6/09 2:57pm
Hi Magi De Vore, welcome to the community and thanks for the question. Here's the numbers that explain your t-scores.
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Normal bone: Any score at or above -1.0
Osteopenia: Any score between -1.0 and -2.5
Osteoporosis: Any score at or below -2.5
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Ask your Dr. for a copy of your dxa scan results, and the numbers will be listed on that. You should have 3 scores: Total Spine, Femoral Neck, and Total Hip. The lowest of the 3 scores is your diagnosis. At the bottom of the report you can find the above numbers from the World Health Org's definition on bone density t-scores. If your report has the Total Spine broken into 4 measurements (L1-L4) disregard those individual scores and look at the *Total Spine* number. Just keep in mind that the lowest of all these scores is your diagnosis.
Good luck and if you have any more questions post again with a new question or click the Reply button below to add to this question.
8/22/11 1:59pm
Hi Magi,
Of course your numbers are very likely to be lower than a 35 year old's and all that really matters are your actual numbers! Your doctor needs to provide you with those numbers along with your diagnosis. Even if you have osteoporosis, that is not a sure sign you are going to fracture a bone. Be sure you are getting 1200mg of calcium, 2000 IU of Vitamin D and at least 500mg of Magnesium daily. These are the "raw ingredients" your body needs to keep building new bone. Do weight-bearing/resistance type exercises at least 3 times a wk for 20-30 min. and--if you're on estrogen--all the better. That's the hormone your body needs to stimulate bone turnover. About the exercising, be sure to include things that are going to improve and build your balance. For example: Try brushing your teeth standing on one foot until you can do it! Good luck to you,
Sandy Greenquist, CNM
Menopause Clinician
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By MAGI DE VORE— Last Modified: 08/22/11, First Published: 06/06/09
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