These past several years, whenever I had occasion to visit my grandmother, I wondered if, as I stood next to her, I was getting taller or she was getting shorter.
Well, I know that in my early 40s, I clearly was not getting any taller. She was definitely shorter than I remembered, and when my youngest son, age 11, was standing next to her recently, it was evident that my grandma has been affected by osteoporosis. However, at nearly 105-years of age, she truly does not mind this at all. “I can get up by myself and walk by myself. I have lost some hearing and a bit of sight….and even a few inches, but I have not lost my appetite for food or for life!” Well said, Grandma!
Grandma has been disciplined over the past several years to make sure she has a bone density test performed on her on per her doctor’s orders. She knows that osteoporosis refers to the thinning of her bones. “Why can’t it just be the thinning of my body instead of just my bones?” she muses. I know she is in the late afternoon of her life, but at what age should I think about having a test done to determine my bone health?
According to About.com and its orthopedics section, “The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends a bone density test at least once for all women age 65 and older.” Okay. I have another 20 years to go on this one. However, I am sure that there are certain risks factors of which I should be aware that might increase my risk of osteoporosis.
As I perused the information on About.com, I met the first criteria: being female. Other risk factors include, but are not limited to, advanced age, being Caucasian or Asian, leading an inactive lifestyle, smoking cigarettes, drinking excessively, and having a family history of the disease. Aside from being female, I am Caucasian and now have a family history of osteoporosis.
Curious about what exactly a bone density test is, I researched further. Sure, I have 20 years to go yet, but I like to be prepared. However, I am well aware that over the next two decades, things can change dramatically in terms of technology and treatment options.
A DEXA Scan, commonly known as the bone density test, stands for “dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry,” according to the orthopedic reports on About.com. This test is considered to be the most accurate test for bone density. A DEXA scan can detect any changes in bone density after only a 1% change, as opposed to traditional x-rays which can’t detect any changes until after about a 40% change.
You may wonder exactly how the procedure is performed. As noted on radiologyinfo.com, the machine used to assess bone density projects “a thin, invisible beam of low-dose x-rays with two energy peaks through the bones being examined. One peak is absorbed by soft energy while the other is absorbed by bone.” These machines employ special software designed to display the bone density measurements on a computer screen.
To commence the process, which is usually done on an out-patient basis, you will probably be asked to lie on a padded table. So that your spine can be assessed, your legs will be supported on a padded box so that your pelvis and lower spine areas are flattened. When the technician moves on to assess the hip region, your foot will be put in a brace that will rotate the hip inward. The detector will then slowly move over the area, projecting images onto the computer screen. It is imperative that you remain still during the process.
Then there are the peripheral tests. According to radiology.com, these procedures are simpler. Your finger, hand, forearm, or foot is put in a small device that obtains a reading within a few minutes. Overall, the entire procedure can last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on what equipment is used and the parts of your body that are measured.
It is important that if you are of the age to have your bone density tested, and more importantly, if you are at increased risk for osteoporosis, that you speak to your doctor about having a bone density scan performed. It is quick, simple, and painless. The amount of radiation used is minimal. Your doctor will soon be able to provide you the results, and most likely, he will refer to your “t-score” and your “z-score.” Your “t-score” will compare your actual bone density to the optimal peak bone density for your gender. A “z-score” will compare your results to others of similar age, weight, gender, and ethnicity.
I know that Grandma has thinning bone issues, but this woman is practically made of steel. Not too long ago, as she was headed into a restaurant in her hometown, she tripped and fell. Not one to be fussed over, she insisted that she was okay and proceeded to go into the restaurant. However, her companions were not so obliging and demanded that she go and get an x-ray and be seen by a doctor. Grandma reluctantly did that, and in less than an hour, she was back at the restaurant, enjoying the meal she fully intended to eat earlier. I do not know exactly what she is made of, but that was the third fall in over a year and she did not break one bone. The other two included a fall down her basement steps and one down her front porch when she slipped on the ice. All three falls happened when she was over 102 years of age. When I go out to eat with her at that restaurant in her town, all I can say when I order is, “I’ll have whatever she’s having!”