jointsguru
Everybody wants to know if he has strong or weak bones? Weak bones mean body pain, tiredness and more chances of fracture. So when a patient with symptoms of weak bones comes to ortho Dr.’s OPD and asks, Doctor please check if my bones are strong, Dr asked them to get BMD test.
What is BMD test for bones?
BMD or bone mineral density test check if you have a good amount of minerals in your bone. Bone is made up of mainly two minerals. Mostly calcium and some phosphorus. So if your bone minerals are less, you have weak bones. Weak bones mean you will have a high risk of fracture. We can check bone minerals with the help of the BMD test.
I got BMD test in camp in my colony ?
Well I would say that result can be misleading some time. Many trust and NGO organise such camps where technician just ask you to stand on a weighing machine sort of the thing. And then give you a report. This is basically a mobile BMD machine but it checks only heel calcium so it can be wrong.
A bigger BMD machine is like a MRI machine. Where you have to lie down on a bed and it measure calcium of hip, spine and many other points. So chances of mistakes are less.
Who should get BMD test ?
I do not want everyone to get his BMD test done. it is not necessary. BMD test is specially reserve for two groups.
- post menopausal woman
- above 50 years of Man
so these two groups people if complains of body aches and joint pain, or have fracture just after simple injury then we need to check if their bone strength is ok. It can be checked with BMD.
When you get BMD test results you get T score and Z score.
DEXA scores are reported as “T–scores” and “Z–scores.” The T–score is a comparison of a person’s bone density with that of a healthy 30-year-old of the same sex. The Z–score is a comparison of a person’s bone density with that of an average person of the same age and sex.
So T score is your comparison with 30 years old healthy person. Z score is your comparison with your healthy friend. How to read T score.
if it is between 0 to -1.5 it means it is normal. It means your bones are as strong as a 30 year old healthy person.
If it is between -1.5 to -2.5 it means you have osteopenia. Osteopenia means you are in borderline stage. Your bones are getting weaker. It can go to danger zone if you do not do something early.
If T score is less then -2.5 it means you have osteoporosis and very high risk of fracture.
How to treat Osteopenia and Osteoporosis
- Take a rich calcium diet and vitamin D3. You can read my article about that.
- You need calcitonin nasal spray. It can be used after your Dr’s recommendation. Calcitonin is a hormone which will improve BMD.
- Teriparatide Injection can also be used. It can be used by the patient itself. Teriparatide Injection comes in the form of a pen which contains 30 injections for one month. The patient can him self use it and there is no need for nursing staff for injection as it is easy to use. It has a teriparatide hormone which makes bone stronger and improves BMD.
conclusion
BMD is testing of bone strength.
if BMD is below -2.5 than you need osteoporosis treatment
if it is between -2.5 to 1 you need calcium and vitamin D.
