Beware of sudden osteoporosis
 

Hi. I am having more pain so I had my 3rd bone density scan. This one, however, revealed osteoporosis in the hip but I do not think in the spine. The deal is that a sudden change can be an indicator of several diseases (or none, e.g. if one took lotsa prednisone) - some benign to downright sinister e.g. multiple myeloma. So if this happens, let your PCP refer you to a hematologist/oncologist.

Best, Allan

good advice
 

ans,
how far apart were your bone density tests?

Allan,

Not great news. Are you undergoing tests or???

Hope all turns out well and please keep us posted.

My best to you, Dale

Hi. I had a bone density test ~ 5, then 2 years ago. I am undergoing tests now and it's my hope that being on steroids in the hospital/outside it for ~ 1.5 months might have done it. There was hardly any change and a surgeon said to bag the test when I want surgery as they were consistently OK. Thx for your well-wishes.

re my osteoporosis
 

As you know I had it first dx'ed in hips then later in lumbar spine. I think being female, menopausal (post now) w/withdrawl of estrogen that probably was the major factor however I have a family history (mother, father, brother, self) with osteoporosis.

Hope your spine stays fine (at least osteoporosis wise) and you can move on to the next step whatever that will be.

Men have estrogen too, right? I wonder if this contributes to osteoporisis.

Well, at minimum, I have MGUS unless the first blood reading was wrong. I'd really like a full-body MRI to determine my status; this would check into my sometimes horrible hip pain (worse than back), determine the extent of osteoporosis and bone damage, and how my back's doing.

Unfortunately, this is a merely 3 hour MRI test and I cannot imagine the price. So I'm trying to see if the City of Hope would accept my insurance in full or somewhere in India. :)

Most definitely I need the door open to fusion as I need to work and won't be able to if munching Oxycontin, etc.

Glad your autofusion helps you M.

Chow, Allan