Re: x-rays: Osteopenia or not? Leah-help!

[Guest guest]

Hi nne,

Quite a dilemma you have there! It's terrible to get conflicting

feedback from different Dr's.

Oh how I wish I was doctor but I'm not... this is just our

experience. There are in fact several different types of x-rays to

look for different things but I'm not certain that you need a bone

mineral x-ray to see low density, you would want that and a bone

scan to determine the bone density (T and Z score like I mentioned

before).

For example Olivia's x-rays are terrible to try and read for a

break. Her bones appear extremely mottled looking quite like

granite, grey, white and black all smeared around.

Just by looking at her normal x-rays you can see that the bones

are not normal bone. (you can also see the arthritis on my husbands

normal x-rays)

Gee sounds like I'm rambling here, getting back to the point. I

would think that you'd be able to see Osteopenia on a normal x-ray

if you knew what you're looking for.

Being that our children aren't the best eaters and it's hard for

them to get the proper nutrition (RSS and SGA kids) that they need

my thoughts are that Dr. H has seen this before.

I would get into an ortho's office as soon as possible and have

them look at the x-rays and then go from there. They're the bone

experts but I would do a bit of shopping, if it's possible in your

area, and find someone that takes care of kids also and not just

adults.

As for the radiologist, I'm not sure what to say there. All x-

rays have to be run by them but I don't think that they study every

one for everything, they're just looking for the one thing the x-ray

was taken for. (ie: break, bone age, arthritis, etc), but who knows

maybe some do take a more indepth look?

It might turn out that Mia's bones are just fine but I would still

follow it up just to be sure.

Good Luck and please keep me posted on how it goes for you.

Leah, mom to , almost 10 and Olivia, 5 years, RSS, OI

>

> Hi: Thanks for responding to my note on Mia and osteopenia. It

> really helped me sleep better last night knowing the tx that Mia

may

> need. My new dilemma: I brought the xray to mia's endo here in

Fl

> today like Dr. H advised and to have her measurements taken to

send

> to Dr. H so they can co-manage her. First of all he did not seem

> thrilled that I went to her. He held up her xrays to the light

(he

> didn't even put it in the light box thing) and immediately shook

his

> head and said " I don't see it " . He said he ordered a bone xray

and

> if he had wanted a bone density he would have ordered a bone

mineral

> xray? He is basically saying they are two totally different

tests.

> He also said the radiologist that read the bone age would have

noted

> if Mia had osteopenia.

>

> So, I have Dr. H saying that it is " severe osteopenia " and this

> doctor saying not at all! NOw, if Dr. H had said mild or possible

> osteo. and my endo said no I wouldn't be too concerned. But, what

> do I do now? Thanks for any replys.

> nne (Mia's mom SGA)