X-RAY FOR PAINFUL HIPS? Why not a dxa scan?

cagneyfan

Hi,

I'm curious why the gp sent me for an x-ray rather than a dxa bone scan.

I've recenlty been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, but explained to the doctor that I was worried about pain in my hips and that it may be 'lumped in' with the fibromyalgia pains.

I felt it was a legitimate concern as my hips are particularly painful, stopping sleeping as I constantly have to swap sides. Also, my mother had osteoporosis. Added to that I've not had a period for several years and still in my 40's. Also, my diet has been very poor for years (very little calcium intake). So I was sent for an x-ray.

However, I've recently read that your bones have to be well advanced in bone density loss before it would show on an x-ray.

Would I be justified in asking for a dxa bone scan as I feel that I tick several of the concerns regarding a possible problem with bone density - and why on earth was I not sent for one in the first place. It seems a waste of time and money sending me for the normal x-ray when I feel a scan would be the better and more logical option.

But how do I approach the subject without sounding like a complete know all, and risk contradicting the gp's view?

j.e.j.

Maybe the best thing would be to go for the x-ray and see what (if anything) it shows up, and then broach the subject of a dxa bone scan with them?

But yes, in answer to your question there's no reason why you can't at least ask for one. If you have your doubts about what that particular GP is advising you, is there somebody else you can see? I remember seeing 3 different doctors over a period of time for one specific medical condition, and each doctor approached the problem slightly differently, and prescribed different meds.

cagneyfan

Yes, I think I'm going to just have to see what the x-ray shows.

My worry is that if it doesn't show anything (because as I said it has to be fairly severe before bone loss shows up on x-rays), then she may not be willing to send me for a dxa scan.

I was just curious why she didn't send me for one in the first place, bearing in mind the symptoms that I have. It seems I may have been subjected to uneccessary radiation and nhs expense for a course of action that I feel was a waste of time and should have been by-passed.

I did ask at the time if x-rays shows up bone density loss and she said it did, it was only afterwards that I read it has to be quite severe though.

Bronnie

Strange isn't it?

I was very surprised to be advised I should have a peripheral DEXA scan a few years ago, after I tripped on some shoes left at the bottom of the stairs and fell awkwardly through the doorway onto the concrete step and fractured my collar bone.

I am tall and healthy, a good weight and eat well, non-smoker, was under 50 , no family history of osteoporosis and was pre-menopausal. I had slipped on a wet tiled floor at work a couple of years previously and cracked a bone in my elbow, so I suppose this was the reason, however they were both explicable falls on to very unforgiving surfaces!

Everything was fine, which is nice to have confirmed, but I'm surprised it hasn't been offered to you. I agree with the jej, I would go ahead with the xray then broach the subject of the dxa scan. Hope you get some relief from the pain issue soon anyway.

cagneyfan

Well I got the x-ray results and apparantly there is a problem. But I can't remember what was said. I think it was something like: 'degeneration of sacral region' - or something similar.

It said my right hip was worse than left, which I knew as it clicks and grinds more.

I'm now bing sent for a dxa scan. I'm now worried sick as I said previously an x-ray only shows up a problem if the bones are quite badly degenerated - so I must be in that category. I'm so hacked off and worried.

I hope the scan shows that it's not as bad as I think.

Bronnie

Try not to worry, you only have half a picture at the moment and things may not be as bad as you are imagining.....easier said than done I know. Can't really offer any advice, but best wishes and I do hope all goes well for you.

Bron
x

jenniewb

I had the same issue when to all intents and purposes I had shin splints- they wouldn't show on an xray but they still have to do an xray anyway as its cheaper and they like to rule things out and anything serious before taking a step further.

In the end and during their ruling out (not with the xray as it was too small to see on a full leg xray but with a nuclear bone scan which came after an MRI scan showed a lot of swelling) I had a stress fracture and a bunch of other previously unknown issues, I'm not sure if this would have been found had they not done any "ruling out".

My experience would be just to go along with it and get the results, its the way they work and nothing anyone else says seems to change this no matter how obvious it seems!

cagneyfan

I could kick myself for not listening properly (except I'm scared I'll fall over and break my hip!).

I know I read that bone density loss only shows up when there's quite a loss (I beleive 30% or thereabouts) - so I'm hoping that what did show up is nothing to do with bone density loss (she said something like 'degeneration of the sacral region and right hip worse than left).

Hopefully that's a completely different thing to what I was concerned about regarding bone density showing on an x-ray, and hopefully it's not as bad as bone density loss, and that she's doing a dxa scan just to be certain.

I thought afterwards she should've explained it in more detail as I was obviously worried about bone density loss and she should've clarified what she meant from what she read on the results of the x-ray. As you can probably tell I'm getting myself all tangled up in knots - which will give you some idea of how I come across whilst in the doctors office. I get in a right flap.

Don't know how long it'll be before I get the scan - I assume each region is different. I live in Tyne and Wear so if anyone up here knows roughly how long I'll need to wait I'd be gratefull for some info.

puddle96

please stop worrying. Degeneration is simply wear and tear on your hip joints and lower back joint i.e a touch of arthritis and happens to most of us as we get older. As long as the report didn't specifically say that your bones were either osteoporotic or osteopenic the current risk of fracturing your hip in a fall is low
HTH