 Posted 22/04/2012 14:09:24
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Does anyone know if bone turnover tests are helpful and if they are available on the NHS?
I have just started taking AA and Adcal and would like to know if they are working. I had some blood tests taken by the OP nurse at the hospital and the results were sent through to my GP who told me they were 'OK'.
Thank you
Hils
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Posted 22/04/2012 14:50:39
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My GP does them - but she is a bit of a maverick GP. Coming up to retirement and does not really think very highly of medication based 'health services'.
A bone turnover test has to be done every few months so you can work out if your diet/exercise programme is doing any good.
Sarah
Tscore Lumbar spine -3.3, Femoral neck -2.6, Hip -2.2
Alkali diet (+ no caffeine/sugar/salt/rhubarb/spinach) and exercise and supplements of Vit D (2,000IUs daily), Vit K2 as MK7, vit K2 Menatetrenone, Cod liver oil.
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Posted 26/04/2012 09:35:38
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I have never heard of this test... only had the one scan, now on Ibnadronate, and VitD tablet, and exercise etc, but would love to know if my bone density has improved!Do you think it is worth chasing up? been diagnosed 2 half years now.
Jilly
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Posted 26/04/2012 15:28:14
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As far as I understand it the bone turnover tests will not tell you what the density is, but will tell you the rate at which you are losing bone. One test on its own is not enough, you need to measure the results of a test taken today against one taken in 6 months, and if the bone is decreasing it's percentage then you are doing something right. Well, that is how I understand it!
Tscore Lumbar spine -3.3, Femoral neck -2.6, Hip -2.2
Alkali diet (+ no caffeine/sugar/salt/rhubarb/spinach) and exercise and supplements of Vit D (2,000IUs daily), Vit K2 as MK7, vit K2 Menatetrenone, Cod liver oil.
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Posted 26/04/2012 17:05:33
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Hi Sarah,
Please can you let us know what your two bone turnover test results were - it would be really useful so we know how it works so we can ask our GPs for the test too !
Osteoporosis - Strontium Ranelate, Dekristol vitamin D3 20,000 IU/week, weight lifting, walking and vibration platform exercise, alkaline loaded diet, vitamin K2 MK-7 200mcg/day. Diabetes - Repaglinide, low carb diet and exercise. Congenital heart defect - Omacor and CoQ10. Small airways disease/asthma - Qvar 100. Probable coeliac.
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Posted 26/04/2012 21:14:22
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Well, I know the point of the bone turnover test, so does my GP and today I went to get my results and the nurse told me 'Your calcium levels are fine'. so i said 'Thank you, and what about the bone turnover test.'
'The what?' was the reply.
'Bone turnover' says I
'well, that is your calcium test.....'
GRRRRRR - so now I have to to go back to the doc and get her to explain to the nurse that a 'calcium test' is not a bone turnover test. So feeling a tad frustrated!
This same Practice Nurse asked me 'What is an alkali diet? Can you eat meat?'
Oh spare me. Thank goodness for this site!
Sarah
Tscore Lumbar spine -3.3, Femoral neck -2.6, Hip -2.2
Alkali diet (+ no caffeine/sugar/salt/rhubarb/spinach) and exercise and supplements of Vit D (2,000IUs daily), Vit K2 as MK7, vit K2 Menatetrenone, Cod liver oil.
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Posted 27/04/2012 10:24:10
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Oh dear  I suspect the phlebotomist saw "bone turnover" and instead of doing that test did "bone" which tests calcium, alkaline phosphatase and something else I forget - that is the test I have. Your bone turnover one is most unusual - remember it took me ages to find the name of it and now I've forgotten it - it must be quite an expensive test.
Hope the doctor can get the test reorganised for you.
Osteoporosis - Strontium Ranelate, Dekristol vitamin D3 20,000 IU/week, weight lifting, walking and vibration platform exercise, alkaline loaded diet, vitamin K2 MK-7 200mcg/day. Diabetes - Repaglinide, low carb diet and exercise. Congenital heart defect - Omacor and CoQ10. Small airways disease/asthma - Qvar 100. Probable coeliac.
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Posted 27/04/2012 10:58:05
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Hi Sarah
My understanding is that the bone turnover test can only be done in a hospital. The first doctor (Senior Registrar) I saw in the hospital osteoporosis clinic suggested that the test might be a useful one for me to have, but she said that it would have to be carried out in hospital. She explained that urine testing was not considered very reliable because levels of urinary bone turnover markers can vary a lot throughout the day. When you have the blood test done, you need to have fasted for a number of hours to avoid the large decrease in bone turnover markers that occurs after eating.
I didn't have the bone turnover test because the consultant who saw me at my next appointment thought it was unnecessary. I didn't discuss this with him in any more detail as my main concern was to try to get him to agree to strontium ranelate instead of bisphosphonates!
Do let us know if your GP can arrange for the bone turnover test to be done.
Jane
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Posted 27/04/2012 11:54:56
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Jane
You are correct about the fasting before the test, and I do fast for at least 18 hours before the test. But a bone turnover test is done by taking a blood sample and analising the sample. You do not have to go into hospital for a 'bone biopsy'.
I can understand your wanting to go onto SR rather that bisphosonates, but my GP is totally different to your consultant in that it is her opinion that although the bone turnover will not tell you your bone density, if you measure the results of the your bone turnover ever 6 months you can build up a picture of how fast your bones are renewing and from that you can alter your nutrition/exercise/supplement regime.
My GP is brilliant and really does not care about the 'drug related' cures and is supportive and in some cases pays for alternatives to medication.
If medication worked, no one would have OP.
Sarah
Tscore Lumbar spine -3.3, Femoral neck -2.6, Hip -2.2
Alkali diet (+ no caffeine/sugar/salt/rhubarb/spinach) and exercise and supplements of Vit D (2,000IUs daily), Vit K2 as MK7, vit K2 Menatetrenone, Cod liver oil.
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