Musculoskeletal Diseases Tests
- Osteoporosis Lab Test Panel$260.00
This osteoporosis panel includes:
- Serum total calcium, albumin (to calculate albumin adjusted calcium) and phosphorus as part of a CMP panel to detect conditions associated with hypercalcemia such as primary hyperparathyroidism or hypocalcemia and consequent secondary hyperparathyroidism causing bone loss
- Serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) as part of the CMP panel are useful to detect renal failure which can affect bone health.
- Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as part of a CMP panel. ALP measurement is useful to detect conditions including Paget's disease, metastatic bone disease and osteomalacia, etc.
- Vitamin D nutrition should be determined by measuring serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D]. Although there is controversy about the optimum level of 25(OH)D for bone health; while 50 nmol/L is considered acceptable
- Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) measurement would be required if serum calcium is abnormal, to help investigate the cause of the calcium abnormality.
- Ultra-sensitive Estradiol. Low estradiol in men and women has been linked to bone loss.
- Phosphorus. An increased phosphorus with decreased calcium suggests either hypoparathyroidism or renal disease. A decreased phosphorus and an increased calcium suggests hyperparathyroidism or sarcoidosis. When both calcium and phosphorus are decreased diagnostic considerations include malabsorption, vitamin D deficiency and renal tubular acidosis. Increased phosphorus and normal or increased calcium suggests Milk-alkali syndrome or hypervitaminosis D.
- Fibromyalgia Panel$479.05
Women and men living with fibromyalgia do not have characteristic or consistent abnormalities on laboratory testing. However, routine laboratory and imaging studies are important to help rule out diseases with similar manifestations and to assist in diagnosis of certain inflammatory diseases that frequently coexist with fibromyalgia. These are the lab tests commonly checked by physicians treating fibromyalgia patients: CMP, CBC, Urinalysis, TSH, Vitamin D & B-12, Iron/TIBC, Magnesium in RBC, ESR, CPK and Ferritin.
Learn More - Inflammation Blood Test Panel$222.44
This panel includes blood tests that are related to inflammation and certain diseases. Blood tests included are: CRP high sensitivity, CPK, LDH, Ferritin, Homocysteine and ESR
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Musculoskeletal Diseases Explained - Everything You Need to Know
When talking about health problems and diseases, most people think about symptoms associated with various organs such as the heart, liver, or eyes. However, your muscles and even the bones that make up your skeleton might become ill and/or function abnormally. This opens up the doors to a brand new medical specialty- musculoskeletal diseases.
Although there are many types of musculoskeletal diseases, the good thing is that they show symptoms. Best of all, you can test for them and prevent or reduce their evolution before it's too late. Keep reading to find out more about a string of blood tests designed to identify musculoskeletal diseases.
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LD) Test
Lactate dehydrogenase is a substance found in many tissues in the body. Doctors test for it because elevated levels of LD indicate myocardial infarction. Some patients might have high LD levels if they struggle with muscular dystrophy. This is a condition in which muscle mass starts to waste away for various reasons. Left untreated, muscular dystrophy can have severe and even life-threatening consequences.
Creatine Kinase Total Plus Isoenzymes
Creatine kinase is another substance present in various body tissues. People should test for it because it's commonly associated with myocardial infarction, a life-threatening health problem. This test also looks at various isoenzymes associated with creatine kinase. These isoenzymes help doctors determine the exact cause of the problem and what treatment is more appropriate. In some cases, elevated levels of creatine kinase are also present in patients with muscular dystrophy.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Factor Test
This is a useful test to discover any form of articular damage in patients. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by pain and reduced mobility in certain joints and ligaments. The test looks for inflammation markers that could help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. This test is usually combined with other types of tests for a more accurate diagnosis.
In some cases, this test can also discover autoimmunity activity in the body. This suggests that the immune system starts to attack your own body. Left untreated, this ailment could turn into an autoimmune disease such as celiac disease or lupus. Luckily, a rheumatoid arthritis factor test is an inexpensive way to find out if you're struggling with a destructive articular disease and that's why you should order it.
Tissue Transglutaminase Antibody
This is another test belonging to the musculoskeletal disease category. It relates to finding inflammation markers that reveal gluten sensitivity. As you probably already know, gluten is a type of protein present in many foods we currently eat. Some people develop a sensitivity to this substance and they are more prone to autoimmune diseases.
The test looks for a certain antibody in the blood. This antibody is produced by your system in response to gluten intolerance. If you have high levels of this antibody, chances are that you might have gluten sensitivity.
Parathyroid Hormone Test
Most people know about the function and importance of the thyroid gland. However, the parathyroid glands are also important. They regulate the balance of calcium and phosphorus in your body. As you probably already know, your bones contain a lot of calcium. If the parathyroid glands don't function properly, your skeletal system might become more fragile.
For example, if the body detects that there's too little calcium in the bloodstream, it instructs the parathyroid glands to release certain hormones. These hormones make your bones release more calcium into the bloodstream. If your calcium levels are high, the parathyroid glands instruct your bones to absorb some of it or make your kidneys excrete more.
Doing a parathyroid hormone test is essential to discover if you have kidney problems or your parathyroid glands are working properly.
Inflammation Panel
A lot of musculoskeletal diseases develop as a result of chronic inflammation in the body. Acute inflammation is temporary and good. Chronic inflammation is permanent and dangerous. It signifies that your body is constantly fighting something and never be able to win the fight.
This is where the Inflammation Panel comes into the picture. This panel contains multiple tests that look at specific inflammation biomarkers in your body. These biomarkers are "indicators" that let doctors know there is sustained inflammation in certain tissues or organs.
C-reactive protein is one of the most common inflammation markers in your body. High levels of this substance might indicate inflammatory bowel disease, colon cancer, and a host of other health problems. This substance is produced by your liver.
Ferritin is another substance tested by the Inflammation Panel. It is used to indicate if there is an iron deficiency in your system.
Homocysteine is also tested. This is a substance that reveals if there is a problem with the blood vessels and arteries in your body. When the levels of homocysteine are abnormal, there might be inflammation in your blood vessels or you are at risk of coronary artery disease.
The ESR test is also popular. It stands for erythrocyte sedimentation rate and it's an accurate blood test. It measures how fast certain blood cells fall to the bottom of a special recipient. This could indicate autoimmune diseases, high inflammation in the body, or other types of health problems.
The Inflammation panel contains other tests similar to these. It gives you a broad overview when it comes to the health of your organs and it helps you catch dangerous diseases before they develop completely.
Order A Musculoskeletal Disease Test Today!
These tests are comprehensive and all this information might seem like a lot to you. However, don't feel pressured to test everything at once. Pick a test and go for it. Wait for the results which usually arrive in a few business days and go from there. These tests allow you to get a broad overview of your health and it's best to try them step by step.
If you're ready to order your first test, go to DiscountedLabs.com and pick your favorite. These are some of the cheapest tests across the United States and they are highly accurate.
