The short explanation
Yes, it is reasonable to ask her doctor about a bone density test. Being over sixty-five, having a low body weight, and having had a wrist injury after a fall are all things that raise the chance of osteoporosis. A wrist fracture from a simple fall is often an early sign of fragile bones. A DEXA scan measures bone density and, together with her age and other risk factors, helps the doctor estimate her risk of future fractures and decide whether treatment would help.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Other factors that increase risk include early menopause, long-term steroid use, smoking, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid problems and a family history of hip fracture.
- Preventing falls is just as important. Good lighting, removing loose mats, non-slip footwear, grab rails in the bathroom, eye checks and reviewing medicines that cause dizziness all help.
- Food with enough calcium and protein, safe sunlight, and gentle exercise that improves strength and balance support her bones.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This answer cannot tell whether your mother has osteoporosis or needs treatment. That needs a bone density scan and her doctor's assessment.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Does she need a bone density scan?
- Was her wrist fracture a sign of weak bones?
- What can we do to prevent falls at home?
- Does she need treatment for her bones?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 or go to the emergency department if she falls and cannot get up, cannot move her leg, or has severe pain in the hip or back.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Book a routine appointment to discuss a bone density test and fall prevention.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Osteoporosis NHS
- Osteoporosis MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine)
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
Did this answer your question?
Whatever you choose is filed against this version of the answer, never against you, and it is never shown as a count.
“Explain more simply” asks you which part was hard to follow, so the author knows what to rewrite. “My question is different” opens a private follow-up with this answer attached.
Saving, following up and reporting are all private. Nothing you do on this page is visible to other readers or to the doctor who wrote it, unless you ask a question.