Comments on: 10 Dumb Questions About an MRI for Rheumatoid Arthritis http://rawarrior.com/10-dumb-questions-about-an-mri-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/ Bringing information & encouragement to fight RA Tue, 22 May 2012 14:16:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bon Crosby http://rawarrior.com/10-dumb-questions-about-an-mri-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/comment-page-1/?show=comments-197925 Bon Crosby Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:13:54 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1582#comment-197925 Thanks for this information Kelly. I was wondering about all the expensive tests I have been through but receiving little treatment. They tell me I have had RA so long not much can be done, so why keep running these expensive tests...then do nothing to help me? I am an intelligent patient and learn all I can about this disease and yet they treat me like I don't know what is best for me. I know what pain med helps and which don't, but this new doc refuses the one and only one that helps. Instead prescribing Vicodin which does nothing but make my head hurt. Every patient is different and responds differently to the same meds, yet she won't give me what my previous doctor found worked for me. I don't understand and yet she sends me for more and more tests and does nothing that helps. I am about to give up. My new primary doc said he is surprised I am still alive having had this disease so long. Well, there goes my hope and determination to fight this thing. grrrrr Thanks for this information Kelly. I was wondering about all the expensive tests I have been through but receiving little treatment. They tell me I have had RA so long not much can be done, so why keep running these expensive tests…then do nothing to help me? I am an intelligent patient and learn all I can about this disease and yet they treat me like I don’t know what is best for me. I know what pain med helps and which don’t, but this new doc refuses the one and only one that helps. Instead prescribing Vicodin which does nothing but make my head hurt. Every patient is different and responds differently to the same meds, yet she won’t give me what my previous doctor found worked for me. I don’t understand and yet she sends me for more and more tests and does nothing that helps. I am about to give up. My new primary doc said he is surprised I am still alive having had this disease so long. Well, there goes my hope and determination to fight this thing. grrrrr

]]> By: Lauren Green http://rawarrior.com/10-dumb-questions-about-an-mri-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/comment-page-1/?show=comments-196669 Lauren Green Thu, 29 Mar 2012 23:53:04 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1582#comment-196669 Well, would an mri show a difference other than an xray? Say if someone was seronegative, like I was, would it show inflammation of the joint or synovium problems unlike an xray....??? Well, would an mri show a difference other than an xray? Say if someone was seronegative, like I was, would it show inflammation of the joint or synovium problems unlike an xray….???

]]> By: Diana http://rawarrior.com/10-dumb-questions-about-an-mri-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/comment-page-1/?show=comments-161713 Diana Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:22:34 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1582#comment-161713 This is so true. My rheumy ordered an MRI on my shoulder during my last visit to the clinic. By the time it was over, I could not move my arm for anything! The technician had to physically pull my arm out and bend it over my torso so I could get up. I couldn't feel my arm, my hand, anything! It was terrible and soooo painful! Sometimes I think the treatments and procedures are almost just as bad as the disease. in Texas, Diana This is so true. My rheumy ordered an MRI on my shoulder during my last visit to the clinic. By the time it was over, I could not move my arm for anything! The technician had to physically pull my arm out and bend it over my torso so I could get up. I couldn’t feel my arm, my hand, anything! It was terrible and soooo painful! Sometimes I think the treatments and procedures are almost just as bad as the disease.

in Texas,
Diana

]]> By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/10-dumb-questions-about-an-mri-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/comment-page-1/?show=comments-107383 Kelly Young Sun, 30 Oct 2011 20:39:40 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1582#comment-107383 Good for you to read up & find out what is best for your situation. MRI and MSUS work differently on diff joints so it can depend on the joint - and there are very few people who are trained yet in proper use of the MSUS for RA - so make sure your rheum doc sends you to the right specialist - hopefully the use of this technology will continue to improve over the next few years!! There is also nuclear bone scan which gives a pic of inflammation, if done properly - but the same issues exist about the expertise of the operator. An upcoming post on these issues. Good for you to read up & find out what is best for your situation. MRI and MSUS work differently on diff joints so it can depend on the joint – and there are very few people who are trained yet in proper use of the MSUS for RA – so make sure your rheum doc sends you to the right specialist – hopefully the use of this technology will continue to improve over the next few years!! There is also nuclear bone scan which gives a pic of inflammation, if done properly – but the same issues exist about the expertise of the operator. An upcoming post on these issues.

]]> By: Karen http://rawarrior.com/10-dumb-questions-about-an-mri-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/comment-page-1/?show=comments-107378 Karen Sun, 30 Oct 2011 20:14:33 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1582#comment-107378 I will refuse Amy suggestion of an MRI and go straight to the ultrasound. The rheumys should have an ultrasound machine in their offices....thanks Kelly. I feel so fortunate to have found this site. I will refuse Amy suggestion of an MRI and go straight to the ultrasound. The rheumys should have an ultrasound machine in their offices….thanks Kelly. I feel so fortunate to have found this site.

]]> By: Sarah Miller http://rawarrior.com/10-dumb-questions-about-an-mri-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/comment-page-1/?show=comments-104423 Sarah Miller Mon, 24 Oct 2011 02:40:51 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1582#comment-104423 After years of getting no where, they finally took a MRI of both wrists. I had to lay very still with one arm over my head, and each wrist took half an hour. I had a big flare up after that, but they found RA,and since I don't have the RA factor it was useful, but why does it have to be so painful? After years of getting no where, they finally took a MRI of both wrists. I had to lay very still with one arm over my head, and each wrist took half an hour. I had a big flare up after that, but they found RA,and since I don’t have the RA factor it was useful, but why does it have to be so painful?

]]> By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/10-dumb-questions-about-an-mri-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/comment-page-1/?show=comments-53165 Kelly Young Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:23:37 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1582#comment-53165 That's a long time to sit in one position Nancy, but it sounds worth it to stay out of the tube! :O That’s a long time to sit in one position Nancy, but it sounds worth it to stay out of the tube! :O

]]> By: Nancy Rueb http://rawarrior.com/10-dumb-questions-about-an-mri-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/comment-page-1/?show=comments-52743 Nancy Rueb Sat, 29 Jan 2011 01:52:42 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1582#comment-52743 I just had my second hand MRI,I feel very lucky that my Rheumatologist has one for hands and knees, very small, you sit with your hand inside the machine for 1 1/2 hrs. Your shoulder is stiff and uncomfortable but not nearly as bad as your whole body. I needed the second one because my rheumatologist of 3 years said my disease was inactive..I asked how do you know since I am seronegative and negative sed rate and I still in as much pain as ever. That was my last visit with him. Now have a new doctor taking mexotreate and hoping for less pain and stiffness. Thanks for all the work on this blog. I just had my second hand MRI,I feel very lucky that my Rheumatologist has one for hands and knees, very small, you sit with your hand inside the machine for 1 1/2 hrs. Your shoulder is stiff and uncomfortable but not nearly as bad as your whole body. I needed the second one because my rheumatologist of 3 years said my disease was inactive..I asked how do you know since I am seronegative and negative sed rate and I still in as much pain as ever. That was my last visit with him. Now have a new doctor taking mexotreate and hoping for less pain and stiffness. Thanks for all the work on this blog.

]]> By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/10-dumb-questions-about-an-mri-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/comment-page-1/?show=comments-22240 Kelly Young Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:39:57 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1582#comment-22240 Hi Jennifer, sounds like you are on the right track to be aggressive with tests & trying to get treatment. Glad I could help. Rough techs is a problem. They have no idea how much pain we are in & the ones I've met seem to think we are "acting" too much. "Normal" MRI's on flaring joints are frustrating. I've heard stories of surgeries proving MRI's were wrong. I had a friend w/ a broken bone & the xray was "normal." Tests are good, but what the patient says matters more. Hi Jennifer, sounds like you are on the right track to be aggressive with tests & trying to get treatment. Glad I could help. Rough techs is a problem. They have no idea how much pain we are in & the ones I’ve met seem to think we are “acting” too much. “Normal” MRI’s on flaring joints are frustrating. I’ve heard stories of surgeries proving MRI’s were wrong. I had a friend w/ a broken bone & the xray was “normal.” Tests are good, but what the patient says matters more.

]]> By: Jennifer http://rawarrior.com/10-dumb-questions-about-an-mri-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/comment-page-1/?show=comments-22237 Jennifer Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:31:25 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1582#comment-22237 OMG I thought it was just me!! I had a torturous MRI the other day. I am becoming an expert since by tomorrow, I will have had just about everything MRI-ed! I had to deal with an unsympathetic tech who got annoyed she had to repeat images because I was "moving". Well, I do have muscle spasms!! And then I got a message from my orthopedic (who ordered the test for my Nofault case) that the results were "normal". Greeeeaaaat. So why are my joints still killing me? This website has been wonderful. I am just going for testing and am very early in the fight but RA is suspected as the culprit. Your story and testimonial has been very helpful to me! Regards, -J OMG I thought it was just me!! I had a torturous MRI the other day. I am becoming an expert since by tomorrow, I will have had just about everything MRI-ed! I had to deal with an unsympathetic tech who got annoyed she had to repeat images because I was “moving”. Well, I do have muscle spasms!! And then I got a message from my orthopedic (who ordered the test for my Nofault case) that the results were “normal”. Greeeeaaaat. So why are my joints still killing me? This website has been wonderful. I am just going for testing and am very early in the fight but RA is suspected as the culprit. Your story and testimonial has been very helpful to me! Regards, -J

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