Comments on: Ultrasounds for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Part 2 http://rawarrior.com/ultrasounds-for-rheumatoid-arthritis-part-2/ Bringing information & encouragement to fight RA Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:45:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/ultrasounds-for-rheumatoid-arthritis-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2020 Kelly Young Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:33:53 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1807#comment-2020 I agree completely. I agree completely.

]]> By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/ultrasounds-for-rheumatoid-arthritis-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2001 Kelly Young Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:44:40 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1807#comment-2001 Yes, it was a couple of PIP's only. Wanted to also do only one hand. Unfortunately (??) for me, hands were one of the last places that I got RA. And I had already been established on DMARDs several months by then. They do hurt when I am not on meds, but they are usually not classically "swollen." My new doc can feel the "thickening" in them even without the ultrasound. A much better doctor. RA does not always present with "obvious swelling," and can cause plenty of damage without externally visible synovitis... :-P Yes, it was a couple of PIP’s only. Wanted to also do only one hand. Unfortunately (??) for me, hands were one of the last places that I got RA. And I had already been established on DMARDs several months by then. They do hurt when I am not on meds, but they are usually not classically “swollen.” My new doc can feel the “thickening” in them even without the ultrasound. A much better doctor. RA does not always present with “obvious swelling,” and can cause plenty of damage without externally visible synovitis… Razz

]]> By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/ultrasounds-for-rheumatoid-arthritis-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2000 Kelly Young Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:39:24 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1807#comment-2000 The doing it over and over thing sounds like a good idea. Since it does no harm, it is another advantage. Unfortunately, TIME to spend doing that is a problem for doctors - at least here in the US. We don't have enough rheumatologists and they have to cram patients in, so they usually have to rush. The doing it over and over thing sounds like a good idea. Since it does no harm, it is another advantage.

Unfortunately, TIME to spend doing that is a problem for doctors – at least here in the US. We don’t have enough rheumatologists and they have to cram patients in, so they usually have to rush.

]]> By: Dr. Akerkar http://rawarrior.com/ultrasounds-for-rheumatoid-arthritis-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1932 Dr. Akerkar Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:39:11 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1807#comment-1932 Ultrasound (USG) is one of the best diagnostic tool presently available for diagnosis of musculoskeletal conditions. It remains one of the best & most economical tool to pick up RA (inflammatory arthritis) early. It costs just a fraction of what a MRI would cost. However, training in musculoskeletal ultrasound remains an area of concern even among the Radiologists. Awareness about the utility of USG in early diagnosis of RA/ musculoskeletal conditions, its subjective nature & lack of expertise among the Radiologists needs to be adressed. Ultrasound (USG) is one of the best diagnostic tool presently available for diagnosis of musculoskeletal conditions. It remains one of the best & most economical tool to pick up RA (inflammatory arthritis) early. It costs just a fraction of what a MRI would cost.
However, training in musculoskeletal ultrasound remains an area of concern even among the Radiologists. Awareness about the utility of USG in early diagnosis of RA/ musculoskeletal conditions, its subjective nature & lack of expertise among the Radiologists needs to be adressed.

]]> By: Lisa Emrich http://rawarrior.com/ultrasounds-for-rheumatoid-arthritis-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1929 Lisa Emrich Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:23:13 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1807#comment-1929 "We only do this joint." What?! Completely not my experience with the one time my rheumatologist used the ultrasound to visualize as many joints as possible in my hands. “We only do this joint.”

What?! Completely not my experience with the one time my rheumatologist used the ultrasound to visualize as many joints as possible in my hands.

]]> By: Dr. Kirsch http://rawarrior.com/ultrasounds-for-rheumatoid-arthritis-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1925 Dr. Kirsch Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:38:56 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1807#comment-1925 We had a sponsored training in ultrasound at our hospital by one of the experts in Germany. Ultrasound may depend on the experience of the user, but the advantage is: you can do the procedure over and over again. Someone with more experience could review critical findings. Sometimes patients can't bear lying in a vault-like MRT, though some peripheral joints could be done in open MRTs. One advantage more: untrasound is less cost intensive. Lothar/Rheumatologe We had a sponsored training in ultrasound at our hospital by one of the experts in Germany. Ultrasound may depend on the experience of the user, but the advantage is: you can do the procedure over and over again. Someone with more experience could review critical findings.
Sometimes patients can’t bear lying in a vault-like MRT, though some peripheral joints could be done in open MRTs.
One advantage more: untrasound is less cost intensive.
Lothar/Rheumatologe

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