Can't wait to see the results of this. One hour on my back and could barely get up.ouch!
MRIs often yield really good information. Let us know the outcome, OK?
A friend of mine had an MRI done of her head a couple of weeks ago. She said it was awful – head in a tube with jackhammers inside. She’s claustrophobic too. YIKES! Results showed nothing amiss, so that, at least is a good thing.
What did you get MRI'd? I had MRI #2 this morning - brain with and without contrast on Friday and c-spine with and without contrast this morning. My back was spasming badly this morning, and I wasn't sure I was going to make it. Now I have a raging headache from holding my neck in one position for so long. I can't wait for results, either!
I had two last week, and i got warm cookies and milk AND as special encouragement valium.
The results: I have arthritis................... gee thanks
Haha tntlamb, geez, anyone could have probably told you that! Oh well, now it's officially confirmed and thankfully it's ONLY arthritis haha. (I'm not really laughing.)
I'm lucky, we have a BIG MRI tube (3 ft. in diameter). Weeee, they gave me a cracker and coffee.
I had my pelvic region mri'd with contrast.
Do you know if they did STIR sequences?
What's a stir sequence
Its technique done during and MRI to compensate for "fat signals" (I'm not suggesting you are fat) to separate out those signals from inflammation. If they can find and label the inflammation, it can really nail down whats going on rather than looking for "damage" The pelvic-hip region is normally Home base for PsA although docs are more commonly examining hands and feet. The difference is that they can often times speed up the "gap" and get to the good meds much faster with the kind of evidence an MRI can provide.
My pain is all I my lower back. Hands and feet are fine.
Strange as it may seem pain has little to do with any of it. Roughly 75% of PsA patients will have irregularities of the distal interphalangeal joints or the plantar fascia. 25% will present with irregularities starting at the sacral promontory. Low back pain not so much, thats usually something else (related but different)
I've had a bunch of MRI's done for various parts, thankfully I am not claustrophobic, I always fall asleep. They did contrast when I had something on the side of my foot at the base of my pinky toe that kept rupturing, although there was disagreement about what it was. The radiologist said it was consistent with a rheumatoid nodule but my orthopedic surgeon said he thought that the bursa just got so filled with fluid that it ruptured, either way, same difference: loads of inflammatory goodies and pain.
I only wish the doc would order some MRIs for me. I know I can't really afford them, but it would be so nice to have a GP who actually acknowledged the existence of PsA.
My Rheumy ordered some xrays last visit, but that only looks at bone changes.
Well, good luck with the MRI. My disease started with my SI area at the end of middle school or start of high school. Sausage toes is more recent development. It’s been said that I probably have a combo, but honestly I don’t care anymore.
Well hopefully, the MRI helps you out.
Actually an MRI is like looking for a clump of sand on a beach. x-rays show much more than than changes in bones and are generally more helpful to rheumies and orthopods than mri. There is some very specific damage one looks for on CT and MRI? You really don't want to be meeting the criteria for those exams.
tmbrwolf329 said:
I only wish the doc would order some MRIs for me. I know I can't really afford them, but it would be so nice to have a GP who actually acknowledged the existence of PsA.
My Rheumy ordered some xrays last visit, but that only looks at bone changes.
Cookies and milk? Coffee and crackers? What kind of imaging facilities do YOU people go to? I've had two MRIs and a CT scan in the past few months and didn't get squat. I should have been in the running for margaritas at that point.
I guess I shouldn't mention they have a monthly drawing for a weekend at one of the area resorts or an annual drawing for a Hawaiian vacation???
Louise said:
Cookies and milk? Coffee and crackers? What kind of imaging facilities do YOU people go to? I've had two MRIs and a CT scan in the past few months and didn't get squat. I should have been in the running for margaritas at that point.
I'm moving, or at least scheduling my next imaging in Montana!
They called me with the results and if I can remember what she said - was there was no erosion in my s.i. joints, but there might be some degeneration(?) in my L5. I might have to call back and have a note pad handy. She told me to contact my pain management doctor and have him do the injections in my L5 instead of my S.I. joints. Would that be where my pain is coming from?
L 4-5 is actually the more likley place to get low back pain from.