While the traditional x-ray is still the radiologic tool most used by rheumatologists to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has slowly but surely developed a following among some rheumatologists. This is because MRI studies can show much more detail than the plain x-ray....
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MRI vs xray
Ellen
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 10:39 AMP.S. permanent wrist damage
Ellen
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 10:42 AMForgot to mention - there was permanent damage to that wrist, despite a trial of Remicade a few months later (2 infusions, then quit due to side effects, then started Enbrel about a year after original diagnosis). I wear a splint 24/7 and will probably need surgery at some future date, unfortunately.
Ellen
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Does anyone know what Plaquenil will do to lab tests for ESR, CRP, and CCP IGG?
Posted 11/19 Comments (1)
I had all sorts of joint pain and my Rheumatoid Factor...
hi - I was partially diagnosed by wrist MRI ordered by my GP - it showed edema in the bone marrow. also my RF was positive. My doctor was still not totally convinced (thought maybe I just had fibromyalgia) until my wrist blew up 2 months later. It took another couple of months to get an appointment with the rheumatologist. Would the xray have shown that edema? Radiology said it was likely RA, RSD (old name), or trauma.
Previous to that, I'd had an ankle MRI in one of the small units at my orthopedist's office. Only difficulty was holding my leg still for 20 minutes (not totally supported). I already thought something more was going on, but MRI showed no effusion and the cost (paid by ins.) was a lot lower than regular MRI. I think it's a good idea. (I have had tendon reconstruction in that ankle several years later for problems that did exist.)
Ellen