How often are you x-rayed/MRI?? | Arthritis Information

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Hi, I go to see my rd on Thursday and I have alot to say to him. I have been on enbrel for a few months and it's been great until about last week. My knees started hurting and I have never had problems with my knees and also I get bad weather flares. I haven't had any xrays since I was dx in prompt care almost 3 years ago. I called for a refill to rd on pain meds. He has been prescribing them for me at 750mgs and he wouldn't refill them! The nurse told me he said I couldn't be in that much pain. WELL< hello, how does he know?? I get awful flares during bad weather. It's spring time in Illinois. We went from 70 degrees day before yesterday to a freeze warning tonight. So I have been hurting and grumpy! I called again. He said no refills. I called a third time during a thunderstorm and she said dr will only give me 30. That was April 11th. Well, he gave me 500mgs and I have been on 750mg for over a year so the 30 didn't last long. I am so fed up with the way I was treated! I wonder if I have damage in different joints but unless I have a mri or xray, how do I know? How many xrays or mri's have you all gotten?? Did you have to request them or did your dr order them. I think I need to do some shopping for a new rd but the trouble is......he is one of three in our town and they are all at the same office. I can't afford to go out of my insurance network. I feel so frustrated and fed up. I think his nurse is a B and want to take my cane and hit her over the head!!!!!Who cares if they are in the same office? My first RD basically told me I had aches and pains because I use the computer and sew!  Not one blood test ever. X-rays of knees and hands showed ho RA a year ago. At Christmas, she basically bid me good bye. Ya..good bye honey.
I went to another RD in the same office, and he says after tons of bloodwork, and only 3 office visits where I was thoroughly examined each time, it's RA!

So, I say go to another in the office.  :)
Oh honey, i would say get another doctor, but if you are like me, there are no other ra doctors around so you kind of get screwed in a way.

 
do you have a family doctor who will do just about anything for you?
 
I do and that is the only way i am on prednisone and/or have pain killers when needed.  He also regulates all my meds and does the x-rays when needed etc.  He will do anything I ask so i can get what i want done when i want it done.  You need one of these.
 
I wish you well, i know just how horrible pain is.
CinDee-I know exactly how you feel about the weather. I live in Illinois and this winter and spring have been very hard to handle. Maybe this latest change in the weather is why I am hurting so much.
 
I have had xrays when I first went to this doctor so she would have a baseline and have only had my hips and hands done again. Only 2 MRI of my shoulder in the very beginning before I was diagnosed.
 
I am currently checking out a new doctor next week because the one I have right now thinks that I am a strange case.  I am tired of being treated like she has never heard of things I complain about. So I guess I would say to get another doctor even if it is in your doctor office. Sorry that this is so hard for you.
 
Renee
CinDee, I'll bet you have a lot to say, I would too! To answer your question, I had x-rays and a nuclear bone scan as part of my diagnosis, and then had a second bone scan 1 year later when I asked my RD if this was something that should be done periodically.  Edited to add, I haven't gotten to the second anniversary of the bone scan yet (that will be this fall), so I don't know if he'll be doing it again.

It certainly sounds like you'd be better off with another doctor (and another nurse), but if that's not possible, then next time the nurse says you can't be in that much pain, I'd say then give me an appt with the doctor so that he can figure out what's wrong.

Also, can you go see a pain management doc?  I haven't always had the best experience with them, but some of them are very good and if you could get the pain part treated by someone else at least that would be a step in the right direction.

Sorry you're having so much trouble.  I hope the weather, and your pain, lets up soon! InnerGlow2008-04-29 08:58:38I had a baseline of my hands during my onset. Didn't even know why-thought they were trying to figure out if I had arthritis or not. No one told me why I was being tested for TB, Heptitis B & C etc....I thought they thought that might be why I was sick....hi cindee ..I think his nurse is a B   They took xrays of all my problem areas the first appointment and then again on my hands I guess three years later just to see where we were at.
 
I've had RA for 14 years now and they have done xrays every few years unless there's a problem. I've had two MRI's. One on my back at the request of a spine specialist and another on my knee/shin area at the request of my RD. Although an MRI gives a better picture of the problem; they end up costing me about ,000 out of pocket so I will never ask for them unless the doctor himself insist it's nessesary. Now if I didn't have to meet that deductable I'd be all for them.
Doesn't it seem this should be monitored more regularly? How can they be sure the drugs are doing what they are supposed to be doing unless they look? I would think at least once per year!my rheumatologist just looks at bloodwork results and if they look ok
then basically i am ok..
Boney
So far I get x-rays around once a year. My last ones showed no change. Maybe Canadian doctors are x-ray crazy? My GP ordered one the first time I complained my hands hurt, then my RD ordered baseline ones, then my aneasthiologist ordered spine ones, then I got one year follow up ones on my hands and feet. In fact, i was getting concerned about too many x-rays. Surely that can't be good for you.

It's nice to know what's going on in there, though.Gimpy-a-gogo2008-04-29 11:27:24hi gimpy i wonderd what is a   aneasthiologist  it is good to see you are
being taken care of
Boney I've had one baseline of my hands done two months ago.  6 Months into my "DX" though I've had it mildly all my life.
during diagnosis stage, I had MRI of back Cervical and Lumbar, but that is all.
to answer wanttobeRAfree.... I have no idea how they can tell about progression without pictures..  My RD does manipulate each joint that bothers me while I visit him... and I leave there hurting more than when I went in 
 
I do trust my RD.  He has been very aggressive with my flares this year and addressing meds and any other issue I have (for the most part)
Yeah, Boney, I feel well taken care of (and I consider myself lucky for it!).

An anaesthiologist is the person that knocks you out for surgery---they deliver anaesthisia! Mine got concerned about my neck because if you have RA your neck can get hurt when you're under. I think in Canada they take "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" very seriously!Gimpy-a-gogo2008-04-29 13:09:13I usually have xrays done every 3 yrs.i had some kind of basic hand xray, they needed more..
 
ohh i was brave, walked into the hospital and thought, ok, at least, i'll give this a shot..
i'm severly claustrophobic, Roflma...
 
they put me in the mri machine, i was fine for a second, then realized this huge machine was right over me, bc my hand could touch it out..
 
once more .. GET ME OUT!!
 
soo.. maybe i could do an open one, but i'm only doing it w/ Valium@!! lol
 
(unconscious @, lol).. I do like my Dr and if your dr isn't doing enough, then CHANGE..
 
My dr is in a big building, but i still stayed w/ the same Company, tho i switched drs.. soo glad i did..
 
To get the pain meds, you need..hmm, you need someone better or to be more
insistent and b**tchy LOL
 
i forgot the subject!! lol..ohh mri's.. shudder, shudder... noooooooooooooooo
hi gimpy thanks for the explain here in the uk we call them aneathatist..
BoneyI had xrays  (feet and hands)at initial diagnosis - now on year two and when I asked my RD about new xrays, she said only every 2 years unless there is a dramatic change in activity.   MRI only done on my neck for unrelated reason. Whisper; They had to give me two valium for my back mri. One before I got there and then another right whenI was about to go in. The one I had on my leg/knee was open. Much easier....except staying still so long. It took about 45 minutes. Way too long for one position for me. Unless you have a problem be careful about getting x-rayed too much.  Remember, the dentist does x-rays, then the mamogram--iall that radiation adds up.  Heaven forbid, if you think you broken a bone and have to have more!  (I am anti x-ray and always have been.)Thanks for all your replies! I will see what happens on Thursday whether or not I will keep this dr. I'll keep ya'll posted. Bubba, I didn't have a primary dr until after my dx. The prompt care dr referred to rd and to gp. Since I was already prescribed vicodin, gp said she would let the rd take care of my pain needs. Yeah right! I was ra positive at 129. My rd does take reg blood test and last time (a few months ago) they were almost normal. So maybe he thinks since blood is normal, I should feel better. But if they don't take xrays how do we know if we have damage? My right thumb has a huge nodule that has been there from day one and now I have other nodules on right hand. Also if enbrel is working, why are my knees hurting now when they never hurt before?? SO many questions that better get answered or rd is history.
Innerglow mentioned a pain dr. Do you have to have a referrel?
Thanks again everyone, you're the best!
 
I think whether or not you need a referral for a pain doc is more based on whether your insurance requires it.  But it may be that some pain docs only take referrals because they want to be sure that they're needed.  If your insurance allows it, call up a local pain doc and ask.  Worst they can say is go back to your regular doc and get a referral.I had xrays taken 16 months ago along with an MRI of my hands which is basically how he diagnosed me because none of my labwork ever shows anything. I went a few weeks ago and complained with hands and feet and xrays were done. Now I have OA in my hands along with RA and my feet have both too. ugh...I get X-rays once a year.  I think I'm going to request an MRI because you guys told me about it.
 
Pip
Am seronegative and x-rays are taken once a year. So far no erosions. Also, have a DEXA scan once a year.   I had x-rays of my feet and my lungs when I was diagnosed four years ago.  Last year, I had an x-ray of one wrist.  Nothing else.  I feel like a minority.Here's my update that I promised: It's Long. LOL
I went to rd and the nurse was so nice and sweet. Asked me how I was and I replied, I'm alive. She said dr had broke his hip and as soon as he was done with the patient he was seeing, she would take me across the hall to see him. She cked my blood pressure 158/102. Not good. Cked my pulse and weight. Lost 2lbs. Woo HOO!
Took me to see dr. He asked how I was. I replied "Well, I have had a hell of a time and I am not happy" I told him I did not like how I was treated with my pain meds and because I have been taking 750mgs for about a year, of course 500mgs would not last too long and to ck my records. They have it all computerized. He clicked  back and said "you're right, I will change that right now". He said "let's ck you out". I told him about my knees and how bad I feel during rain, snow, high humidity, etc. and how I thought enbrel is working with morning stiffness and energy. I feel good until the weather changes and then I swell and hurt. I asked him about xrays. He said "we can xray them if you want but usually I only do them every couple of years and I knew you said you have a 00.00 ded. and they are expensive, but if I wanted to". He saw no need because he can tell that it's muscular. He said the new nodules I have on the digits closet to my nails are OA not RA. Which I never knew. So he ordered blood work which I will do on Friday. As I was walking out he commetted on my cane and said hopefully tomorrow his ortho will let him use a cane instead of crutches. I said 'it's no fun hurting is it? He said, "Nope it's not". I said, "Yeah, at least you pretty much know you are going to heal and get better." Then I walked out the door. He refilled my enbrel, relafen, and 750mg vicodon (with 2 refills) and unless I have problems, see him in 3 months, otherwise give him a call. It was amazing. It was like now he was more human because he had a broken hip and could finally relate to me. When I told my mom. She started laughing and then looked up and asked God to forgive her for thinking bad thoughts. LOL
So there you have it.
I feel better now.
I hope you guys are feeling better too.
take care
My ex-rheumy didn't do xrays, so I had my chiropractor do my hands.  Then at the next appointment with the rheumy 90 days later, I told him I had them done, and he went, oh that's right, I forgot.  So I had them done again at one year.  When I told the rheumy he said, it takes two years for damage to show up.  I just finished today a three-day marathon of hand/wrist MRIs as this is the gold standard now, and what good rheumatologist should order up.  And please remember that x-rays of bones are using less radiation then trying to expose an organ (like in the past), so the dosage of radiation is very low for bone studies. 
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