Anyone had ultra-sound exam on hands? | Arthritis Information

Today at RD's he took U/S pics of my right hand pointer, and middle and wrist.. he saw NO disease activity (it would show up the same way blood does in the u/s)

he said that he saw some erosion on the first hand joint of the middle finger from the underside.. I could see it when he pointed it out to me....... hopefully and expectantly, this is OLD damage....

Altogether it was a very interesting appointment..

We saw NO activity of disease in those joints and my scores from his exam were excellent..

his conclusion is that I am almost in medically induced remission.....

wow. I am not sure I feel as though I am........

I feel very very good compared to my last huge flare in 2007.; but I am still not myself.

maybe... I'll never be quite there again..

but, I have to be happy with this... it is very positive!!

I hope that you are all progressing to lessened disease activity and no erosions.
Great news Babs!Babs, here's a high five to ya....what wonderful news. LI'm in remission from Still's Disease -- and no, remission doesn't feel "normal" -- but it isn't as bad as flares and the constant symptomology that goes along with the active disease process. I feel blessed that "all" i have to deal with is the extensive OA now.Babs, that is great news! Redefining your new self could be loads of fun! I am so happy for you and you give us all hope! thank you thank you! I am quite excited by it..

I wish this good news came without pain....... *sigh*

one positive step at a time...... right?
Right! Left foot... right foot...

I'm so glad for you!

About ultra-sound... if it works for a particular need, this is a good way to cut back on radiation. I'm no radiation expert, but it seems to me that it's important to have one doctor in-charge of documenting all the xrays done within some kind of timeframe, say a couple years. It IS possible to have too much because the different specialists are concentrating on their own catagory and don't know or consider about when you other illnesses with radiation necessary. Here's how I really learned this. My older daughter, with Lupus, had repeated xrays, CTscans, for a 6-9 month episode of lung trouble, after recovering from that, 6 mo later she fell and broke her leg, then while still on crutches, her 2year kidney illness began for which she had repeated follow-up radiology. She, age 26, lived(s) 8hrs from me but of course, I went for her kidney biopsy. I demanded that her medical team calculate all her radiology during the lung and leg months onto those for her kidney trouble up to that point. Those renal guys never considered those previous illnesses and so did look into it. They were so alarmed, they declared she couldn't have another xray, CT, etc for at least a year..... only ultrasound as that is sound waves, not radiation.

What's wrong with those experts? A patient's MOM shouldn't have to think of that!

I recently retold that story to a friend whose broken knee isn't healing well so getting repeated xrays. A couple of years ago she was radiated therapeutically for breast cancer, but though it's probably on her intake form for the orthopedist, I don't trust that he noticed, especially since it never came up in her appts.

Somebody should do something to protect patients.

ps: I am aware that radiology has improved a lot over the years, that less is used and it can be aimed at one place. What I'm referring to as a possible danger is when there is a great accumulation of it from many many exposure instances.