how often do you get xrays? seronegatives | Arthritis Information

 

I'm wondering how often you guys get x-rays...especially the sero-negatives out there. I am seronegative and my bloodwork always looks fine. My hands are constantly hurting though, even when there is no apparant inflammation. If it weren't for the xrays (showing damage), the doctors would probably think I was making up symptoms. The only way to see if the damage is progressing is through x-rays. My current doctor only wants x-rays done once a year. I'm wondering how often you guys get your xrays done. thanks, julieMine does once a year as well.  I think that is relatively normal unless you present with a new symptom. Hi, I've never had any. I've wondered about that , when my fingers are so stiff (why) doesn't he xray them? He just keeps giving me the medication. Like he knows what's going on inside my finger joints?! Lynda I get xrays and bone density yearly.  MRI if anything unusual is going on.  Oy I hated that MRI for my hands when I had one done. 

I had mine done in November-ish for diagnosis, and when I asked my rheumy about how often it should be done, he said "when you have inflammation and damage"....huh?  I have that constantly, but I don't think I'm getting daily x-rays.  My impression is that he wants them only yearly as well.

My personal thinking is that if your RA's not under control, that when you try out a med, and you're on it for two months or so, take x-rays and see if the damage has halted/slowed.  Maybe it's not that easy to determine, or maybe I'm just crazy (ok, well, yeah, I'm crazy), but that sounds like it would tell us if a med is working better than my subjective general impression of whether my symptoms are improving.

I have always had x-rays yearly. I had a bone density test done last year
due to longterm pred. use. Last week I had a bone scan done. I should
get those results tomorrow.

I have been seronegative for 10 years. This is the first year I have popped
up as positive. I wonder if this will affect how often the x-rays are done?

beckyI get them every six months. My RA has been very aggressive and doesn't respond very well to treatment, so my doctor likes to keep on top of it.

LynnI had them done a few months ago when I first fell prey to the evil RA.  I'm glad you asked this because i was wondering myself.  Thanks.  Oh, and by the way, I am also seronegative with very fine looking bloodwork.no more than once a year unless we are monitoring a joint for a specific issueDitto on the once a year.

Wow, I'm going to ask for new x-rays when I see my rheumy next week.  I haven't had x-rays since I was diagnosed almost 2 years ago.   Actually she only did an MRI to verify her diagnosis. She had me do a bone density (which I passed with flying colours...better than a 20 year old

Thanks guys

I haven't been going for a year.  He only took x-rays of my hands, but I am slowly working on the rest of my body.  He did x-rays of my back and next I will want ones of my ankles and feet.  The orthopedic surgeon has plenty of x-rays and MRI's of my knees and they are shot.  Although they are better than they were thanks to his handywork.

On my intiial RH. visit 4 yrs ago, he ordered xrays of my chest and hands, and has not ordered any since. I have though, kept up with my usual mammogram and bone density scans (these are ordered by my GP).

Got a nice surprise last bone density scan I went for, it was no charge because of long term Prednisone use - I think it was paid for either by the drug company, or Pharmac, our Govt. Drug Funding Agency.

I must ask when I have my RH visit later this month about xrays of my feet and hands, I have been having continual swelling and aching in my ankles for the last couple of months, and hands and wrists very sore.  So I'm pretty sure something is going on.  I know that he's going to inject them though if they are still the same as last visit, and they are!   Bummer, not looking forward to that, even though he's a genius with the needle.

He is, he really is, I have had them in my shoulders, and my wrists several times, and no big deal at all.  So I have to tell myself that the ankles will be no different.  Buuutt ....it is a bigger joint, isn't it...

I'm just a wuss!!

Jeanne,

You are not a wuss at all.  I have had my wrist injected and -- like your doctor -- mine was a genius with the needle.  I was terrified, but anxious for the relief I would get.  He numbed the area first before he used the bigger needle.  I think that helped as a previous injection of my knee was extremely painful (no pre-numbing was done!).  It was an ortho doc who did the knee (synovitis, but they thought it was mechanical).

take care..

Molly Bee

Seems like I've ended up having either x-rays or MRI's (or both) at least every year but it's usually related to problems I've had. Their kind of random.....back....knee.....chest; I wouldn't say my doctor takes base line type x-rays every year just to document the progression. They have told me that I'll continue to have done density scans done on an annual basis due to documented done loss.
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