Bone scan?

I'm just wondering if anyone out there was dx by bone scan? My blood tests are all negative (I had a full rheumatological work up) but my bone scan shows inflammation in my knees, shoulders and hands! My rheumy is calling it a connective tissue disease and leaning towards Lupus or Sjogrens (but didn't mention RA). I'm starting on Plaquenil on Monday. I'm 21 years old and had joint problems since I was 8 years old. Does anyone know why she may not have mentioned RA but suggested Lupus instead?

My symptoms are, sore, swollen, stiff joints (not limited to the three spots shown up on the bone scan), dry eyes, fatigue, weight loss, Raynaud's, vascular rashes and nose ulcers. Like I said, I have no positive blood tests. My ESR, CRP, anti-CCP, anti-RNP, anti-dsDNA, ANA, anti-SSA and anti-SSB were negative. I have had a weakly positive ANA (1:80 speckled) and a slightly elevated ESR once.

Thanks.

Thanks Joy.

I had my appointment today and to throw a spanner in the works, he's saying maybe Psoriatic arthritis. I don't understand that though, considering I don't have Psoriasis or any family history! He said my bone scan showed uptake in my knees, hips, shoulder, wrists and hands. But the fact that I have pitting in some of my nails and that my MCP joints showed up along with my hips... But I would have thought that have Psoriasis would be a pretty keen feature of PsA?!!!
Your symptoms match mine. I'm seeing ENT for my nose ulcers, he was concerned about them. But he was very strange. I'm starting Plaquenil though.

He said in 1 years time I would need to have my eyes checked. He didn't mention doing a base line test. And also my liver function was abnormal?? But didn't elaborate on that!

But I'm going back to see the second rheumatologist (the one who ordered the bone scan and said it's probably Lupus or Sjogren's) rather than this guy!


Thanks for your help.

Chartreux, thanks. I saw an ophthalmologst 2 weeks ago. He checked my eyes and said that my vision was fine and he put the orange dye in and then the green dye and looked in them with the white light, then the blue light. He said that my eyes were dry and that I have inflammation in my tear ducts. I don't know if the screening for Plaquenil is similar.. But the rheumatologist said in 12 months time I'd have my eyes checked.
I've got some eye drops for my eyes and he said if they irritate me a lot then I can get plugs put in.
Thanks for the advice. I'm going to see my GP tomorrow, so I'll ask her my questions!

I just had my first plaquenil eye test. The doctor had me do a field vision test and photgraphed my eyes. No laser scan of my retinas. He's supposed to be the expert on this.

Hello.

I have gone through blood tests, MRIs, xrays, etc and a bone scan years ago and the only thing that actually showed inflammation was the bone scan. So for me, it is a combination of the bone scan and my symptoms that have dianosed me.  (I don't have lupus but have sacroiliitis, inflammation of the SI joints).  Am sorry you're suffering so much.

Hi there,

Yeah..it's interesting how only the bone scan showed anything.  What exactly is enteropathic arthritis?  For me, I've been diagnosed with sacroilitis.  THey've actually found a co-relation between ulcerative colitis and sacroilitiis.  Doesn't mean that if you have UC, that you'll get sacroiliitis, but a lot who have sacroiliitis have had UC...which I guess between the bone scan, symptoms and my medical history, they've made the diagnosis.