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MRI - Was NOT flared up

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Posted 5/22/2012 11:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

Question about MRI tests.  I've had sacroiliitis for many years now, mostly diagnosed with medical history (i.e. ulcerative colitis) and symptoms.  Only thing that ever concluded sacroilitiis was a bone scan done many years ago.

Last year I was sent for an MRI that showed nothing.  Yesteray I had another one as my dr wanted to check somethign wtih mty nerves around my back since I get shooting pains when flared up and aches in my legs at night.  Only thing is...although my back wasn't great last week (have been tryign to exercise again, which makes mty back worse), my back was perfect on the weekend and thus, was in good shape when i had my MRI done.

Will the MRI show anything or do I have to be in a flare up mode for it to show?  Obviously something is different when I'm in a flare up as somethign is causing the shooting pain. 

So frustrated.

Posted 5/22/2012 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Lu2011,
it sure can be hard waiting for the results to come back, but best thing I can say is to wait until you hear the results,
my other question to you is was the mri done with contrast? for me my back mri with contrast actually showed a lot
of damage more so than the one without the contrast...also not all mri places have good magnets in them, some have stronger
ones than others, maybe look for a place that has the better stronger magnets...However a mri will not show your in a flair, it will only show if you have damage done from RA...I have damage done in my right hand and once the damage is done there is no help for it's repair, medicines can only slow or stop further damage done to other joints from RA...and so the medicines can help it from getting into other joints for further damage...hope this makes sense (I'm so tired this morning) many well wishes to you and do posts back about your results as
we do truly care...
Posted 5/22/2012 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Chartreux.  What do you mean by an mri wtih contrast?  It was done at a local hospital , but I live in a big city where our machines are pretty new/ good.  Yeah, I have to wait until July to find out the results (i.e. at my next rheumatologist appointment).  I had an MRI done about 1.5 years ago, but my rheumatologist missed checking somethign with my nerves (I guess if they're beign compressed?) and so he sent me for another mri.  From what you're saying though, wheterh I'm in a flare up or not, it wouldn't make a difference?
Posted 5/22/2012 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
Contrast is a dye they used and if they put a IV in your hand or arm then it was done with contrast.
and no it won't pick up if your in a flair, it'll just show damage done, mri's offer up definitive proof,
as if you have damage it'll show up...only you can tell if your in a flair...and a nerve test by a neurologists is
better at pick up if you have nerve damage or nerve problems it's called EMG testing, some pain management
doctor's do this in office as well...nerve testing can pinpoint better which nerve are impinged, it's not
pleasant of a test...I've had this done...I have moderate spinal canal stenosis in my lower lumbar and nerve
impingement in both lower and cervical back and degenative disc both lower and cervical back...been there
on testing....many well wishes to you...
Posted 5/23/2012 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
There was no dye so guess it was not contrast.  The nerve test does not sound like fun.  Is there anything they can even do if there is damage?  I don't know..but think that in my flares, I get inflammed and "it" hits/touches a nerve when I move an that's the pain.  I also have started having pains in my legs at night...like a dull, but strong ache if that makes any sense.

Am so sorry you've gone through many rough tests and that you have back and disc issues.  You must be in tons of pain.  Hope you've got help to manage it and are ok.

Posted 5/23/2012 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes a moist heating pad can help or a warm bath or shower,
maybe try that..and don't get discourage even if your mri shows nohing
you may have fibromylagia...and if it is fibro a moist heating pad can help.
So try that for now while you awaiting your results, also try some ginger as
ginger can help with pain. Do keep usposted when you find out your
Results, many well wishes.
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