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hard lump below collarbone is...arthritis!

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Posted 2/25/2009 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
So, over the weekend, I discovered this hard,painless, elongated lump just below my left collarbone, more towards the sternum than the armpit.  Had x-rays done of entire left rib cage, armpit, and shoulder.  Turns out I have arthritis in the end of the clavicle on that side.  My primary doc is faxing the results to my rheumy.  I have an elevated sed rate (only 39) and CRP, but I had tested negative for RA.  I do also have some degeneration in throughout my spine.  (That's basically arthritis.) 

This makes me wonder where else the arthritis is in my body.  Is there such a thing as a body scan of some sort to identify all arthritic points?

Posted 2/25/2009 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know, Julie, but if there is I'm sure its extremely expensive!! I remember seeing something on TV about scans like that but I don't know what they would be called.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help... sorry you have arthritis.
Take care,
Posted 2/26/2009 4:40 AM (GMT 0)

Hey Julie,

There are a couple of ways.  A bone scan will show you if you have arthritis.  I had a full body scan done a year ago.  It was the coolest thing ever to see my skeletal system like that!  Not sure what it costs.  It's free up here in Canada.

The other method is to have an xray of your body. That's a lot of radiation. LOL.  But it will diagnose you perfectly.  It's how I got my arthritis diagnosis for my neck.  Probably the cheapest option.

Arthritis and Fibro together BLOW.  My neck is so buggered up from both issues, I feel like I'm going to lose my mind sometimes.  I really hope you don't have it elsewhere. I find that PT works well for me. I'm going back for more sessions soon.

I wish you well!

Ginny

Posted 2/26/2009 6:16 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Patti and Ginny for your responses! I do have pretty good insurance, and I would definitely get pre-authorization before I had the full body scan.

I need to pull out my MRIs (or was it Cat Scans?) that I had done when dealing with my neck issues - I'm pretty sure I remember them indicating degeneration aka osteoarthritis in my spine.

I have swelling in my knees and some in my ankles, too. Up to this point, my rheumy just put that down to fibro.

Now I'm wondering just how far reaching the arthritis is...
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