MRI and injuries

[ritaandscooter1]

I'm Dx with PV jak2 and have been on low dose aspirin 2x daily/phlebotomies every 3 months or so for the last 20 years. My question has to do with inflammation and seemingly lengthy time it takes to heal when injured. I've been dealing with a lingering glute muscle injury obtained during golfing for the last 6 months. I decided to get an MRI to further investigate the problem. The technician thought her machine was broken due to my images looking different than a non PV person. They were slightly darker. After 2 sessions and getting an expert imaging person in, they determined that my high blood counts were most likely causing the images to come out darker. Has anyone heard of this? They had never imaged a PV person.

Questions.......

1. Do we tend to take longer to heal from injuries dues to increased blood volume/more inflammation and cytokines?

2. Does going on a cytoreduction medication to lower counts.... lower inflammation? and improve healing time on injuries? Don't remember reading any factual evidence in regards to healing time whether your on a drug or not.

3. Are we at increased risk of developing arthritis and osteoarthritis because we have an MPN compared to a non MPN person?

I've reached out to my MPN specialist with these questions as well. I appreciate any expertise or experience regarding this topic. Perhaps it's all mainly due to age (62) and years of wear and tear! Thank you for all your wisdom. Kerry

[LittleLuna]

Hi

I have no knowledge to provide on this one but very interested in replies.

Recently I have had awful abdomen and lower back pain which seems to be sticking around. I actually feel muscles are now getting sore as if I have over exercised.

I googled the inflammation question yesterday as I also wonder if PV, inflammatory and cytokines are impacting healing process?

[ritaandscooter1 in reply to LittleLuna]

Thanks for the reply. I'll let you what my MPN specialist says in regards to the same questions. Seems like my strains or slight injuries stick around way too long. Very annoying!

[Exeter21]

I have ET Jak 2 . I heal quickly. However during Covid I had a bad cycling injury producing massive blood clot. Injury took forever to heal . Despite scans no reason given. Another bad shoulder sports injury a year later was a 2 year healing & still not healed despite scans X-rays etc no reasons why.

I pressed for more tests regarding lack of healing & after 6 months they eventually did blood tests that diagnosed I had blood cancer ET . Then I was told the ET platelets problem with inflammation was causing slow healing. It’s the MPN causing it . Just had a finger biopsy allegedly should heal in 2 weeks . I am now on 5 months & not fully healed .

Nothing will improve it for me . Diet is good & I feel fit & other bloods ok but all Drs tell me it’s the inflammation slow to repair. Even insect bites take weeks . Julia UK 👍

[ritaandscooter1 in reply to Exeter21]

Thank you for your comments. Ya I have a feeling if I was in a bad car wreck that would be the end of me in terms of healing!! That's interesting about your x-rays that don't show anything. I'm anxiety awaiting my MRI to see if it shows anything. Are you on an interferon or HU to get your blood counts down. Wonder if lowering blood counts help with inflammation or if we just have inflammation regardless because of the MPN?? Would be great if doctors could better address this inflammation problem. Think the inflammation also predisposes us to arthritis as well. Like you my diet is great and keep fit despite these on-going aches! ugh! Kerry

[Exeter21 in reply to ritaandscooter1]

I was on Hu now Peg Interferon. This is very good I inject monthly. It makes no change to inflammation whatsoever as any injury insect bite etc still react badly .

However Interferon stops my platelets continue rising but I am still always above normal . 500 ish & sometimes a lot more if I injure my skin gardening or sport etc . 👍 Julia .

[hunter5582]

I have PV and have never encountered any anomalies on MRIs, though my counts a well controlled. I have never heard of a change in imaging even when counts are higher.

I am not aware of any direct information that cytoreductive medications reduce inflammation, but it is a reasonable thing to consider possible. I would theorize that a JAK-inhibitor might be more likely to have this impact than other options. I have had success with curcumin for reducing systemic inflammation. My Integrative Medicine doc also recommended L-Glutathione and SPM Active to control inflammation.

Systemic inflammation is a very real result of deregulation of the JAK-STAT pathway. It is thought to cause many of the secondary symptoms we experience. While it may not be the cause of arthritis, it is very reasonable to think that it contributes to this kind of inflammatory condition. My Integrative Medicine doc does indicate that this is likely. It can contribute to other inflammatory conditions as well.

Wishing you success in managing the inflammation.

[ritaandscooter1]

Thanks Hunter for your comments. I take curcumin but not sure what L-Glutathione and SPM Active is. I'll have to look those up. Kerry