hand and foot scan question

[Beachwalk]

I have a letter telling me to stop taking pain medication for four weeks Before my hand and foot scan.

Im taking liquid naproxen as it takes the edge off, however I’m unable to even manage a day with out pain relief

Have you had a hand foot scan and told not to take and meds for four weeks till the scan.

this seems unkind and cruel to me !

[AgedCrone]

They ask you to do that to get a real view of the inflammation you are showing…which is masked by painkillers.

Maybe have a word & ask if you can stop for a shorter time?

[Beachwalk in reply to AgedCrone]

I don’t think I can live without painkillers

[AgedCrone in reply to Beachwalk]

Well ask whoever is telling you to stop for a month & ask if you can reduce that time . ….& see what they say.

But if you have tests done whilst on the medication you are now taking…& don’t confess….the test won’t indicate you need anything more than you are already taking.

[bpeal1]

I know that some rheumatologists ask people to stop anti-inflammatory medication before scans to get ‘more accurate’ results. However, I’ve never been asked to do that before scans. My rheumatologist has always just taken into account that I was on anti-inflammatories at the time of the scan. They couldn’t /wouldn’t ask people on steroids to suddenly stop them before scans so they have to take those into account. I guess it also depends a bit what they are looking for. If they are looking for erosions/bone damage then stopping anti-inflammatories won’t make a difference, if they are looking for active inflammation it would.

You need to contact whoever has arranged the scan and explain the situation and see what they advise.

[Sheila_G]

I have no experience of this but hope all goes well for you.