Can an MRI tell for sure if it’s PMR

[Judyp1203]

Hello,

I’m on 15mg pred...diagnosed March 2017 ...

My left shoulder is still hurting very bad. I called my rheumatologist yesterday. She said try 20mg for 2 days, if that doesn’t help she will order an MRI on Thursday. Just wondered if an MRI could show PMR inflammation?

Thanks,

Judy

[suzy1959]

Hi Judyp1203, I was finally diagnosed with PMR after a Pet scan, which showed inflammation in shoulders and pelvis. I think it is highly unusual for this to happen but was extremely useful to me as it took 2 years and a lot of rubbish to get this definitive diagnosis.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I don't think you can see a lot with an ordinary MRI or they might use them more. As Suzy says, a PET-MRI or PET-CT will show up inflammation but the machines are not yet widespread and the scan is pretty expensive so they hold back to keep the spaces for cancer patients.

One shoulder being bad sounds more like bursitis on top of PMR - or possibly even another shoulder problem.

[Judyp1203 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for your input. I think when I was on was on prednisone and feeling better in July I did too much and hurt my shoulder. Maybe an MRI will show if I have a rotator cuff problem.