Bone Scintigraphy Scan

[colmarin]

Because of the persistent pain I have experienced for several months in my right hip, lower back, buttock and leg, my rheumatologist has ordered a Bone Scintigraphy Scan. (Not to be confused with a Bone Density Scan) A bone scintigraphy scan is a nuclear medicine imaging test that uses bone-seeking radioactive materials or tracers (radiopharmaceuticals) and a computer to create an image of the skeleton (bones). A bone scan looks at the bones to see if there are any abnormalities, such as a fracture, tumour or infection.

What he is concerned about is a condition called Avascular Necrosis (a disease that causes the bone to collapse because of a problem with its blood supply). Unfortunately use of high-dose corticosteroids, such as prednisone, is a common cause of avascular necrosis.

I am nervous about this procedure for two reasons. First of all it's unsettling to think that I will have a radioactive substance injected into my body. The other thing is that I have had adverse reactions to cortisone injections being left off in worse pain after the injection. Do you think it's possible that, with my PMR autoimmune disorder, that having a foreign substance injected into my body might further ramp up my body's dysfunctional immune response with increased inflammation and pain as my skewed system attempts to fight this newest invader?

[Hidden]

Hi colmarin

I’ve had a Full Body Bone Scan while on Pred for PMR l was injected with the radioactive tracer as they were checking for Bone Cancer. There were no side effects to the tracer & it was out of my body l think in 36hours.

Good Luck 🍀

MrsN

[colmarin in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Mrs. Nails. I appreciate reading about your experience with this kind of scan.

[jinasc]

This is a link to an article on Miscellaneous Add- Ons PMR & GCA:

Below is a link to an article written by PMRpro Summer 2016:

It is long, but I wondered from your description if, like me, this is your problem and if so have your medics already investigated and excluded it:

pmr-gca-northeast.org.uk/gr... then click on All Newslettters then click on Summer 2017 and scroll down to Page 11.

This is an extract and

" Piriformis syndrome is similar in the symptoms it causes. The piriformis muscle is at the bottom of your buttock, at the top of the back of your thigh, just where you sit on it. In about 20% of people the sciatic nerve passes through the middle of the muscle – and if it is tight, the nerve is pinched and irritated."

[colmarin in reply to jinasc]

Thanks jinasc for taking the time to track down and share this information. I found it very interesting and helpful. One of the strange things about my pain is that is can travel and change location. This particular issue first seemed to be hip bursitis. Then it went into my lower back and seemed that it was either sciatica or sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Now the pain is really in my buttock and so it presents like piriformis syndrome. Quite mind boggling really.

But this article was helpful and I am also very grateful to you for introducing me to these PMR newsletters which seem to be a treasure trove of information.

[Hidden in reply to colmarin]

I call it the flitting disease...moves a lot.

[colmarin in reply to Hidden]

That describes it well Poopadoop.

[jinasc in reply to colmarin]

That website will be closing down 1 August - if you want to download any of the Newsletters you can.

[colmarin in reply to jinasc]

Okay....good to know. Thanks.

[Baileyw06 in reply to jinasc]

I had your problems and it was the piriformis

Syndrome and was cured with physical therapy.

It was before PMR. You need a therapist that can massage deep into it to solve the problem.

[colmarin in reply to Baileyw06]

Thanks Baileyw06.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

The radioisotope doesn't stay in your body for long but it would clarify a lot for you.

However - I'm surprised he's using that for avn, it is normally diagnosed using x-ray, MRI or CT - far less scary. MRI doesn't even require radiation.

[colmarin in reply to PMRpro]

I have had x-rays and I am on a waiting list for an MRI. I believe he has called for this test knowing that it will be a while before I get in for the MRI.

[Christophene47]

About the nuclear medicine test, I wouldn't worry too much; I had a nuclear med surgery (removal of a parathyroid gland - not to be confused with the thyroid gland- and more recently a bone scan using nuclear technique. I did not have problems as a result. The question I would be asking is, assuming the test shows avascular necrosis, what would be the treatment plan be?

[colmarin in reply to Christophene47]

Thanks Christophene for your reassurances regarding the nuclear medicine test. In terms of treatment if the test shows that I have Avascular Necrosis....all I know at this point is that he said he would have to get me off of prednisone quickly as this could be the cause of this scary condition.