no pred. before an ultrasound? And increasing dose of pred.

[humlies]

Next week I am having an ultrasound test on my hands and wrists which have become very painful after a flare in May. Should I not take any pred. on the day of the test?

Also, I have recently increased my pred. dose from 3 to 5 mg because my hands are so painful and useless. I have been on 5 for 4 days now, with no change in the pain; should I expect to see a reduction, or should I increase the dose yet again?? (Thanks to a mix up at the pharmacy, I now have enough steroids to sink a ship...)

I realise I am very fortunate compared with many of you, in that I now have no pain at all in my arms and legs. Thank you all so much for your support.

[piglette]

I never stopped pred when I have had ultra sounds. I assume the medics involved know you have PMR and are on steroids.

[humlies in reply to piglette]

Thank you piglette - i am sure they will know.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

An ultrasound is looking for structural effects rather than inflammation itself. Not taking your pred will just make you feel worse, it is unlikely to affect the result.

[humlies in reply to PMRpro]

Ah, thank you, but what sort of structural effects will they reveal?

[piglette in reply to humlies]

That is what they are trying to find out!!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to humlies]

arthritis-research.biomedce....

says

"In patients with inflammatory arthritis, ultrasound can detect important clues such as subclinical synovitis, asymptomatic entheseal inflammation, bone erosions, and crystal deposits, which could otherwise be missed in physical examinations"

[humlies in reply to PMRpro]

thank you PMR - that is very useful.

[Kendrew]

Hi humlies,

I am actually going for an ultrasound scan next week and will be taking my pred as normal.

The only thing I was asked not to do, was increase the dose before the scan as a higher dose of pred may cause a false negative result.

Hope your results prove helpful with your ongoing treatment.

[humlies in reply to Kendrew]

Thank you Kendrew. I have just increased to 5 mg, but having taken this for 5 days I feel no better. (Maybe I should wait longer? This was my other question). I think I will reduce before the scan, though don't want to be bouncing up and down with the doses.

[Pixix]

I had an ultrasound on my hands last month. It lasted 10 minutes-ish, & no need to change/stop pred dose.

[humlies in reply to Pixix]

Thank you Pixix - useful to know this.