Osteoarthritis question

[cgarr]

That's what I have in my back where I had a disk repaired about 15 years ago. The pain is annoying and sometimes rather unpleasant at best. Just had my last checkup and the Doc had me get another x-ray, I guess to confirm the one I had last year about this time. Says its Osteoarthritis...

Now he wants me to get an MRI What do we accomplish with this? Is there really something they can see with a MRI that can be fixed? I really hate to keep shelling out good money unless there is a cure in my near future with the added tests.

Anyone with ideas is always appreciated:

[Tobra]

X ray does not show you what is going on with the soft tissue, MRI does.


Everybody has osteoarthritis.

[cgarr]

So that should tell me why my left leg hurts too and maybe fix it?

[azasadny]

I have osteoarthritis which the rheumatologist says was triggered by my gout. In every joint where I had severe gout pain, I now have moderate arthritis pain. The gout is under control with Allopurinol, and I use OTC Aleve for the osteoarthritis pain. Have you had your Uric acid checked? If it's high, you may have gout. It's a form of arthritis and it may mimic other forms of arthritis.

[Noah930]

You ask a good question, Craig. (One that doesn't get asked too often in our society.) What's the point of the test? What are we trying to answer? What will it tell us that we don't already know? How will the possible findings affect our management of the problem?

The x-rays only really show bone. We can make inferences on soft tissue (which is pretty much everything that isn't bone, such as connective tissue/ligaments/muscles/tendons/nerve/etc) based upon the positioning of the bone. But an x-ray can't really show you the soft tissue, itself. The x-ray is a shadow of what your bones look like.

The MRI does a much better job of soft tissue imaging. It'll let you see exactly where the connective tissue and nerves are located, particularly relative to the bone. If a nerve is being pinched thereby causing your pain, for example, the MRI can show that. That can help your physician(s) make management decisions.

In a real-world, considering who's paying for this (you), part of your question is: Is there anything that you'll find on the MRI that would make you change anything? Is the pain bad enough that you'd have another surgery? After all, regardless of what the MRI shows, you're treating you--not the MRI. If the MRI looks horrible but you don't feel horrible, are you really going to go through another surgery? Or is the MRI just to follow-up and see if there's been any change over the past year? That's something you'll have to figure out with your physician.

[cgarr]

Getting an MRI on Monday, $1400 pay the cashier at the door on your way out....

[Drdogface]

Doc possibly is looking to see if you might have spinal stenosis. This can either be a narrowing of the foramen (hole) where the nerve root exits the back bone or narrowing of the spinal canal itself. Most cases, at least at first, are managed by injections of steroids into the spinal canal. Yes, it can be the cause of your leg pain and that is very likely.

[wdfifteen]

It might be to confirm his diagnosis and rule out something more deadly. But having the X-ray and your history it seems like maybe a CYA move.

[cgarr]

I did find out the x-ray was to rule out a tumor or fracture.

[cgarr]

MRI is done and the Doc says it don't look good and should be more painful than it really is, lot of scaring where the repair was done years ago and Degenerative back something or another. Off to see the surgeon at the pain clinic but he does not think surgery will do anything. Maybe some injections of something he said? Well I guess I will meet my 6k deductible this year!

There goes our new race engine for next year I guess

[Joeaksa]

Before you get cut on, I have had the same thing for years and for years took Celebrex. Found out 6-8 months ago that it was difficult on your heart (knew that a while ago) but also causes you to gain weight, which I dearly need to lose.

It did really help with the pain so weaned myself down to 1 a week or two, and doubled up on my glusomine (sp) and choindrotin (again spelled wrong) and so far its doing the trick with the pain.

I would try the celebrex before getting cut on...

[cgarr]

I would never get cut up just yet, its not near as bad as when my disk blew out. I have to be crawling before I go thru that again.

[Mark Henry]

Originally Posted by azasadny

I have osteoarthritis which the rheumatologist says was triggered by my gout. In every joint where I had severe gout pain, I now have moderate arthritis pain. The gout is under control with Allopurinol, and I use OTC Aleve for the osteoarthritis pain. Have you had your Uric acid checked? If it's high, you may have gout. It's a form of arthritis and it may mimic other forms of arthritis.

Sounds like me except I have a script for naproxen which is what's in Aleve.
Part of the ibuprofen family, so don't take ibuprofen and Aleve together.