Isotope bone scan

Starburst

Hello,

My rheumy is sending me for an isotope bone scan. Could anyone please tell me a bit about it? I read online that you have to wait for several hours after the istope injection and I was wondering if I should take the morning off work? Everywhere I've read, it seems to be diagnosing conditions of the bones or tumours (neither of which applies to me) and I was curious as to how exactly it helps diagnose arthritis. These are questions I should have asked but you know what it's like when you're in your appt and everything just flies out of your head! :roll:

Thank you so much.

vonski

Hi Princess

Not sure if this is the same as I had last week at the nuclear medicine dept. I had a radioactive injection into my arm, didn't hurt at all then a scan which only took 10 or 15mins. I went home for a few hours and then went back and had a longer scan. I could just carry on as normal and didn't have any problems at all.

I just googled bone scan and looked at RSD alert and I did have a radioisotope scan. Gives a good explanaition of it all.

Hope it all goes well.

Love
Vonski x

harleyd14

hi princess, i had mine on friday, was really worried, then posted on here and had my mind eased.....especially by vonski who told me that it was going to taste like pernod....unfortunately i had it injected not swallowed !!
you go in, had a jab in the arm...the needle is smaller than a blood taking needle, they give you a quick scan to see if it is going through, then you go off for 3 hours. i had to have a head to toe scan then one that concentrated on my hip and spine. all in all the scans took just over an hour, no discomfort, no pain - including the jab - most of the time they are looking for bone growth in arthritis patients, or possibly nerve damage, you will be fine, just remember to drink lots of water after the jab, this helps the stuff to go through your system and they get better pics. also, if you get a nice scanner person - which i did - they let you watch you scan taking place, so, like i posted on my post, i have seen more of myself than i ever thought i would, though i was a bit worried that the tiny weenie little black dot in my scull was my brain...how PUNY :shock: :oops: !!!! take care, hope this rather long post has helped !! Sally.xx

Starburst

Thank you both, really helpful.
I will take the morning off work. I wanted to let them know in advance.
My rheumy told me I will have the injection, I'm not too fussed, I'm used to them now!!

If I do have arthritis, is this scan the best way to diagnose it (alongside my bloods, which indicate inflammation)?

vonski

Hi Princess

I think this scan does it all from bones and bone density, nerves and soft tissue but not 100%. I don't get results till next Thursday I'll ask but will that be too late for you?

Love
Vonski x

Starburst

Vonski - if you wouldn't mind, then yes please! I'd be super grateful. I was meant to get it done this week but I couldn't get one in time. Thank you so much.

skezier

Hi Princess,

Like Sally I had one for my digestion when the IBD was active. With mine they took out some blood, mixed some isotopes to it and put it back in. The idea is the isotope attaches to your white cells and show up areas with infection problems. Its not painful but it does take a long time apart as you have to lurk and go back after some time to see where its accumulating. Mine was after 2 hrs and then after another 2 hours.

Again I'm with Sally, he let me watch the screen and it was really interesting. He also did a few other bits 'out of curiosity' and then reported back to the consultant who ordered it and the one in charge of the other thing so it was quite useful. I hope it goes well for you. Take care Cris

vonski

Hi Princess

I saw the Rheumy today and asked her about the scan. She says it shows hot spots and inflammation as well as any bone growth or abnormality. Soft tissue damage too. Hope this helps.

Love
Vonski x

Starburst

vonski wrote:

Hi Princess

I saw the Rheumy today and asked her about the scan. She says it shows hot spots and inflammation as well as any bone growth or abnormality. Soft tissue damage too. Hope this helps.

Love
Vonski x

Thank you.

I had my scan today and it was absolutely fine. I barely felt the needle and the worst part was drinking all that water between the injection and the main scan (3 hrs later). I was scanned for an hour and we stopped twice because I was desperate for the toilet! :oops: She couldn't tell me the results but said she didn't see anything major but then said that I wasn't wasting my time and she's sure my rheumy will find it useful. No idea what that means but I'll have my results next Friday when I go to my appt.

woodbon

Hi, Glad its all over. Sounds pretty good to me. I'd think that she can see a problem but nothing really major. Thats how I would understand it anyway. Hope you don't have to wait too long for to see the doc. Love Sue

Starburst

woodbon wrote:

Hi, Glad its all over. Sounds pretty good to me. I'd think that she can see a problem but nothing really major. Thats how I would understand it anyway. Hope you don't have to wait too long for to see the doc. Love Sue

Yes, I spose that makes sense. I'm confused because part of me wants there to be nothing wrong (of course, who'd want to have something wrong with them????) but I want answers too.