Bone marrow oedema

Kirsty
Kirsty Member Posts: 5
edited 11. Apr 2015, 11:34 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hello! I've had inflammatory arthritis in my knee for 7 year, and in my hip for just over a year, but I was only properly diagnosed in January 2015 (age 22). Yesterday I recieved the results of my mri which indicates I have inflammation and bone marrow oedema. I know what bone marrow oedema means, but I don't know what it means for me in the future. Does it lead to joint replacements? Is it treatable? I can't find much about it online and my rheumatology appointment isn't for another month. Any info would be great, thanks!

Comments

  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,280
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Kirsty and a warm welcome for me..
    I have never heard of bone marrow oedema, so wont be much help I'm afraid.. but hopefully someone will be along soon that can help... :)
    Love
    Barbara
  • theresak
    theresak Member Posts: 1,998
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Kirsty, and welcome.

    I'm sorry I can't answer your questions, and hope there is someone who can. Would a visit to your GP help?
  • Kirsty
    Kirsty Member Posts: 5
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    My GP isn't very clued up on arthritis so I think I might have to wait till my rheumatology appointment next month. Was just hoping to find someone who might have heard of it. Thanks for all your help anyways!
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello, we are many things but fortune telling is not one of our many skills. :wink: I know that the medical term oedema refers to collected watery fluid in various body parts or cavities, and I know where your bone marrow is, but how this will impact on you in both the sort and long-term is way beyond my remit.

    My GP is clued up about my osteoarthritis but leaves dealing with my other one to my rheumatologist, which makes sense to me. Please let us know what your rheumatologist says. I wish you well. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • jgledhill
    jgledhill Member Posts: 7
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    From what I can see, its simply fluid inside the bone caused by either underlying inflammation or an injury.

    I don't think from what I have read it has any nasty prognosis and can be treated in a number of ways, natural healing process, anti-inflammatories, removed by a needle.....

    Let us know how you get on :) Fingers crossed it heals on its own.
  • Bovey
    Bovey Member Posts: 25
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I had same finding in my MRI scan. The bone marrow oedema is simply a result of inflammation, active arthritis. I started on anti tnf's and the inflammation and oedema slowly went away. So did the pain it caused. Inflammation makes the body produce fluid in the inflamed tissues, when the inflammation goes away so does the fluid/ oedema. Hope this reassures you.