Since having pain in ribs and hips would it be because of fractures or lesions in that bone area. Am trying to get answers to my pains. Could someone please help me with an answer.
Thank you for you help and understanding. Have tested positive for RA in two blood tests am
awaiting Rheumatologist appointment but not until September 18th for results of my Xrays and
blood tests. Would the fractures or lesions show up on simple Xrays or would I need an MRI?
By the way he is testing me now for anklosing spondilitis (I think I spelled that wrong). I hate to say this but I hope it is that and not multiple myeloma which can also be indicative of a positive
RA blood test.
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Re: Does Bone Pain Mean Fractures or Lesions That Show on Xr
Dear Must Love Cats,
I had severe pain in my spine for at least 10 years before my vertebra collapsed, having been eaten away by the myeloma. The tell-tale gray spot did not become obvious on spinal x-rays until about three years before the collapse. Oddly, most of the back pain ended in those last three years before the (very painful) collapse. So, in my case (everyone is different) the lesion was not obvious (or perhaps noticed) at first, but I did have pain.
Now I have relapsed and bone scans showed nothing. It was a higher-powered dental x-ray that first revealed what neither blood work nor the lower-powered bone scans showed. The confirmation of active lesions was with a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan and a biopsy.
So, my experience was that pain does not necessarily mean a fracture (which would be obvious on x-rays, after all radiologists look for fractures all the time) but lesions can start small enough not to be easily noticed on x-ray and still hurt.
I have arthritis in one of my hips and it can be very painful. However, no lesions show there. I understand how it can be hard to distinguish one type of bone pain from another. RA is bad enough, so wait for a full workup before you assume myeloma.
Best of luck to you!
I had severe pain in my spine for at least 10 years before my vertebra collapsed, having been eaten away by the myeloma. The tell-tale gray spot did not become obvious on spinal x-rays until about three years before the collapse. Oddly, most of the back pain ended in those last three years before the (very painful) collapse. So, in my case (everyone is different) the lesion was not obvious (or perhaps noticed) at first, but I did have pain.
Now I have relapsed and bone scans showed nothing. It was a higher-powered dental x-ray that first revealed what neither blood work nor the lower-powered bone scans showed. The confirmation of active lesions was with a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan and a biopsy.
So, my experience was that pain does not necessarily mean a fracture (which would be obvious on x-rays, after all radiologists look for fractures all the time) but lesions can start small enough not to be easily noticed on x-ray and still hurt.
I have arthritis in one of my hips and it can be very painful. However, no lesions show there. I understand how it can be hard to distinguish one type of bone pain from another. RA is bad enough, so wait for a full workup before you assume myeloma.
Best of luck to you!
Re: Does Bone Pain Mean Fractures or Lesions That Show on Xr
To Premonition - Before you were diagnosed with multiple myeloma what did they attribute for 10 years or possibly 7 of pain since you were diagnosed 3 years before collapse? Did they do extensive testing to see what your problem was or did they say arthritis. Since I don''t know your age, I don't know what they would have said. You say it didn't show in the blood did they do a Bence Jones protein test on your urine? I can't imagine going 7 years with this rib pain. I am going to my primary doctor this morning and my rheumatologist on Sept. 18th. If I don't get any answers I
am going to insist on more tests or possible being referred to a onogologist. This pain is
coming from somewhere and since I tested positive for RA and might not have it or one of the
other things you can have testing positive I will push further for the answer.
am going to insist on more tests or possible being referred to a onogologist. This pain is
coming from somewhere and since I tested positive for RA and might not have it or one of the
other things you can have testing positive I will push further for the answer.
Re: Does Bone Pain Mean Fractures or Lesions That Show on Xr
I was diagnosed with RA and seeing a Rheumatologist for two years before a primary doctor found the protein in my blood. I was than diagnosed for multiple myeloma. Bone scans found no symptoms of RA and thankfully no lesions but a month later my kidneys almost failed.
I don't believe I ever had RA, but rather the multiple myeloma all those years. If my Rheumatologist had noticed my low RBC and being anemic all those years he should have suggested perhaps it wasn't RA but some thing else like CANCER.
I don't believe I ever had RA, but rather the multiple myeloma all those years. If my Rheumatologist had noticed my low RBC and being anemic all those years he should have suggested perhaps it wasn't RA but some thing else like CANCER.
Re: Does Bone Pain Mean Fractures or Lesions That Show on Xr
I have been very proactive concerning blood tests and urine testing. I don't have any of the
things to indicate multiple myeloma in my blood and I have testsed negative for protein in my
urine. I just am worried about testing positive for Ra in two consecutive blood tests and having
this continual pain in my ribs. Seems like my primary doctor is now going to leave it in the hand of the Rheumatologist to diagnose my problem. I feel like I am between the devil and the deep blue sea and there is never an end!!!!!!
things to indicate multiple myeloma in my blood and I have testsed negative for protein in my
urine. I just am worried about testing positive for Ra in two consecutive blood tests and having
this continual pain in my ribs. Seems like my primary doctor is now going to leave it in the hand of the Rheumatologist to diagnose my problem. I feel like I am between the devil and the deep blue sea and there is never an end!!!!!!
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