@becsbuddy

I’ve been searching around this site for an appropriate board for my questions. If this is not the right board for me, please let me know and feel free to redirect my concerns.

I am a 72 year old male with 40-plus years of increasing pain. I had an NM bone scan several years ago that showed several locations of arthritis in my body. The report said it was not positive for Paget’s (my AP is consistently 157-170). My primary doc sent me to a rheumatologist who met with me for three minutes, said at my age I had to expect pain and it was just osteoarthritis. Three minute office visit.

Had a repeat NM bone scan a few days ago at a different hospital. This report says arthritis in the left shoulder and both feet. Completely ignored both knees, both hips, lumbar and cervical spine, all of which have been mentioned to me as arthritic spots. The scan interpretation also did not mention the right hand arthritis diagnosed two days earlier by an orthopedic doc.

Primary doc now wants me to go to a different rheumatologist to discuss fibromyalgia.

Can a NM bone scan just be bad? Does it matter who reads it? How accurate are the scans? How can previously noted areas of arthritis just disappear?

After 40 years of pain I am looking for an answer. I do not want, and I will not take, any addictive medicines. I just want to know what this is. Any thoughts? If more info is needed, just ask. Thanks.