Are you concerned that you might have osteoarthritis? Joint pain, a loss of flexibility, stiffness, and tenderness can all be signs that you have osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease. As part of this, the cartilage that sits on the ends of your bones wears down over time. This leaves you with pain and reduced joint function that will worsen over time.
While there isn’t a cure, we can help manage your symptoms and prevent the arthritis from worsening, but ideally, we need to diagnose it early. Thankfully, we can offer an x-ray that helps to quickly diagnose osteoarthritis and help you begin treatment.
How Do Osteoarthritis Xrays Work?
An osteoarthritis x-ray involves us taking a series of images of your affected joints to confirm osteoarthritis. This works like any other X-ray, where radiation passes through your body, hitting a detector on the other side of your body, turning the radiation into an image.
When taking an osteoarthritis x-ray, your doctor will look for the following to confirm osteoarthritis:
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Loss of joint space – where the cartilage wears away, reducing the space between your joints
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Osteophyte, or bone spurs, formation – these are extra bits of bones, feeling like hard lumps that can form around your joints
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Subchondral sclerosis – is the thickening and hardening of the bone below the cartilage in a joint, usually happening in the later stages of osteoarthritis
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Cyst formation – small cysts could be found underneath your cartilage and can vary in size from a pinhead to a cherry
Do you think an X-ray could be the right option for you to diagnose osteoarthritis? Learn more about our x-ray scan services on the Gold Coast to see what other scans we can provide.
Why Might You Need An Osteoarthritis Xray?
Osteoarthritis X-rays are recommended to diagnose osteoarthritis as they are a fast way to identify any changes to your joint space. You might be referred for an osteoarthritis x-ray if you have any of the following symptoms, which usually suggest osteoarthritis:
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Swelling caused by soft tissue inflammation around the joint
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Extra bits of bone feel like hard lumps around your joints
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A grating sensation when you use the joint, a popping or crackling can often be heard
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A loss of flexibility, reducing your ability to move your joint through a full range of motion
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Tenderness when you apply light pressure near or on the joint
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Stiffness when you first wake up or after a period of inactivity
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Pain in your joints during or after movement
Patients who experience persistent symptoms are often referred for an x-ray to confirm the diagnosis, which can provide you with access to a treatment plan to manage your symptoms. Some patients can experience mild symptoms that come and go, rather than experiencing them every day, and can also be referred for an x-ray.
How To Prepare For An Osteoarthritis Xray?
There is very little preparation you need to do for an osteoarthritis x-ray. You can usually eat and drink as normal beforehand and take any medication as normal. However, if you have an x-ray that uses a contrast agent, you will need to avoid eating and drinking for a few hours before and might need to stop taking some medications. Contrast X-rays often provide us with better visibility, although we don’t often use them for osteoarthritis X-rays. When contrast is needed, we will let you know beforehand and provide any guidance about avoiding eating and drinking.
When you arrive for your x-ray, you will likely wear your own clothes unless we are x-raying your spine and hips. Loose, comfortable clothing is best, as you can move it when needed during the x-ray. Clothes with metal, like zips, should be avoided, as they cannot be worn during an x-ray. You should remove jewellery before, too.
Xrays are not recommended on pregnant people unless it is an emergency, you should speak to your doctor beforehand if you are pregnant.
What To Expect From An Osteoarthritis Xray
During The Scan
When you arrive for your osteoarthritis x-ray, we will check you in and provide you with a space to change if needed. Depending on the part of your body being X-rayed, you might need to change into a hospital gown. We will also ask you to remove any jewellery or metal, leaving any personal items behind, too. Bring only what you will need where possible, as this speeds up the process.
When you are ready, we will take you to our x-ray room and position you depending on the joints we are scanning. You might be asked to stand or lie down and hold certain positions. We will then move into the next room or behind a screen to operate the x-ray. To help us provide you with an accurate diagnosis, we might ask you to adjust your position or hold your breath.
Contrast X-rays are not usually offered for osteoarthritis, but if we think it is beneficial, we will let you know beforehand and any preparations you should make.
After The Scan
Usually, you are free to go after your x-ray without any aftercare. You can continue with any normal activities without worrying about side effects.
If you have a contrast x-ray, there can be some side effects. You might have blurry vision for a few hours, feel sick, or have changes to your poo. These side effects vary depending on the contrast agent used and will pass within a few hours to days. You will be made aware of the side effects before your appointment so that you can arrange for transport home if needed.
Often, we need to examine the X-ray results before discussing them with you so you will return home before finding out if you have osteoarthritis or not. We try and offer a fast turnaround where possible and will either invite you back for an appointment or give you the results over the phone.
What Are The Benefits Of An Osteoarthritis Xray?
Osteoarthritis X-rays are very beneficial, allowing us to diagnose you quickly. The benefits of an osteoarthritis x-ray are outlined below:
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It is non-invasive: Allowing us to identify osteoarthritis without the need for painful biopsies, longer scans, or surgeries
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It allows us to see changes to your joint space: This helps us to monitor your osteoarthritis, seeing if changes to your joint space are causing more issues and help to provide pain relief and manage your symptoms
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It is quick: You can be in and out within a matter of minutes, providing you with a quick diagnosis and allowing us to diagnose as many patients as possible
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It provides us with a diagnosis: Generally, we can confirm osteoarthritis without any further tests, allowing you to start managing your symptoms with pain relief and a treatment plan from your doctor
What Are The Risks Of An Osteoarthritis Xray?
The risks of an X-ray are very small, but we think they are worth mentioning. You will be exposed to radiation during the scan, but the radiation will last no more than a second and is minimal. Depending on how long the x-ray is, you will be exposed to between a few days and years of natural radiation, similar to what you are exposed to from the environment. There is a slight risk of causing cancer years or decades later. We think that the tiny risk is outweighed by the benefits of an x-ray. You can speak to your doctor about any concerns before the x-ray.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Drink Water Before An Osteoarthritis X-ray?
Providing you do not have a contrast X-ray, you can eat and drink as normal before your X-ray, including drinking water. You don’t need to worry about staying hydrated before your x-ray, but you can speak to your doctor beforehand if you have any concerns.
How Long Does An Osteoarthritis Xray Take?
Osteoarthritis X-rays take a few minutes at most! This includes the time it takes for any repeat x-rays, changing positions, or any discussion with your radiologist.
What Treatment Can I Have After An Osteoarthritis Xray?
When your x-ray confirms osteoarthritis, you can begin a treatment plan to manage your symptoms. You can use painkillers to aid with your pain, make some lifestyle changes, and use hot and cold therapies to relieve joints. In some cases, surgery can be recommended, where you would have your joints repaired or replaced to provide you with increased movement and pain relief.
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