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Bone Scan results. I need to understand what the result was.?

I had a cage put in my L4, L5, and s1 back in 2005 from an accident. I have had pain before and since after. Multi-epidurals to ease the pain and burn nerves in my lower back. Recently I had a full body bone scan done. The pain has also moved to my mid-back scapula area on both sides. (I picked up the results from the radiology office today. I do not have another appointment with my back doctor until Sept. 11th I was wondering if anyone else may have had simliar results and may know what the out come is. FINDINGS ARE AS FOLLOWS: Increased tracer uptake is seen in L5 vertebra, Likely represent prior trauma. Degenerative changes in shoulders, hips, ankles, and feet. Physiological tracer uptake is present in bilateral kidneys, and excreted into the urinary bladder. CONCLUSIONS: 1. L5 uptake likely from prior trauma. 2. Degenerative changes as described above. Has anyone else had this dignosis. And if so what did it lead to? Any help would be much apprehated. Thank you so much.

Public Comments

1. There isn’t a diagnosis. All it says is you have problems with your bones from a prior trauma and because you are getting older. Nothing you don’t already know.
2. The report is essentially as expected for you. The increased uptake in L5 is normal for you considering the trauma you suffered. It simply means that the bone in that area took up more of the dye used to 'stain' the bones in the scan. The degenerative changes mentioned are suggestive of changes secondary to aging. The wording is fairly non specific but probably represents normal wear and tear for you. However, given that I don't know you personally, this would require clinical correlation from your doctor. The bit about the kidneys is just the normal action of the body clearing the dye out of your system. In essence normal considering your past history. This doesn't mean there is no cause for your pain. It just means that no new cause other than the trauma and some, what comes across as minor, wear and tear has been found. (As mentioned before this is an interpretation of the scan result without being able to assess you in person. You will require your own doctor to correlate this clinically with your own circumstances)
3. Information about bone cancer are available on site.