What Does My Bone Scan Test Result Indicate?

Posted on Sat, 13 Feb 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 13 Feb 2016 Answered on

Tue, 12 Apr 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : My father (75 years old) recently had a bone scan. We believe he has a pinched nerve but the doctors have been pushing him around for three months while he withers away in his recliner. It started Dec. 22 when he walked into the kitchen and said he felt like he had been struck by lightning. The pain has been in his lower back, hip and down the front of his right leg.
The doctors have denied him pain meds and have forced him into physical therapy which has only made the condition worse. When we asked for an MRI, they offered a bone scan.
The results of the bone scan were "a bone spur on the hip bone" and four "hot spots". They want to do injections (one per visit) on these hot spots but we have NO idea what a hot spot even is. Can you please explain to us what is going on? My father is a healthy and normally VERY active 75 year old man. Sitting still for more than an hour is not like him. Sitting still for nearly three months is killing him. Please help! Thank you. XXXXXXX XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Robert Galamaga (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Considerations

Detailed Answer:
hello and thank you for sending the question.

I suspect the four hotspots they referred to on the bone scan our area is reflective of significant inflammation. This is usually associated with a particular joint.

I suspect the injections that they plan may include some type of steroid or anesthetic to help alleviate the local inflammation reflecting on the bone scan.

hopefully with direct localized treatments in those particular areas he will regain improved mobility over a short period of time.

Thank you again for sending your question.

Sincerely,

Dr. Galamaga

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T