Daft question re anti inflammatories and xrays

[MaryMotherOfCheeses]

So, I've got a sore hip. Possibly arthritis. Got an appointment next week for an xray. PITA iyswim.

Dr gave me wonder drugs anti inflammatories which are just very marvellous

They won't reduce what the xray would be looking for would they? They're so marvellous I'm beginning to think I've imagined it. (though I know I haven't when I don't take them....)

The xray would still show up a problem if there was one, wouldn't it? Even if I'm pain free?

See, I told you it was daft

No not daft at all ,I can imagine feeling like that .

I think arthritis affects the bone doesn't it ? And that will show up regardless of anti inflammatry ?

Not sure now - so maybe I'm daft as well ?

Looking forward to a knowledgeable reply !

Keep taking the meds-glad they are helping. They will not affect the structures visible on an X-ray.

Anti inflamms won't alter how your bone surfaces look at all, so x rays will look the same as if you aren't taking them

X-rays look at the bone. Inflammation for arthritis would be around the bones so will make no difference to the x-ray.

So what exactly is being un-inflamed???

[never did biology]

Its all the soft bits around the joint that are uninflamed. Arthritis due to wear only directly affects the bone, and bone itself doesn't hurt, but all the other bits get annoyed by what is going on, and that is what hurts

Are you doing an X-ray or an ultrasound? My son who's 4 recently got diagnosed with systemic juvenile arthritis although we are hopeful it's reactive arthritis.

Anyway the point is, they gave him naproxen which helped with pain and fever
Like an anti inflammatory drug like ibuprofen. But they did an ultrasound to look at his joints. And they couldn't see any inflamed joints.