Ultrasound
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (MSKUS)
Musculoskeletal ultrasound is a powerful, non-invasive imaging tool that helps our rheumatologists evaluate joints, tendons, ligaments, bursae, and surrounding soft tissues in real time.
Unlike traditional imaging such as X-rays, which only show bone, MSK ultrasound allows us to visualize active inflammation, fluid, early joint changes, and soft-tissue structures that are often involved in autoimmune diseases.
At Idaho Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center, ultrasound is used as an extension of your physical exam — giving your provider immediate, detailed information during your visit without requiring a separate imaging appointment.
For many rheumatologic conditions, early detection and timely treatment make a significant difference in long-term outcomes. Musculoskeletal ultrasound enhances your provider’s ability to:
• Identify inflammation before it shows up on X-ray
• Distinguish between mechanical pain and autoimmune activity
• Detect small joint changes that may otherwise be missed
• Make quicker, more confident treatment decisions
Having MSK ultrasound available inside our clinic means fewer delays, fewer referrals, and faster answers for patients who need clarity about what’s causing their pain or swelling.
Detailed Diagnostic Imaging
Musculoskeletal ultrasound helps detect:
• Joint inflammation (synovitis)
• Tendonitis or tendon tears
• Bursitis
• Joint effusions (fluid)
• Erosions and early joint damage
• Ligament injuries
• Crystal arthritis findings (such as gout or pseudogout)
These insights help confirm or rule out specific conditions, guiding a more accurate diagnosis.
Real-Time Evaluation of Disease Activity
Ultrasound allows your provider to see inflammation as it’s happening. This can help:
• Determine if your current medication is effective
• Decide whether your treatment plan needs to be adjusted
• Track response to biologics, DMARDs, and steroid injections
• Compare previous ultrasound findings to new changes in your joints
This real-time information is especially useful for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and gout.
Ultrasound-Guided Injections and Procedures
Ultrasound provides precise visualization during joint and tendon injections. This allows your provider to:
• Guide the needle exactly where it needs to be
• Increase accuracy
• Improve comfort
• Reduce the chance of missing the joint space
• Ensure medication is delivered to the correct area
For patients who have complex anatomy, scar tissue, or swelling that makes landmark-guided injections difficult, ultrasound guidance significantly improves outcomes.
Our rheumatologists use ultrasound to strengthen clinical decision-making. This technology helps:
• Confirm the source of pain
• Detect early signs of inflammatory arthritis
• Guide treatment escalation or medication adjustments
• Support earlier diagnoses
• Reduce the need for unnecessary testing
• Improve injection success rates
• Monitor disease progression over time
By integrating ultrasound directly into the visit, your provider gains more accurate data and you gain more clarity about your condition.
Musculoskeletal ultrasound is:
• Painless
• Radiation-free
• Quick — most scans take 10–20 minutes
• Comfortable, performed while you sit or lie in a relaxed position
Gel is applied to the skin to help transmit sound waves, and images are captured in real time. You will see the structures of your joint or tendon on the screen during the exam.
MSK ultrasound has become a key part of modern rheumatology because it provides information that cannot be obtained through touch alone. It bridges the gap between the physical exam and more advanced imaging, offering:
• Earlier detection of inflammatory changes
• Greater confidence in diagnosis
• Better precision in procedures
• Faster treatment decisions
By offering this technology on-site, we streamline your care and give you the most accurate, timely information possible.
You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your ultrasound exam. You may need to remove all clothing and jewelry in the area to be examined. You may be asked to wear a gown during the procedure.
Ultrasound examinations are very sensitive to motion, to ensure a smooth experience; it often helps to be alone during your exam.
We ask that you refrain from smoking prior to your exam due to changes in circulation and normal blood flow.
We also ask that all family members wait in the waiting room during the exam.
Multiple Ultrasounds or Ultrasound-Guided Injections in a Single Day
Some insurance plans may not cover more than one ultrasound or ultrasound-guided injection performed on the same day. When multiple procedures are recommended, patients have two options:
• Complete all procedures during the same visit and sign an Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN), agreeing to pay cash for one of the services if it is not covered by insurance.
• Schedule a follow-up visit on a different day to complete the additional procedure(s).
Traditional Medicare plans typically cover multiple procedures on the same day. However, Medicare Advantage plans often do not, and federal guidelines do not allow us to issue an ABN for these plans. In those cases, procedures must be scheduled on different days to ensure coverage.
Our team will review these options with you so you can make an informed decision about your care.
Get In Touch Today!
Idaho Arthritis Center is a physician-owned, independent Rheumatology practice where we provide the most advanced yet cost-effective care for our rheumatology patients, including in-office Infusion Therapy.
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