I was wondering if anyone had any knowledge of the injection they give you
prior to having a Nuclear Medicine Bone Scan.  I am having this done
Tuesday and am very nervous.  Don't want to sound paranoid but is this
injection radioactive or dangerous in any way.  With all I've been through
the past two years with illness and then a car accident injuring my
back--well,  let's just say I've become very cautious.  Please send any
info you may have.  I would SO VERY MUCH appreciate it!!!  Although the
nurses assured me it was safe I have a hard time trusting those who have
never personally known illness or pain in their own life.

                                           Thank you.....
                                                                 andrea

: I was wondering if anyone had any knowledge of the injection they give you
: prior to having a Nuclear Medicine Bone Scan.  I am having this done
: Tuesday and am very nervous.  Don't want to sound paranoid but is this
: injection radioactive or dangerous in any way.  With all I've been through
: the past two years with illness and then a car accident injuring my
: back--well,  let's just say I've become very cautious.  Please send any
: info you may have.  I would SO VERY MUCH appreciate it!!!  Although the
: nurses assured me it was safe I have a hard time trusting those who have
: never personally known illness or pain in their own life.

The material is an isotope of the inert element technicium.  It is taken
up preferentially by the cells of the supporting structure in the bone
tissue.  It is slightly radioactive, so that the detecting equipment can
localize any increase in concentration of those cells.  It cannot harm
you at all.  I am sure you have been asked if there is any possibility
of early pregnancy - the test is not scheduled if such is the case.  

Don't worry.

GC

___
The Hacker: by Mind a Scientist; by Heart an Artist.

--
Man is born to labour, and the bird to fly.  Job 5:7

  Why do you assume health care providers have never known pain or
suffering?  Plenty of those that I know have, but don't push it on the
patients.
  Good luck with your pain problem, the NucMed scan really should be no
problem.  It's certainly safer than the drive or the walk to the hospital
to take the test.
--adam