I've been suffering from a knee injury for the last few weeks (linked to a problem I've had for the last two years). I had some new x-rays done this week which do not show any problem in the bone and therefore my doctor has advised an MRI scan which I have booked for this Saturday.
Has anyone had one?
What did it show?
What it useful?
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I've not had an MRI scan yet, but like you, I will be having one soon (an Isotope Bone Scan) on Tuesday 8th Feb.
Also like yourself, I have a recent injury, a suspected stress fracture of the right femur. The X-Ray showed nothing (which is usually the case), so I was referred for the bone scan. I must say it has totally restored my faith in the NHS, after wondering how many months/years I would be waiting to get something done. I had an x-ray the same day as visiting my GP, then had the results a week later and only 2 weeks after that, I will be having my bone scan.
Unfortunately I think the injury has scuppered my plans to run London Marathon this year, but I will be back in time for the track and field season and have been contemplating the Berlin Marathon in September.
Sorry that I'm not able to answer your question (yet), but all the best for Saturday. Perhaps you can let me know before I go on Tuesday?
I have heard that they are very effective for showing up any weaknesses or stress points in the bones, so it will be very useful to have one. For me, it may well eliminate the stress fracture scenario after all, which would be a bonus. We jsut then have to find out what we are dealing with.
Cheers
Sarah :0)
Im MRI you will have to go i to a tunnel, and it can be noisy
Bone scan involves having an intravenous injection then the scan
They give a 3D image and take longer to do, and you have to keep pretty still. The tunnel could be a bit claustrophobic if you're not good with that sort of thing. They pick up soft tissue better than X-rays
[looks to hippo for a nod of agreement]
eh aren't I lucky... I've had both MRI and bone scan - TWICE!!!
The knee one told me that in spite of pain and swelling there was apparently nothing wrong with my knee.....
The first bell being hammered is the MR machine, the second bell is the part of the body being examined (the molecules in it resonate like a bell if they are impinged on by their natural note). Your ears are the machine lstening to what it gets back. It has very clever and directional hearing (and software) so that it can reconstruct exactly where the 'ringing' is coming from, in 3D (That's what you get the Nobel prize for.)
Would not have liked to be fully in the tunnel though - would have got very claustrophobic...
As it turned out my tibia was bust so a simple old xray would have done fine and alot less than £600....
Steve C -- [impressed] not just a pretty face eh.
(and that was according to the doc himself)
doc wrote out scrip because i was asking if MRI might be useful - but he didn't really answer the question
so, what is the real point in having one?
(have had loads of xrays already and am pretty sure it's ligament damage)
The pictures are great, shoulder looked like a leg of lamb. The images are basically cross sections of your insides, both bones and soft tissue. Obviously you need to be an expert to actually see what is wrong.
The MRI did pick up a problem which did not show on x-ray, so the MRI was useful. Have since had op on shoulder (and got more pics of the inside of my shoulder for my collection).
Yes, you're right, they are different. I've learnt something new (don't usually deal with injury stuff like this - thankfully). My bone scan is tomorrow (Tuesday) and I have to have a mildly radioactive injection (which is absorbed by the bones), wait about 3 hours, then have the scan, which I'm told usually lasts 30-45 minutes.
I'll just be glad to get it over and done with, I'm not really claustrophobic, but will be happy to know if we are dealing with a stress fracture and what we can do as regards rehab from them on.
Cheers
Sarah :0)
V useful for me as I could see what was sort of like a cross section of my back - so I could see where the discs were torn. Made it all make sense.
BTW - L5/S1 is about the most common area for back injuries and a spondylolisthesis is dead common, too - especially among people who have done things like dance, gymnastics, diving, figure skating, etc. - all the "bendy" things. There are loads of us about.