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verdammt
Canada
97 Posts |
 Posted - 03/27/2005 : 07:05:34
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I've never had an MRI. In all my visits to family doctors, specialists, physiotherapists and chiros over the past 25 years, it's never been mentioned. Yet it seems to show up in almost every post on this board.(Is it a big business in the US?)
Is it really necessary? Does it ever NOT show something that requires therapy or surgery? What does it cost? Is there a waiting period or can you just plonk down your cash and get one any day? |
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Baseball65
USA
734 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2005 : 07:32:27
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Hi Verdammt
I've had 5 (4 and a CT scan).I had insurance of course,so I never saw a bill,but I think a trip in the tube used to cost about 3-6 grand depending on how extensive the imaging(how large of an area are they trying to see).
Lets see...I had one when I first felt the "twinge",than a CT scan and a myelogram for the next surgeon(CT scan is similar,but the tube isn't quite as elaborate...and they pumped dye in my spine)
Than I had one for the cutting surgeon,another when the pain moved into the other leg(didn't match the scan) ,another one post-op to see why I was still in pain,and another for the chronic pain center.
That's 5,and there might have been another I'm forgetting about.
The tube is like a long coffin.You go in and spend about an hour listening to the most aggravating grinding and pounding you could possibly imagine....I can't think of someone NOT thinking something is wrong with them after being in one.
The Myelogram was worse.They remove fluid from the spine and than TRY to replace it with dye,so it will show up on Xray,and clarify a CT scan.
When they did the spinal Tap It felt like I was getting raped.Later in the day I had a "spinal fluid headache" that was like getting hit in the back of the head with a Louisville slugger.
It is a HUGE business...probably one of the reasons for escalating insurance costs,and the new pet of the entire medical profession.
They are booked round the clock,due to the time it takes each patient in the tube.I've had them at 3:30 AM and 8 PM....20 patients a day....keep that money train rolling.
The Machine itself takes up the space of one of those giant cardboard crushers in the back of grocery stores.....that way you feel like your getting your moneys worth.
Money Rolling In is a very appropriate name.I'm sure with certain things it is very useful....they found my wifes tumor that way....However,for back pain,RSI and all other TMS conversions it is just a waste of time.
peace
Baseball65 |
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verdammt
Canada
97 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2005 : 11:17:17
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Thanks Baseball65. Now I know what I've been missing. 
More acronym fun..
Many Rich Investors
Merely Reinforces Insecurity
Much Regrettable Insight
Millions Rendered Insolvent
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Baseball65
USA
734 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2005 : 11:49:29
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LOL!!
Hi Verdammt.
Like any tool,the MRI was probably developed with the best of intentions.Most technologies are developed by University Professors and students.Unfortunately,the profit driven corporations that endow these departments try to exploit the scientific discoveries to the fullest.
For example,it is common practice now for Pharmaceutical companies to fund labs,scholarships and departments at major universities like Harvard and Stanford.In exchange they get the rights to the research and patents resulting from their work ,on new pharmaceutical products.
THAN the advertising end of the company tries to find data to support it's efficacy for many more applications than it was originally developed for.
I was prescribed both Celebrex and Vioxx when my back was hurting...you know...for the inflammation.
Thank God,even than I had the sense to tell the Dr. "This isn't doing anything"....
-out
peace
Baseball65 |
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Laura
USA
655 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2005 : 12:22:19
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Verdammt,
I had one done about 6 or 7 years ago. I have two friends who were both diagnosed with Acoustic Neuroma. Now, Acoustic Neuroma is supposedly very rare but somehow two different friends in my neighborhood have it. I had been suffering from tinnitus and thought I'd better get it checked out. Of course, I they found nothing wrong on me - just a cyst in my sinuses. But going through that ordeal was awful. I suffer from severe claustrophobia and it was really hard for me to muster up the courage to go through with it. I was in there for almost an hour, and at one point they took me out to inject contrasting dye.
When my dizziness started three years ago, my husband kept telling me to get another MRI but I refused. I had read about this condition on-line called Mal de Debarquement syndrome, a condition that affects mostly women in their 40's. It happens after an airplane trip or after being on a cruise or some kind of boat. It happened to me after two different trips. The doctors didn't feel an MRI was necessary to do on me. They checked my balance with this tuning fork and said I was fine (I'll give them credit for that - most doctors would never say that, they would just order the test). After seeing three doctors who told me to just wait it out and I'd be fine (all the meanwhile not giving me a diagnosis) I diagnosed myself with MDDS. When I was reading about all the women who had it, I noticed that pretty much all of them had had MRI's done, all of which came back negative. I was glad I followed my heart and did not go through that again.
Marc is right. It is like laying in a coffin and listening to horrible sounds. The whole time I was in there it was all I could do to keep my composure. I had my husband and a good friend at my feet (they were sticking out at the end) and that helped.
I hear they now have new and improved MRI machines and if I ever do need to have one done in the future I will look for a facility that has one of those. One of them is a stand up MRI machine, so no claustrophobia is involved. The other is an open MRI scanner. The scanner is made by a company called GE Signa Ovation. I have an advertisement for it that I tore out of a magazine. The ad says it is the "most open, patient friendly MRI system of its kind in the world."
If nobody has ever recommended you have an MRI then count your blessings (and your money). The best medicine I've found in all the years has been doing the TMS work. It is the only thing that has helped me!
Here's one to add to your list. Must Run Immediately (as in, away from it!!!) Or how about Must Repudiate Information. This is fun...
Laura
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verdammt
Canada
97 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2005 : 12:43:02
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quote:
Originally posted by Laura
I had read about this condition on-line called Mal de Debarquement syndrome, a condition that affects mostly women in their 40's. It happens after an airplane trip or after being on a cruise or some kind of boat. It happened to me after two different trips.
Great post, Laura! Thanks!
I've figured out MDD. It can be traced to internal rage after enduring your husband's juvenile behavior on the cruise/flight (drunken flirting with stewardesses, listening to "the game" during dinner, etc.) Also, realizing that you'll have to do the after-trip laundry and a million other chores while hubby goes golfing.
One more:
My Relatives Insisted |
Edited by - verdammt on 03/27/2005 12:49:52 |
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smth416
USA
43 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2005 : 13:20:07
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Dr Sarno says he feels the MRI is a tool that has helped Doctors discover serious things like tumors and what not. However,as many of us know it also shows every structural change in our spines, the majority of which are completely normal and benign.
Also beware of your doctor reccommening a certain Imaging Center, as it's a well known fact that a doctor may pressure you into going to a particular place which than "kicks back" to him for the referal. This has happened to me.
Also, about those "stand up" MRI machines that have appeared recently, my Mother works at an imaging center, and it's well known that the quality of the films produced by these machines is lower than the closed ones. This may or may not be a good thing considering a high resolution machine will find a structural "problem" on the majority of people that have them. These places are failing, thus leaving only the traditional casket like tube, which is 20-30 minutes of grinding and laser like sounds which to clarify caost about 1000-1500 dollars depending of the area scanned.
As I stated on a previous post- the MRI can be your best freind or your worst enemy. To the suggestible TMS sufferer is will be the latter. -Al
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Laura
USA
655 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2005 : 14:26:40
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Verdammt,
That's funny you would say that about MDD because that's what I've been thinking. I mean, my husband was flirting big time with this gorgeous girl when we went on this "booze cruise" and I was really feeling insecure. That was the evening that the "rocking" started. The other time this happened was when we went to Montreal a few years prior. That time the floating/rocking/dizziness lasted only three weeks (the doctors told me it would be gone in three weeks and it was - the mind is powerful!!). I don't recall any of that kind of behavior on my husband's part that time, however, my kids were staying with family and having a miserable time and I was a nervous wreck worrying about them.
I haven't been getting the dizzy thing much lately but now I only seem to get it when I'm realy anxious. Like, last week I was preparing a speech I'm supposed to give for my daughter's bat mitzvah and I was getting that dizzy feeling when I was practicing the speech. Yesterday, I was in a hurry because my parents were coming over (stress!) and I got dizzy for a moment. It's weird. But I do think you are right.
Here's another one, only it's backwards! Mindbody Read Instead. You've really got me thinking now!
Laura
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MRI = Money Rolling In?
