How to get an MRI done with metal inside your body?
03-18-2010, 08:45 PM
#17
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The plates I have are Titanium but the screws are surgical stainless steel... I'd ask my doctor but it's going to take two weeks before I can get an appt with him and I have an MRI scheduled in 3 weeks.
Sorry if I wasn't clear in my first post, I tend to leave out details when I'm typing with one finger because it takes forever to type just a simple sentence. I figured that some of you have probably gone through something similar which is why I asked... It's better to ask someone who has gone through it than to read through unreliable info that is posted online.
My MRI is due in the second week of april, and I don't talk to my doctor till the first week of april, and if I can get an answer from someone who has gone through it and knows how to go about this then I'm much better off. (I'm actually quite nervous about this whole thing... I hate MRI's)
Sorry if I wasn't clear in my first post, I tend to leave out details when I'm typing with one finger because it takes forever to type just a simple sentence. I figured that some of you have probably gone through something similar which is why I asked... It's better to ask someone who has gone through it than to read through unreliable info that is posted online.
My MRI is due in the second week of april, and I don't talk to my doctor till the first week of april, and if I can get an answer from someone who has gone through it and knows how to go about this then I'm much better off. (I'm actually quite nervous about this whole thing... I hate MRI's)
03-18-2010, 08:49 PM
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03-18-2010, 08:51 PM
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Yeah, like others said Titanium doesn't really interfere with MRI's. But I'm totally blanking out, I had to get a chest scan, and they said a CT Scan was the only thing I could have and not an MRI cause I have two huge stainless steels rods in my back with screws and **** so I can't go in the MRI. Not sure if that helps, but w/e. lol
03-18-2010, 09:00 PM
#21
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Yeah, like others said Titanium doesn't really interfere with MRI's. But I'm totally blanking out, I had to get a chest scan, and they said a CT Scan was the only thing I could have and not an MRI cause I have two huge stainless steels rods in my back with screws and **** so I can't go in the MRI. Not sure if that helps, but w/e. lol
03-18-2010, 09:54 PM
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Yeah, I read that, and was telling you, I needed an MRI done on my chest, but they couldn't put me in an MRI, so I had to do a CT Scan. Depending on what test you need for your back and what your doctor needs to see, a CT Scan may be sufficient since MRI and SS don't go together. Just trying to help.
03-18-2010, 10:02 PM
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Yeah, I read that, and was telling you, I needed an MRI done on my chest, but they couldn't put me in an MRI, so I had to do a CT Scan. Depending on what test you need for your back and what your doctor needs to see, a CT Scan may be sufficient since MRI and SS don't go together. Just trying to help.
I have some nerve damage in my thoracic spine and they use the MRI machine to get deep tissue scans of the area to see how it has changed, etc. I'm not really familiar with CT scans, but I assume that they sort of do the same thing, no? Can a CT scan get clear images of deep tissue like for example in the spine, etc?
03-18-2010, 10:18 PM
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now that I have about a pound of titanium in my arm (which wont ever be removed), how will I get my back scanned via MRI? I have a back issue and usually get one MRI per year... anyone?
EDIT: I have 4 titanium plates in my arm, which aren't magnetic, BUT, there are 8 (either 8 or 10) screws holding in the said plates which are magnetic.
EDIT: I have 4 titanium plates in my arm, which aren't magnetic, BUT, there are 8 (either 8 or 10) screws holding in the said plates which are magnetic.
03-18-2010, 10:26 PM
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03-18-2010, 11:32 PM
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If you're sure the screws are SS, well I should say if you aren't 100% certain they are titanium, I'd leave a message for your doctor asking if the MRI is safe or if there is an alternative imaging technique. If you're doctor wont answer that without an appointment then it is time for a new doctor. I've had my insulin pump settings tweaked via phone/email/fax (when I was first diagnosed), answering a question about imaging takes less effort. Or call the imaging center and tell them that you have SS screws and need a different technique.
03-18-2010, 11:40 PM
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I don't understand why you're insulting me for asking a simple question? If you've ever taken an MRI, they make you fill out a questionaire and the first thing they ask you is if you have any metal jewelery or any metal replacement parts in your body since the MRI machine is just one giant magnet. The screws that hold the titanium plates on are magnetic and am unsure if I'll still be able to take the MRI that I need. I can't get through to my doctor for a little over two weeks and my MRI is less than a week after my appt with him... If I can't take the MRI I'd like to reschedule for the alternative right now so that I can get it done before the end of april, otherwise I'll have to take care of it in may-june (I'll be in the new house in May and I don't want to drive an hour each way just to get the MRI done when I can currently get there in less than 4 mins since the hospital is just a few blocks away from my current house). If I reschedule my appt on the day that I see my doc they wont be able to get me in until may, and it'd make my life a lot easier if I could do it in April since I'll still be at my old house.
Why are you calling me an idiot?
03-18-2010, 11:45 PM
#29
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If you're sure the screws are SS, well I should say if you aren't 100% certain they are titanium, I'd leave a message for your doctor asking if the MRI is safe or if there is an alternative imaging technique. If you're doctor wont answer that without an appointment then it is time for a new doctor. I've had my insulin pump settings tweaked via phone/email/fax (when I was first diagnosed), answering a question about imaging takes less effort. Or call the imaging center and tell them that you have SS screws and need a different technique.
03-19-2010, 01:03 AM
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I called a few days ago to schedule a phone appt with my doctor (Kaiser) to go over my concerns and they called me back telling me that the earliest phone appt is two weeks from now (since my issue wasn't considered to be a priority for them and for good reason) I know we have some doctors, EMT's, as well as people who have been in the same situation as me which is why I posted this thread...