What other test when need of MRI?

Hi!
just joined today because I have been searching for an answer to a question I have online and came upon this group that I never knew existed! Happy to join - I am 41 and on my 2nd pacemaker...my first was at 27 y/o.
This is my question: I have been having severe lower back issues the last several months that are getting worse. I had a CT scan and I just know that they'll *want* an MRI, but that's obviously not going to happen. I like to be informed before I see the doctor and there HAS to be another alternative to getting more info about back/spine issues than an MRI. I remember several years ago I had a procedure on my back when I was having an acute issue because they couldn't do an MRI but cannot remember what it was! And I can't find online. Anyone had another procedure AFTER a CT scan because the CT wasn't conclusive enough and an MRI would USUALLY come next, but CANNOT in our case? What was the procedure or test?? Please help. I want to insist on more testing if the CT doesn't match the pain I have been experiencing and I don't the Dr to just give up. Yes...I need a new doctor, too!

7 Comments

kelsey

by Bill T - 2014-04-17 06:04:00

I see your are in Seminole. We lived in Bradenton for 9 years before we moved to NW Ar lase year. My Wife had chronic back pain, sciatic pain down both legs and stenosis for several years. Finally we went to Dr Patel at Kennedy and White in Sarasota. Dr Patel is really a magician with spine surgery. He is one of the experts in the field. Angel, my wife, has been 95% pain free since he operated in 2007. He fused 4 stenosis, replaced two disc and trimmed the areas causing the stenosis. Before he operated he had a special test directed CT scan to make sure what he needed to do. As I said, Dr Patel is really a magician, Angel had been to several Drs before we went to him. Hope this helps and gives you some insite to possible relief.

Bill in Nw Ar

ups

by Bill T - 2014-04-17 06:04:17

He fused 4 stenosis.... meant to say 4 vertibres instead of 4 stenosis.

testing

by Tracey_E - 2014-04-17 06:04:39

They can do ultrasound but I don't know how helpful that would be on lower back. Sometimes nerve tests are helpful. Sometimes they can do xrays with contrast that will show more.

I broke my foot once and it didn't heal properly. The CT didn't show anything so MRI would have been the next step. I could walk (slowly and painfully, but still, I could walk) so I did not pursue any other alternatives, eventually it healed on its own. When my shoulder wasn't getting better and xray didn't show anything, without being able to do mri the choices given me were exploratory surgery or steroid shots and hope it fixed whatever was going on in there. The shots helped so that was that.

There are more and more places that can safely do an mri on us. If you search some of Inga's (golden snitch) posts, she has posted links to studies and articles on it. Not every hospital has the right equipment and not every radiologist is trained to do it, but there are more and more studies that it is safe for us under controlled circumstances.

TRy a procedure called a.....

by donr - 2014-04-17 09:04:15

....spinal myelogram.

They inject the spinal column w/ a radio-opaque dye & then do the X-Ray. I THINK it is a CT type.

My Wife had one prior to a back surgery.

Showed everything they wanted to see.

Donr

Mylogram

by Lizzie - 2014-04-18 07:04:13

I had same issue. Had a mylogram. Dye into spinal cord area. Not all that bad, headache after. good luck

Mylogram

by jane32 - 2014-04-20 11:04:56

I had a mylogram before my back surgery, I did manage to faint during procedure which I'm told is not normal.
good luck

hope this helps

by ahuett23 - 2014-04-26 02:04:21

Hey,
New to the site and having a pm as well. I hear from another post that there is or maybe used to be a pm where you can still have an mri not sure but doesnt hurt to look it up.

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