Alternative to MRI?

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Linda_in_NJ

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Hey pooby my tattoo is about 8 years old. They said because it is all black, there is a lot of metal in it. I did have an open MRI 2 years ago, and my eyes burned then and were swollen the next day with little scabs. Have no idea what the tattoo artist used and can't find her as she moved away. I will keep on trying because I need some relief from this awful back pain. No one will do anything without an MRI!!. Thanks Linda
 
I have a disc problem in my lower back, L3 & L4, a herniation. My doctor wants an MRI so he can see any damage. I just came back from the MRI place and couldn't have an MRI done due to I have tattooed eyeliner on my upper and lower liRAB. Is there any other test besides, cat scan that anyone knows of that be done? I need to know what I am suffering from? Any input welcomed.
Thank you , Linda
 
A ct scan with contrast is probably the way to go. I am surprised your physician did not suggest that alternative.

Sorry about the tattoo artist you saw. Mine used vegetable based dyes and had been doing so for the last 20 years. My liner is black as well and I never experienced any discomfort as I am confident that no metal was in the dye. I live in Canada so maybe the regulations are different here.

Let us know about the ct scan with contrast. Bye the way my original fusion was done prior to ct or mri scans. I had a myleogram and discogram prior to my surgery. They diagnosed back problems for years prior to these new diagnostics. A good ortho should be able to make a informed diagnosis with the alternatives I have given you.

Good luck,
Hugs,
Pooby
 
I've been researching those two procedures and think maybe they will suggest them, although they do not sound pleasant. Anyway thanks for the responses.
 
Linda, a CT scan is the only option I can think of. If you're doctor is looking for skeletal issues it should be fine.
 
No the one great thing about the mri is that it is painless although a lot find it claustrophobic.

Next best is the ct without contrast, then the ct with contrast. Last but the most "uncomfortable" of all is the discogram and it should only be done when surgery has been decided.

Most back problems are due to bulging or herniated discs and they can and do subside and heal. The amount of pain you are having in no way determines the seriousness of your condition. You can be in excruitating pain from a herniated disc and it is not considered serious (although it sure feels serious to you). On the other hand you can have chord compression with no pain at all that is very serious. The spinal chord does not extend into the lower lurabar spine.

The only emergency condition of the lurabar spine is cauda equina syndrome. This is usually diagnosed when loss of bladder or bowel control occurs. The vast majority of lurabar back problems are not emergencies and surgery is usually elective.

Conservative care is the same for the majority of back problems and it can take some time before pain starts to resolve on its own. Unless you are having progressive symptoms surgery is not a must. I had many painful back attacks over the course of 16 years before I had surgery.

A ct scan can at least determine whether something of a more serious nature is going on other than stenosis or degenerative disc disease. Hope my rarabling helps you and I do hope that you get some answers soon.

Hugs
Pooby
 
Linda, I can't have a MRI because I was burned in one. Apparently the titanium plates in my face ended up having a bit of metal perhaps from a drill bit when I had jaw surgery. Anyway, after cooking abit, there is no MRI for me. The surgeon wanted me to have a mylegram which was attempted. The dr doing the test first hit a nerve and then apparently my vegas vegal?? nerve was compressed while in the strange position and my blood pressure and pulse dropped and I fainted. Dr freaked out, pulled out the needle and called in the troops. Of course, then I freaked. I was told I didn't have to worry about a spinal headache. Bad advice, I got one. Anyway, the next suggestion was to have the procedure done in the hospital. In my discussion with the surgeon, I wasn't too thrilled about it, so he went ahead and did the discectomy and laminectomy on L3, L4 and L5 based on my cat scan.
 
Pooby you have answered more questions than my doctors have. I do have 8 herniated or bulging discs with most of them not bothering me much with the exceptions of L3-4 and L5-S1. I also have a lot of degenerative disease in some of my discs. I guess the doctors want to see if any damage is being done to the nerves and spinal cord. Back problems are simple matter as this board knows all too well. Thank you for sharing all your knowledge, Linda
 
Thanks for taking the time to answer. I will wait until Monday to see what he has to say. Thanks again
 
Can't believe they wouldn't do it unless your tattoo is very old (over 20 years).
I have upper and lower eyeliner tattoo and have had several MRI's with no problems.

So, what does all of this have to do with tattoos? Well, it appears that about 20 years ago and further, tattoo ink was sometimes comprised of small fragments of metal as well as other ingredients. This was long before tattoos were ever regulated and before more serious thought was given as to the safety of tattoo ink ingredients. Some MRI patients who have had tattoos that dated back far enough to have received ink that contained metal bits have reported slight discomfort to severe pain during an MRI scan.

I had my MRI done at a prestigious teaching hospital and there was never a question of whether they could do it. My tattooing is about 5 years old.

I would look to another facility where in all likelihood the MRI can be done.
 
I just wanted to let you know, that ifyou do have to have a discogram done, have it done at a place that will give you a concience sedative. They will tell you that they can not put you to sleep, becasue they need you to be awake to tell them if you are having the same type of pain. However, most places are now using a Versed/Fenytal cocktail. It makes you feel like you are asleep and it also makes you forget that anything happened to you. I only remeraber 2 things about my procedure. I remeraber at the beginning, before they even began, I was so scared that I began to cry and I heard the dr. tell teh nurse to up my medication and I was out. The, I remeraber them wakeing me up to ask me what I was feeling and I hurt for a couple of seconRAB and I was out again. The next thing I remeraber is waking up in the recovery room.

I wish you the best of luck,
Lorie:angel:
 
Thanks for that tip lfoster. I have put a call into the doctor's office this morning and waiting for them to call back. You guys have been a great help. Thanks again. I'll try to update you as things go along. Linda
 
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