L5-S1 Hemi-Laminectomy scheduled for February 25th. Here are some MRI pics..

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phils95cobra

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I got confirmation today of my surgery for a Hemi-Laminectomy on my L5-S1.
My question is, the MRI is done with my laying down of course, I wonder how much worse it would look if you could take them with the patient standing? I would assume that when gravity kicks in, things really start to look different. Just wondering. I may seek a second opinion using my MRI's at another Neurosurgeon prior to my surgery, but only if money permits.

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Positional MRIs are not widely accepted among spinal surgeons. First of all, if your pain is much worse when standing, it is very difficult to stand perfectly still long enough for the MRI to be completed. It is not unusual for a patient to faint during the process. Also at least at this point with the technology, the machines are not quite as strong as most of the prone MRI machines, and thus the images are not quite as clear or defined.

When I went to a neurosurgeon for another opinion, I took him both types of MRI. He refused to even pull the positional MRI films out of the envelope.
But I have noticed their acceptance is sort of a regional type thing...so perhaps where you live, you will find that the spine surgeons like them and accept them.

I think the selection of the surgeon is probably the most important aspect of making the decision to have back surgery.
 
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