Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
Yesterday I had my follow up appointment with the doctor to discuss the MRI report. I had received a copy last week because I requested that they fax me the results. Having said that I was a little upset that the doctors office did not tell me it was an open MRI. I am not claustrophobic so there was no need for an open one except for the fact it was THEIR MRI.
The report specifically stated it was an open MRI. It also stated that there was swelling in the soft tissue around the second metatarsal bone as well as edema in the bone marrow. It also mentions that the results were restricted due to the spatial limitations of an open MRI, however it does conclude that the images were suggestive of an early stress fracture and if symptoms persist a high field strength MRI should be performed. That test was the test from hell. They put your foot in this contraption and bend it forwards. This caused a great deal of pain. They also could not put any pillows under my legs to help with my back.
When the doctor came into the room he started to show me the report. I explained my disappointment with the open MRI. He actually had the gall to tell me it wasn't open. I showed him the report where it said it was open and ok.... Here it is....he said just the sides were open. So if the front and back were open and the sides were open what was closed? Then he said he didn't think it was a fracture just a pre-fracture. Huh? He still insists it was nerve involvement. He gave me crutches which is a joke. I am clumsy as all heck and then he said he wanted to refer me to a foot and ankle specialist in their practice. I asked what he was and he said he was a general ortho.
I am sorry this is so long but I felt like I was in an alternate universe or something. Just curious what planet he came from.
Just needed to vent. Thanks all!
Hugggss Jasmine.
The report specifically stated it was an open MRI. It also stated that there was swelling in the soft tissue around the second metatarsal bone as well as edema in the bone marrow. It also mentions that the results were restricted due to the spatial limitations of an open MRI, however it does conclude that the images were suggestive of an early stress fracture and if symptoms persist a high field strength MRI should be performed. That test was the test from hell. They put your foot in this contraption and bend it forwards. This caused a great deal of pain. They also could not put any pillows under my legs to help with my back.
When the doctor came into the room he started to show me the report. I explained my disappointment with the open MRI. He actually had the gall to tell me it wasn't open. I showed him the report where it said it was open and ok.... Here it is....he said just the sides were open. So if the front and back were open and the sides were open what was closed? Then he said he didn't think it was a fracture just a pre-fracture. Huh? He still insists it was nerve involvement. He gave me crutches which is a joke. I am clumsy as all heck and then he said he wanted to refer me to a foot and ankle specialist in their practice. I asked what he was and he said he was a general ortho.
I am sorry this is so long but I felt like I was in an alternate universe or something. Just curious what planet he came from.
Just needed to vent. Thanks all!
Hugggss Jasmine.
..I've had that surreal feeling leaving Dr.s in the past.
Hmm.I have to go look up pre-fracure
( maybe it'll say.." when Dr doesn't want to admit he missed a fracture" :-)
Hugs
jc
There are two "open" MRI machines that I have seen. One (the type I have personal experience with) is open all the way around, but the magnet is just inches from your face so if you cannot move your head you may as well be in a conventional MRI (all you can see is the magnet right in front of your face).
The second open MRI has what looks like a chair that the patient sits in and the magnet is located on the sides and back. From the patient's view, it is open and there may be a TV that you can watch that is mounted on a wall a few feet directly in from of the patient. The last time I checked (a couple years ago) there were only two of these in Houston. I have also seen this type on TV during medical reports.
The Ortro Doctor's office that my wife and I both go to advertise that they have an open MRI, which I found out was false. They have two standard "coffin" types. When I asked about the conflicting information, they just laughed me off.
Sorry, I don't mean to be flip, but it would be funny to record doctors some time and replay to them what they just said. I wonder if they would admit that they can't understand what just came out of their mouths either. Sheesh.
I went to a PM doc for my left hip a few years ago. He told me that I was "too young" (this guy was 30-ish) for a hip replacement and the odds were likely that I'd need two revisions during the rest of my life. Then he asked me to cross my left leg. When I crossed my leg and confirmed that it hurt (not that bad) he gravely shook his head and said, "This is very bad. You need a hip replacement."
The few times that I went back it was the same message, "You're too young..." Then when I was on the table and he was looking at the image, he'd say, "This looks pretty bad. You need to get your hip replaced. How did you get such bad arthritis for being so young?"
GEEEeeeeee ARGHHhhhhhhh!!!!!
You get the impression that either they don't know what the hell they're doing and are too arrogant to admit it or just have no idea period and can't/won't go the extra mile to figure out what is wrong with you.
I hope that somebody can figure this out an get you the proper treatment and pain relief.
(((HUGS!!!)))
P.S.: Thanks for the heads up. I think I will be in store for foot MRIs in the near future.