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MRI scan

Posted , 4 users are following.

lisa08367
lisa08367

Hi All

I am due to have an MRI scan next week of my lumbar spine. I have read quite a lot on AS and it always goes back to the sacroiliac joints.

My question is will this be included in the MRI scan or do I have to ask just dont want them to miss anything.

Thankyou

1 like, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • matthew80
    matthew80 lisa08367

    Posted

    Hi Lisa,

    No harm in asking them if they are planning on looking at your SI joints, but if this is your first MRI for a possible AS case then that's what they will be looking for, along with your lower spine.  Usually the SI joints and the lower spine will be in the same region of interest anyway.

    Good luck,

    Matthew

  • ama38049
    ama38049 lisa08367

    Posted

    Hi Lisa, there are lots of types of MRI scans. Your dr should have specified what scan is to be done(lumbar spine scan in your case). The process itself is getting into the machine and getting the organ(s)/bone(s) that you are need to be scanned scanned. The tech staff checks that the scan was done correctly. You do not ask for specific scans. What you can ask for is to explain to you what exactly is to be scanned. If this is not what you think that you need you should tell them this and they should contact your dr for clarifications... Good luck.
    • lisa08367
      lisa08367 ama38049

      Posted

      Thank you having it tomorrow afternoon. Can I ask what is the best medication for pain you have taken I am on 50mg amytriptline and solpadol 30mg/500mg and I take two before bed. The pain is so excruciating lately that this doesn't seem to be strong enough I could have  honestly cried like a baby last night. Tried every sleeping position I could think of 😢
    • ama38049
      ama38049 lisa08367

      Posted

      Hi Lisa, living in pain is awful. Optalgin helped me the most but after I took a dosage of 2-3 times higher than recommended for a month or so, I damaged my stomach few years ago so had to get off it. Paracetamol doesn't really help me, but if I take two pills it may bring some short term relief. I take ibuprofen recently. It doesn't help entirely but it doesn't damage liver. I take Ethopan which is not a pain killer but it helps. As I have severe headaches from time to time I take migralev which surprisingly helps with the neck pain too... That's all. I have high pain resistance and I try not to take meds in general so I never tried anything stronger preferring "to suffer in silence", well not so silently ;-) I am using an infant's pillow / it helps with the back/neck pain - high pillow causes almost immediate numbness in my neck. Hot pillow before bed helps too. I wake up at night because of the pain/numbness and just reheat the pillow and take another painkiller if time-interval from the previous one allows. On "good" days I try not to take anything at all. That's basically all. I hope that your scans will get back normal.. And that you will find the right meds for you. Hug.
    • lisa08367
      lisa08367 ama38049

      Posted

      Hi Ama

      Thank you for responding to me I am sorry your in such pain as well. It's no fun trying to get a good night sleep so you can face the next day.. I don't think anyone understands until they experience this type of pain. Like you I have a high pain threshold had 2 children that was easy compared to living with this. Just waiting for my results to come back.

      One more question do you suffer with your feet my heels are so painful when I get out of bed along with my back this is a new symptom for me?

      Thank you

  • annie1963
    annie1963 lisa08367

    Posted

    MRI for Lumbar may include some of the sacrum. But to see the SI joints specifically you need a dedicated sacrum MRI. I do this for a living and when I scan a patient that gives me those symptoms I try to incorporate as much as I can but we are pretty much bound by our standards as to what we can scan.
    • lisa08367
      lisa08367 annie1963

      Posted

      Thankyou Annie I have received my MRI results and you are so right not enough shown on the IS joint. Going to doctor today to see if he will listen to me... There is a herniated disc and annular tears showing but I know that is not what is causing this pain as I have flares with this type of pain before been having back pain for over 15 years just getting worse the older I get... And although I haven't had iritis I have had severe pain in my eye and hurts to look at the light sometimes had this investigated by eye specialist can't find a reason...
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