tnmomofive
10-15-2007, 12:44 AM
Hello new here...My doctor has scheduled me an MRI of my neck.I have had random pains in my left arm and neck off and on for over a year.I was thinking heart but ive tesed normal there with several different tests and doctor isn't concerned with it being heart related.The pains I get just come on at all different times.The pains are not painful just nagging in random areas of my arm and neck off and on.Anyway,does it sounds as if it could be a problem in my neck? and what does a MRI of the neck involve?
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codemonger
10-15-2007, 02:10 PM
It definitely sound like it could be in your neck (cervical spine to be precise). I had similar symptoms along with some funny feelings in my left leg and they found a large disc-osteophyte complex at c4-5. I had ACDF to remove the disk a month ago and I thinks things are getting better, but it is slow going.
The MRI is painless. Typically you lay in a tube for 15 minutes to 1/2 of an hour (I think) while the machine does it's work. There are a lot of funny banging noises. They will probably give you special headphones and let you listen to music or a radio station. They may inject you with a contrast agent along the way if they are doing a with and without contrast MRI. Some people may get claustrophobic. I've heard my neurologist prescribing 5 mg Valuim to be taken before the MRI. They may ask you to try not to move your neck (e.g. don't swallow) while a certain noise is happening in order to prevent movement from blurring things.
You should ask the MRI tech for a copy of the films or a CD that you can hand carry back to the doctor. If it is a CD you can make a copy and keep it in a safe place in case the original gets lost. It may take a day or 2 for the radiologist to write up the MRI report.
Best of luck.
Don
The MRI is painless. Typically you lay in a tube for 15 minutes to 1/2 of an hour (I think) while the machine does it's work. There are a lot of funny banging noises. They will probably give you special headphones and let you listen to music or a radio station. They may inject you with a contrast agent along the way if they are doing a with and without contrast MRI. Some people may get claustrophobic. I've heard my neurologist prescribing 5 mg Valuim to be taken before the MRI. They may ask you to try not to move your neck (e.g. don't swallow) while a certain noise is happening in order to prevent movement from blurring things.
You should ask the MRI tech for a copy of the films or a CD that you can hand carry back to the doctor. If it is a CD you can make a copy and keep it in a safe place in case the original gets lost. It may take a day or 2 for the radiologist to write up the MRI report.
Best of luck.
Don
tnmomofive
10-15-2007, 04:09 PM
Thank you codemonger for your responce.I wish you well with your recovery.