An Up-date and and kind of an odd question

Hello my Chronic Pain Forum members, or shall I say my family. I have seen my surgeon  last Monday, and he has released me from his care.  Although he told me if I have any problems at all or questions, not to hesitate to call him, because once he does surgery on a person, he is always there for that person for as long as he is ever needed. Which is really nice to know! Anyway they took X-rays of my neck Monday and I got to see first hand what he did to me last November. I was kind of surprised, I know he told me he was going to fuse the articular joints at C-3/4 on each side, using the bone from the spineous process on the vertebra as the graft material and then brackets to hold it together. I was thinking the brackets would be like the one used when I had the ACDF at C-5/6 the year before. But that was not the case, I have two 2 to 2 1/2 inch rods in the back of my neck, one on each side, for each articular joint, the rods are attached to the C-3/4 vertebra by two post for each rod.  It is no wonder I have a stiff neck and I have lost allot of my  mobility  in my neck!

I  have continued to have problems with my lower back and hips especially my right hip! Monday morning I had two MRI's one of my lower back and then of my hips. I had an arthrogram with an MRI of my right hip last summer, and I had problems with have the MRI, and had to be taken out of it because I was getting hot like I was being cooked in it. This time I refused to have the MRI in that machine, and they had me go to their other clinic where they have a new MRI machine. Well the first MRI of my  lower back was about 25 minutes, toward the end the scans the machine was making the very rapid higher pitch pinging, and around my lower stomach and pelvic region, and my my hand ( as they were down on the side of my body) started heating up, and I mean the heat was very intense, and it was starting to make me sick, so I yelled out and pressed the emergency button, and they took me out of the machine, but luckily it was right at the end of last scan, so I did not have to have it done again. I was really red and hot around the scanned area a sweating, they gave me water and let me walk around. They then turned on a fan and I had to get back in the machine for a slightly shorter scan of my hips. This time my head and shoulders was actually sticking out of the machine.  The started the scan and everything went well untill the machine started doing the very rapid high pitched pinging, and I again started feelin heat, it was like I was heating up in the inside, and this time it was just in my pelvic and hip area, they had my hands on my chest and it did not affect them. I managed to hold out till the end of the scan, but I felt like I was cooking from the inside out, my skin was really red and hot to the touch, and  well, I will tell I am now very aftaid of these machines, and I have many many MRI's before and never had a reaction like this, till last summer and this past Monday. Have any of you in our chronic pain family ever experienced anything like this while having an MRI?????. I can't imagine what it would be like to have to have an MRI of my neck or head again. I don't think I would have it done, this has really scared me an has shaken me up!!. I googled this problem and an have found some disturbing information about people getting 1st, 2nd degree  and worse, burns from the MRI machine.  I always thought this was a very benign test not like a Cat Scan with the X-rays, but now I am not so sure. Anyway I just thought I would check in with you folks to see if any of you have had any experience with being over heated or cooked in an MRI machine.

 

The other news is I finished with Physical Therapy for my neck and  I had my initail exam today for pulmonary rehab and I start that program this Monday three days a week, for 24 sessions, it is a monitored exercise program, at the hospital, where  they are trying to build up my stamina and improve my respiratory capabilities. I have problems with fluid retention and shortness of breath! Too many things going on right now!

 

Thanks for listening!

 

White Beard

I've heard of stories of reactions to MRIs before, but never before by someone who experienced it. Two in a row, too. That's really strange. I'm sorry you had to deal with it. I do wonder what could cause something like that. I also thought you could not have MRIs with implanted metal objects like the braces you have in your neck. Well, I hope you are ok and that you don't have to go through that experience again, and that the pulmonary rehab goes well.

I'm sorry you had such a horrible experience, WhiteBeard. I take it this was one of the old fashioned MRI machines that are more enclosed. Perhaps next time you need one done your doctor can refer you to an office that has an open Air machine. It's a lot more comfortable, though I felt kinda like a pizza laying there on the big round table.

MrsM brings up some valid points to look into, though hopefully you won't need any more MRI's for awhile now.

Wow, WB!! I've never heard of that before so I'm guessing you're one of the few who just either can't have MRI's or may turn into a torch if you do. That is a bit frightening but at least you know now that if any doctors recommend one that they have to read your reports first and I doubt they will proceed.

Sounds like you'll be mighty busy with your PT and all. I'm not as brave as you are with your neck hardware. Sometimes I've find looking at my own x-rays but after seeing the pictures of your neck a couple of days after surgery, I wouldn't want to see the x-rays of the 'junk yard' you call your neck!...lol

Warm but gentle hugs,
Chutzie

I have never heard of this. How horrible to have to go through that WB! I get pretty claustraphobic in the enclosed machines and sometimes they have to sedate me to finish the scans, but nothing like this has ever happened to me. I have two staples in my right knee and they are always careful that I'm not going to cause them to be ripped out.

I've heard some horror stories, but this one I think is one of the top 10!!

Hugsss

Scarred

White Beard, all I can say is WOW! I have had many MRI's and never had that issue or even heard of it as a possible problem. I am sorry that you had to experience that. Keeping my fingers crossed that you never need another MRI ever.

Lee

Dear White Beard,

    Good morning! Goodness, it is good to hear from you. I hope you are doing a bit better today. You have been through so much this last year. I just don't know how you do and still remain so positive. I really admire that about you. 

     I was a little unnerved to hear about your experience with the MRI machine. I have had many done and had never had the sensation you describe. One time when I went into my series (all three sections) we had to stop after the Lumbar section because the machine was over heating. He was waiting on a repairmen to fix the air conditioning. When I was done with the lumbar (I get 20 min break in-between each section. Each section is 45 min ) he informed me that the machine was 98 degrees and he had to shut it down or risk damaging the equipment. I tell you, it did not seem that hot to me at all. 

    What I have been reading about concerning burns and even brain damage from MRI machines is very unsettling. It even talks about tattoos and make-up tattoos (permanent make-up) causing burns. I never knew!!! I have never heard of that possible risk ever being mentioned when I have gone in for MRIs. It would have been nice to know of these possible risks!

     Is there any sort of imaging that you can use instead of MRI? I must admit that if I were in your shoes, I would avoid MRIs all together. The risks associated with the MRI machines are frightening. Not something to mess around with. Have you mentioned these experiences with your doctor?

     I hope you continue to heal from your surgery. You have been through the ringer this last year and it would be nice to have it al behind you. KNow you are in our hearts and prayers!

*hugg*
  dani

Hugs to you White Beard. I hope you are feeling better. The MRI stuff is a bit scary. During my last one I could feel the machine getting hot where my hand rested, but nothing else. Scary stuff indeed.

So I had my new set of MRIs yesterday and something that happened reminded me of this thread. I had to share it. When they were advancing the bed into the tube they realized that my shoulders were too wide and my arms would be in full contact with the machine as a result. They backed me out and cocooned me in pillowcases and sheets, saying that otherwise the machine would burn me. Now this definitely had to be the smallest MRI machine I've ever been in (they had to take all the pads out to get my head to fit in the bracket), but I've had plenty of MRIs before and my arms have always rested against the sides. So I thought it was all a bit silly. Until about the third image set when I realized that I could feel the heat of the machine through my cocoon and it was very hot. Without the sheets it would have been crispified arm hot. I was very glad the techs were proactive. It's not the same kind of no contact heat over large areas exposed to the machine's scans, but I still found it interesting to encounter a machine that creates so much heat and that the techs were aware of it. Ok, interesting story complete. Hope everyone is having a low pain day and even some fun.

-Jeff