CT scan for hip and pelvis? - Page 3

gidgetgh · ‎03-09-2010

@kristina1 wrote:
Hello,

I am an MRI technologist and have been since 1987. I work in a very busy hospital that has a prominent neurology institute associated with it.

It depends on what they are trying to rule out whether or not you could have a CT instead of an MRI. MRI is the gold standard for ruling out any soft tissue injuries/pathology. CT of the lower back and hip would be a go-to for bony pathology. That said, sometimes you could have a CT instead of an MRI. I don't know enough about what they are looking at to offer any suggestions.

However, if it were me, I would have the MRI. With a lower spine and hip, the facility could put you into the scanner feet first. Please, please never ever have an open MRI. I can't tell you how many repeat MRI scans I have done all because those MRIs are simply just not diagnostic.

I highly recommend taking some sort of anxiety medicine prior to your MRI. Have the technologist cover your eyes (sounds silly but it makes a huge difference) and ask for music. You will be given something under your knees for the lower spine and a smaller pillow under your knees for the hip MRI. Insist if they don't offer it. They can. They can also prop your head up a bit to help with your vertigo. Sit up slowly after coming out of the magnet, it may make you slighlty dizzy along with any anxiety medicine you may take.

Here's the other thing. You do not have to do BOTH MRIs on the same day. Do one and see how you feel about the other one. Maybe they will get all of their answers from the first one. Rarely can anyone hold still for that amount of time...and you have to be still.

2 hours seems a bit long also. Those are pretty routine MRIs.

Lastly, YOU are in charge, not the doctor. If you only want your lower back done, that's all you should do!

I feel like I'm the one being wordy! Don't be upset, it doesn't have to be such an unpleasant experience. Wish I could help you !

A good technologist will be patient and help you through it.

@kristina1 - thanks for your detailed response.

My Doctor is looking for fractures. The x rays showed no fractures. I went to see him because I had fallen and then had pain, 6 weeks later when walking more than I usually do. I walk great. He was pleased with my gait, and the ease with which I could move my legs and feet while I was sitting and talking to him, even with the pain.

And, respectfully, something covering my eyes just won't do it. No force on earth, cloths, music, etc, is going to get me into that tube if I don't want to go. And if I did the MRI I would do them both at one time. No way would I go to yet another appt. Too much angst. Not signing up for a repeat of it.

I can certainly ask for Ativan (I can't take Valium) but it would have to be a large dose and I still couldn't lie down.

I will see how the PT goes and revisit my options with him if the pain persists.

Yesterday was a much better day. I rested it. It was mostly just sore and some stiffness after I've been sitting. Today seems to be the same so far. The terrible pain from the other day has subsided.

Thanks again.

Why is it, when I have a 50/50 guess at something, I'm always 100% wrong?

kaydee50 · ‎02-07-2011

@gidgetgh I have no advice for you re CT scan vs. MRI but I am completely sympathetic to your feelings. I too am claustrophobic and no way could I lay still for an hour in that machine. I would have to be completely sedated. And it would truly have to be a matter of life or death for me to undergo that procedure.

Good luck to you and hope all is well.

ALRATIBA · ‎07-15-2016

I can't have MRIs because of an implant.

(Back in 2003, I slipped and fell at work - badly broken (shattered) bone - hence an implant.)

In November 2019, I fell at home - ambulance to ER - x-rays and ct scans - no MRI possible. No broken bones, just lots of pain. 3 days in hospital. Sent home with instructions to take Tylenol and see my own doc.

Saw my own doc who sent me to pain management doc who sent me to PT. PT and remaining active works!

pupwhipped · ‎03-11-2010

@gidgetgh wrote:
@pupwhipped wrote:
Well, it doesn't sound like a "must do" kind of thing so I would calm myself down and choose not to do the MRI at this time. Commit to the physical therapy and see if that helps. If it doesn't help and you continue to suffer then rethink and reinvent at that point. @gidgetgh, it will be alright.

@pupwhipped - I smiled at your post and I appreciate your post. I came across a little dramatic last night, LOL. I'm not worked up literally where I need to calm down. It's more like a heavy sigh, rolling eyes, what now kind of upset. Just don't want to deal with it. I slept great last night which is unusual for me. I've made the appt for PT. I start on Monday.

Gurl, I am the Queen of upset. Ha! I can work myself up into a tizzy and make my situation ten times worse then it needs to be. Lovely attribute, huh? 😄

Couple things I will add that I've finally learned. So many times we do tests to find out "exactly" what is going on when the remedy for it will be no different that what we're already doing. Know what I mean? I did that actually a lot with my dogs...I had to know precisely what was wrong and spent tons of money on tests. But seldom did it change what we were already doing to treat their situation. I finally learned to calculate what is the new test really going to get me and how is it going to change the current therapy.

The other thing...take this time to start investigating what can be done to help you get through an MRI in the future. It likely won't come to that for this injury. But we all know things can happen to us where a test like that is not optional at all...it's critical and has to be done. Be proactive now so as to be better prepared for next time.

Good Luck!

kristina1 · ‎03-09-2010

For fractures, a CT may be helpful then.

In the future, should you have to ever have an MRI, IV sedation may be a solution. Our facility does that for patients and many do. It's almost always successful. Last resort is anesthesia.

The point is there are always ways to do these should they be absolutely necessary or other solutions. Sounds like you are well informed and like another poster said, you have to be your own advocate!

Kristina

gidgetgh · ‎03-09-2010

@pupwhipped wrote:
@gidgetgh wrote:
@pupwhipped wrote:
Well, it doesn't sound like a "must do" kind of thing so I would calm myself down and choose not to do the MRI at this time. Commit to the physical therapy and see if that helps. If it doesn't help and you continue to suffer then rethink and reinvent at that point. @gidgetgh, it will be alright.

@pupwhipped - I smiled at your post and I appreciate your post. I came across a little dramatic last night, LOL. I'm not worked up literally where I need to calm down. It's more like a heavy sigh, rolling eyes, what now kind of upset. Just don't want to deal with it. I slept great last night which is unusual for me. I've made the appt for PT. I start on Monday.

Gurl, I am the Queen of upset. Ha! I can work myself up into a tizzy and make my situation ten times worse then it needs to be. Lovely attribute, huh? 😄

Couple things I will add that I've finally learned. So many times we do tests to find out "exactly" what is going on when the remedy for it will be no different that what we're already doing. Know what I mean? I did that actually a lot with my dogs...I had to know precisely what was wrong and spent tons of money on tests. But seldom did it change what we were already doing to treat their situation. I finally learned to calculate what is the new test really going to get me and how is it going to change the current therapy.

The other thing...take this time to start investigating what can be done to help you get through an MRI in the future. It likely won't come to that for this injury. But we all know things can happen to us where a test like that is not optional at all...it's critical and has to be done. Be proactive now so as to be better prepared for next time.

Good Luck!

@pupwhipped - thanks. I've actually had MRI's before. 2 different ones for my knees (had trouble doing both, in an open MRI, 2 different places) but got through them. I've had one of my brain, neck, upper back and lower back, all at different times but I went to the imaging place I use where you can sit up (for those specific scans) and I wasn't even nervous at all and my doctors said the scan quality was fine. And I have had another one of my brain, back in 2005, fully enclosed, but I was very ill and pretty much unconscious for that and only started regaining consciousness as they were finishing. I remember hearing the nurse saying "she's waking up. Get her out, get her out".

Why is it, when I have a 50/50 guess at something, I'm always 100% wrong?

tsavorite · ‎03-09-2010

@gidgetgh Hello, I have had to do several MRI's and CT scans for my brain and neck. I also suffer from vertigo and laying flat on my back or even rolling over in bed and so on triggers it. Heck I can be sitting still and for no reason turn my head to the right or left and there it is. I also get extreme anxiety from any "test" that someone is going to do that I know will bring it on. That includes ENT which I avoid for the least 8yrs!

The way I was able to get the MRI's done was that I took my anti-vertigo medication. I do not know what you use to make it stop but I am prescribed Promenthazine and would take that 6hrs prior to any such test. Also you can take a anxiety med which others mentioned. I find the Promentazine really does the trick on both.

Also I tried covering my eyes....NO way that makes it a million times worse! As that blocks your brains means of telling your position in the world! I need all my functions like eye sight open or I will get very mixed up. So that doesn't work and they will offer it to you.

Music is fine....I had them use 2 sets of ear muffs as it is very loud in there. Going in head first and remaining still was difficult as it is such a tiny space and well it was my head and neck area so you get the idea. For you feet first like the tech in this thread replied could work perhaps better too.

I couldn't ignore mine and do PT....they had to rule out things like MS...and fractures in my neck and then found some other thing in there and I had to go back for the CT of the neck which turned out to be a congential defect!

I do agree with others here....try PT 1st and see but be open to trying to do it if things just don't improve and please get some of the meds I mentioned to help you out for that day. You can always press the call button in your hand during the test and they will take you out immediately!

Best wishes to you

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

@gidgetgh ---geez I HATE MRIs--have had many. Did that dr say why he wanted those scans? OK yes, I know they are a more in depth thing but why does he need a more in depth images. Seems to me that if there was a more serous issue after the CT scans, than why did he suggest P/T? call this dr and ask questions---

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@gidgetgh

Just curious, have you had a Dexa Scan, at any recent point?

hckynut 🇺🇸

hckynut(john)

gidgetgh · ‎03-09-2010

@tsavorite wrote:
@gidgetgh  Hello, I have had to do several MRI's and CT scans for my brain and neck. I also suffer from vertigo and laying flat on my back or even rolling over in bed and so on triggers it. Heck I can be sitting still and for no reason turn my head to the right or left and there it is. I also get extreme anxiety from any "test" that someone is going to do that I know will bring it on. That includes ENT which I avoid for the least 8yrs!

The way I was able to get the MRI's done was that I took my anti-vertigo medication. I do not know what you use to make it stop but I am prescribed Promenthazine and would take that 6hrs prior to any such test. Also you can take a anxiety med which others mentioned. I find the Promentazine really does the trick on both.

Also I tried covering my eyes....NO way that makes it a million times worse! As that blocks your brains means of telling your position in the world! I need all my functions like eye sight open or I will get very mixed up. So that doesn't work and they will offer it to you.

Music is fine....I had them use 2 sets of ear muffs as it is very loud in there. Going in head first and remaining still was difficult as it is such a tiny space and well it was my head and neck area so you get the idea. For you feet first like the tech in this thread replied could work perhaps better too.

I couldn't ignore mine and do PT....they had to rule out things like MS...and fractures in my neck and then found some other thing in there and I had to go back for the CT of the neck which turned out to be a congential defect!

I do agree with others here....try PT 1st and see but be open to trying to do it if things just don't improve and please get some of the meds I mentioned to help you out for that day. You can always press the call button in your hand during the test and they will take you out immediately!

Best wishes to you

@tsavorite - thank you for the medication recommendation. I certainly don't lie flat, on one pillow, to sleep and you're right. Turning over in bed can bring it on. And the first thing a doctor told me years ago when I had my first vertigo attack was "open your eyes".

Why is it, when I have a 50/50 guess at something, I'm always 100% wrong?