MRI Or NO MRI

Updated on February 03, 2009
S.D. asks from Peoria, AZ
9 answers

I have had a severe deep bruise on my leg for 4 months now in which it is keeping a dent in my leg. Dr. suggested to get MRI on it. Would that really indicate the damage it had after all these months ? Would it be worth the money to do it . My ins does not pay for a lot of it...and it is about $1200 I am told. It will always be the un-known for me...but eventually it may go away....but if it does not go away and continues to show a dent in my leg, what would be going on else where in the bone or tissue....
Any medical nurses out there to tackle this idea ?

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J.J.

answers from Phoenix on

you can go to the hosptial or facility where you are going tohave it and ask them for a cash discount. they should be able to give you the price that they get form insurances. most incurances dont pay full price they have contracts with the hosptials . i know at our facility blue cross blue shield only pays 35 cents on the dollar for everything. so you should be able to get the same price . doenst hurt to ask. is it painful? if it is painful then definatley you should take care of it . also what was themechanism of injury? did it just pop ut for no reason , that too would be a warning sign. can you walk does ti interfere with daily tasks? how big is it has it changed at all. there are so many vairables but if you are worried about it ir if it is preventing you from. dialy activity you should definatley figure out a way to have it.

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K.K.

answers from Phoenix on

S.,

Absolutely, MRI is the correct test for what you are describing. MRI sees soft tissue injury better than any other imaging. Without the MRI you will probably be left with no answers. If this has been present for 4 months it is definately time to get to the bottom of the problem. I wish you luck in obtaining a dx and tx for your injury.

K. Klas, Nurse Practitioner, and Mom

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E.P.

answers from Flagstaff on

I have a degree in Sports Medicine and what you are describing sounds like a condition called myositis ossificans. What happens with deep bruises is sometimes it forms a hematoma which is a localized collection of blood. Underneath the hematoma the bone forms calcium deposits inside the muscle. If not treated it will start to tear up the muscle. This condition should be able to be seen on x-ray. It's hard to say what's really going on without looking at it. Normally there will be a hard bump with tenderness in the area. You mentioned a dent in the leg. The other thing this could be is muscle damage in the area of the bruise that didn't heal itself properly. If you have pain in the area it might not be a bad idea to get an x-ray to make sure it's not the first condition I mentioned. Otherwise, if you're not having pain and you have full function in the leg it may not be worth spending the money on an MRI. Hope that helps. Good luck!

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S.L.

answers from Tucson on

I had a similar thing on my upper arm (tricep) and the "doctor" said to do the same thing, plus neurological tests. I was diagnosed with a pinched nerve in my neck but ultimately the "doctor" did nothing to help me, saying there was nothing that could be done. HA! I started going to a massage therapist and within two months the muscle had stopped atrophying and started to regenerate. I have kept having weekly/bi-monthly massages and have never had it come back in over 15 years. Massage therapy is definitely more helpful and valuable than an MRI would be.

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M.J.

answers from Tucson on

I dont want to sound too alarming but I would go with the MRI better safe than sorry and the sooner the better. Things like this have been popping up all around lately.

A friend of mine just lost someone to cancer which showed up similar to what you are saying. He went in because he had what he thought was a hematoma on his knee they did a MRI found it was something more. It didnt get diagnosed quick enough and he passed away.

Another person we knew through the grapevine had a lump in his abdomen. Went in for a CT found out it was cancer a rare kind 6 months later his wife was posting he had passed away. Both were in their 30s.

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M.!.

answers from Phoenix on

Would your insurance pay for an ultrasound? Ask your doctor if there would be any benefit to having one done. It should show a blockage, if there is one. If he only wants an MRI, then start calling around asking prices. Explain that your are paying most of the cost out of pocket. Don't forget to ask, "Is this the best price you can give me" and don't be afraid to ask to speak to the office manager. Bottom line, they are running a business and your money spends anywhere.

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D.B.

answers from Phoenix on

S., the dents in your legs may be from to much water. And your main arteries in your legs are not working correctly. Which could led to heart problems. Look up these 1. Lympo dema 2.adema. Do not mess with this. Your doc may give you fluid pills and suggest you wear support hose. Do you have vericos veins? Are yu a diabetic? There are so many more question to ask. I would say have the MRI. May tell you what is going on but not why.
Good luck on your decision,
D.

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K.N.

answers from Las Cruces on

I'm not a nurse or medical professional, but just this week I read an article about "7 Symptoms to Never Ignore" ... one of them was a deep bruise and pain in the calf in particular, evidently it can lead to blood clots that can dislodge and move to the heart or lungs. I don't know what your doc is looking for, but I'd probably sacrifice something else to get the diagnostics needed... sounds like if you don't you'll be worried about it anyway. Good luck!

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J.R.

answers from Phoenix on

Have you had either an X-ray or CT scan yet? Much cheaper and would show if there is a some type of mass involved yet. Most orthopaedic doctors have the equipment in their offices. Have you seen an orthopaedic surgeon?

I had a very deep leg bruise years ago, which also caused a dent for a very long time, then turned into the ossificans, which is an internal scarring almost lypoma type of tissue, which I had surgically removed because it was painfully attached to the muscle. Never did an MRI for that one. I've had lots of other MRIs though (because I"m accident prone).

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