Panic Mode: MRI Findings

Highlights Only
X

XinaMae535

Well-known member
Hi Everyone,I had my wrist MRI done today and I have the CD with pictures and am taking a look at them. No idea what I am looking at, so many pictures and views. I wish I did not look at them because I see all of these white spots, like little dots, on the pictures. I thought I would google to see if that is a normal thing or not, and so far I ran into the words "MS" and "lesions" and I am now in total panic!!!!!!!!!! I also saw something like how the MRI can show denervation. I am feeling so faint and sick!Please, does anyone here have MRI experience, had MRIs or can help me determine if these white spots are normal white areas or what? I just selected a random few pictures. Can an MRI of the wrist/hand determine things like lesions...ugh, I can't take this. I need some medicine. I appreciate anyone's advice!I get the offical report on Monday (hopefully).
 
Xina,there is one important thing I would like to ask you:what is said in your MRI report.this is really what you should take as an info, not the pictures itseld.As far as I understand (not being an MRI specialist, just using my small knowledge of anatomy and MRI principles), I could say that mysterious white spots you fear of so much are cross section of subcutaneous and intramuscular fat whcih has more hydrogen atoms in it compared to bones and soft tissue, so it has more bright visualisation. Some of those dots are your nerves but in cross-section, which is absolutely normal. They should look like more or less round high echo places (exactly as they are). Moreover, demyelinisation (lesions) are relevant for MS only in the brain and spine, which is not your MRI zones definitely, not saying that your scans are in fact 'cuts' made in the transverse position and do not reflect any lesions. Just imagine you look at your wrist from the side of the elbow - at the cross section your nerves would be lloking as bright dots somewhere close to your bones here and there.My dear, please follow "knowledge hygiene" rules we all here know - as curiosity kills not only the cat, as in proverb :)If you have the report on your MRI, all information derived by specialists from your scans is in this report. Read it and stick to what is said in it.hope this will help a bit.regardsYulia
 
I am not a doctor but I do not think those white spots are uncommon. I have seen them on other MRIs before. I am the same way though, I have a spinal MRI and I looked at it once and shut it off. I don't know what I am looking at and refuse to dig too deep into it. Freaks me out too much.
 
Thank you for your thoughts and advice, yet againI do not have my report yet. I get it when I see my orthopedic on Monday. They sent me home with the CD so I had to look at it! (Very dangerous thing that they do that! They should ask about health anxiety on the checklist they make you fill out and if "yes" you don't get the CD)I was hoping to find pictures with arrows pointing to inflammed or trouble areas, like they had with my lower back once, but I do not see any. I do not remember any white spots on my lower back MRI and when I saw so many on my hand and wrist I was definitely alarmed, to say the least.I try to follow the knowlege hygeine rules, but panic and fear, when they take over, don't listen or care! I am sure many of us can relate to that. I feel better now, MUCH better, since taking some medicine (I actually stopped all anti-anxiety medication as of beginning of Oct., but I still have some and I took a little just now, since it was needed). And also of course feeling better because you mentioned that you would not consider them alarming and that MS is shown on the brain MRI....once I saw "MS" and "lesions" when I googled, I stopped. I thought I was going to find words like,"white spots due to high contrast" or technical terms in relation to the resolution or machione or whatnot.HUGE learning lesson!Side note - this all really does intrigue and interest me...how someone can look at these pictures and know what all of this is and means. Much respect to them!
 
Well, MRI reflects our anatomy in a pretty good way so they should know what is what (bones, muscles, cartilage and nerves) after some training :)))but you also may have a llok and see how many small bones are in your wrist - and how easy it may be damaged...
 
This is why radiologists go to school for like 12 years. I wouldn't expect any of us without proper training really know what we are looking at unless it is pointed out by a qualified person and explained what it is. RELAX
 
Its funny, my docs do not even look at the reports the radiologist gives. They always want the actual images.I suffer from health anxiety as well so this twitching is driving me CRAZY. I feel your pain, just want answers....
 
Yes I need to relax. Ugh. Baby steps to the appt on Monday when I get the report. I give you all permission to virtually slap me for this freak out. There is no REAL danger....at least right now. My docs over here in Germany never looked at the images. They hardly read the report, more like they just skim over it. That may not be how all of them all, but at least all my docs so far.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top