I am a survivor of 2 unavoidable car accidents. My initial MRI showed I had 2 bulging discs from first accident in 7/06. After 3 years of physical therapy, pain meds and the feeling of things not improving, I was sent to have a follow up MRI.\r
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My back had literally degenerated with now 3 degenerated discs, spinal canal stenosis in 2 joints, a hypertrophied ligament, in one of the joints with stenosis, 2 Schmorl nodes, and 3 bulging discs. Needless to say if it weren't for the MRI in just those 2 times help me to get dramatic treatment options, as of late I had a Radiofrequency Ablation on nerves that go to my spine to prevent pain signals to return to the brain, I'd be in unbearable pain for life.\r
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Though I still have pain it has been reduced somewhat I have a fighting chance. Then due to 2nd accident in 12/09 MRI detected a herniated disc in my neck and since I have nerve damage in my hand diagnosed by my EMG I had just undergone MRI for my wrist and elbow. I have EXTREME Ulnar nerve damage and the EMG cannot determine where if not more than one place my nerve is damaged.\r
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I am waiting for the results currently so that my Orthopedic Hand Surgeon can accurately know where he needs to operate on my arm/hand in order to prevent further UNREPAIRABLE damage that occurs from my impingement. I AM SO THANKFUL I live in an era that has the ability to see these problems otherwise my hand would be clawed and eventually become utterly useless for the rest of my life yet alone unable to ever return to any possible thought of a life at all. And MRI is the only tool that will be able to detect wear my nerve is being pinched other than cut and search. Unfortunately my muscle loss in my hand is very significant already and is more than probable to be permanent, the speed and accuracy of the MRI allows to prevent further loss from occurring and get me REQUIRED SURGERICAL help a-sap. God bless magnets and the beautiful scientist who engineered this medical miracle. I am forever in gratitude for all it's done for me alone. If it were up to me Full body MRI should be part of a yearly physical due to the amount of medical information it provides doctors and the ability it has to diagnose so many conditions early on that could give SOOO much preventative care and health tactile offense. Though I've never played any physical sports in my life any one knows the BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE. Medically that is spelt MRI.\r
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The experts at Midwest Open MRI found the problem and called my Doctor.
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