MRA

Hello,

MS runs in my family and I have several symptoms of MS (vertigo, blurred vision, numbness in the limbs, pain in my joints, migraines).  The Dr. had ordered an MRI of my brain which, I read is the best test to get a diagnosis of MS, however, the insurance company said that the only test that they will approve at this time is an MRA.  Does anyone know what the difference is and if it can even see lesions or any other malfunctions of the brain?  Please help.

Crystal

[essdipity]

Hi. I had never heard of an MRA, not that that means much, so I Googled it and found a good explanation on WebMd. It seems this test is a form of MRI that is interested only in blood flow through vessels. I can't imagine what this would have to do with MS, but maybe someone else here knows. I'm wondering if the insurance person simply made a mistake. If a regular MRI magnet is used, the MRA might not even be cheaper.

For more info on MRA, see
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/magnetic-resonance-angiogram-mra

Hope this helps.

ess

[mae1]

MRA is performed to see if there is an anurizem (spelling, sorry) I only know this because my friend just had one. from my understanding MRA and MRI are around the same coast. like essdipity said, you might want to check back with your insurance or let your doc. talk to them.
good luck.
april

[Crystal1423]

O.K. come to find out the Insurance Company approved the MRI to be done on 11.20.  The scheduling department at the hospital tried to authorize the MRI twice that is when the Insurance Company said the only test they would run was a MRA.  After 2 weeks of trying to get the MRI scheduled I finally got it scheduled for last Friday 11.30.  

I got there 6:30 pm and waited 2 hours before being told that the Dr.'s office never sent the Orders to them, which I know is a lie because I was on the phone with the Hospital Scheduling Department at the same time as my Dr. to confirm receipt of the orders, the Scheduling Department for the Hospital was supposed to forward to Radiology and they goofed, so I left without getting the MRI done.  

Where I live unfortunately all the hospitals are owned and run by the same people and as they buy up all the Hospitals there service seems to get worse.  To me they need to stop buying and start fixing.      

I am now scheduled to get my MRI this evening.  I am stopping by the Dr.'s office to pick up the Orders personally to take them there myself.  I am almost at the point where I don't want to get it done just for pure hatred for the Hospital, but I know I have waited too long for a Dr. to order this test so I am hanging in there "Come Hell or High Water".

[Crystal1423]

O.K. come to find out the Insurance Company approved the MRI to be done on 11.20.  The scheduling department at the hospital tried to authorize the MRI twice that is when the Insurance Company said the only test they would run was a MRA.  After 2 weeks of trying to get the MRI scheduled I finally got it scheduled for last Friday 11.30.  

I got there 6:30 pm and waited 2 hours before being told that the Dr.'s office never sent the Orders to them, which I know is a lie because I was on the phone with the Hospital Scheduling Department at the same time as my Dr. to confirm receipt of the orders, the Scheduling Department for the Hospital was supposed to forward to Radiology and they goofed, so I left without getting the MRI done.  

Where I live unfortunately all the hospitals are owned and run by the same people and as they buy up all the Hospitals there service seems to get worse.  To me they need to stop buying and start fixing.      

I am now scheduled to get my MRI this evening.  I am stopping by the Dr.'s office to pick up the Orders personally to take them there myself.  I am almost at the point where I don't want to get it done just for pure hatred for the Hospital, but I know I have waited too long for a Dr. to order this test so I am hanging in there "Come Hell or High Water".

[Crystal1423]

O.K. come to find out the Insurance Company approved the MRI to be done on 11.20.  The scheduling department at the hospital tried to authorize the MRI twice that is when the Insurance Company said the only test they would run was a MRA.  After 2 weeks of trying to get the MRI scheduled I finally got it scheduled for last Friday 11.30.  

I got there 6:30 pm and waited 2 hours before being told that the Dr.'s office never sent the Orders to them, which I know is a lie because I was on the phone with the Hospital Scheduling Department at the same time as my Dr. to confirm receipt of the orders, the Scheduling Department for the Hospital was supposed to forward to Radiology and they goofed, so I left without getting the MRI done.  

Where I live unfortunately all the hospitals are owned and run by the same people and as they buy up all the Hospitals there service seems to get worse.  To me they need to stop buying and start fixing.      

I am now scheduled to get my MRI this evening.  I am stopping by the Dr.'s office to pick up the Orders personally to take them there myself.  I am almost at the point where I don't want to get it done just for pure hatred for the Hospital, but I know I have waited too long for a Dr. to order this test so I am hanging in there "Come Hell or High Water".

[Crystal1423]

O.K. come to find out the Insurance Company approved the MRI to be done on 11.20.  The scheduling department at the hospital tried to authorize the MRI twice that is when the Insurance Company said the only test they would run was a MRA.  After 2 weeks of trying to get the MRI scheduled I finally got it scheduled for last Friday 11.30.  

I got there 6:30 pm and waited 2 hours before being told that the Dr.'s office never sent the Orders to them, which I know is a lie because I was on the phone with the Hospital Scheduling Department at the same time as my Dr. to confirm receipt of the orders, the Scheduling Department for the Hospital was supposed to forward to Radiology and they goofed, so I left without getting the MRI done.  

Where I live unfortunately all the hospitals are owned and run by the same people and as they buy up all the Hospitals there service seems to get worse.  To me they need to stop buying and start fixing.      

I am now scheduled to get my MRI this evening.  I am stopping by the Dr.'s office to pick up the Orders personally to take them there myself.  I am almost at the point where I don't want to get it done just for pure hatred for the Hospital, but I know I have waited too long for a Dr. to order this test so I am hanging in there "Come Hell or High Water".

[needanswers54]

Hang in there and get it done.  I went through the same thing at two different hospitals for my MRI.  Then, the exam quality was so poor that they really could not read it enough to definitively state whether there were lesions until I have more MRIs to compare with it.  Make sure that you doctor specifies it for possible MS as they will often do a better study.  Also, try to get it done with and without contrast.  Good luck and keep us posted, okay?

Also, after it is done, I would request that a neuroradiologist read it, especially if there is any questionable unexplained areas on it.  They will often see or read things that the regular radiologists might miss.  Just a thought.  Again, the best of luck!

[CarolynV]

Good Luck today!!  I hope you get some answers!!!

CarolynV