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486038 tn?1300063367

Optic neuritis and MRI question

Today the neuropthamologist decided that I had optic neuritis and has scheduled me for two tests on Monday, one is an MRI. I was QUITE disapointed in his listening skills...! He didn't really seems to care about my other symptoms, all he was concerned with was my eyes.

Here's my question- when he does an MRI  to "check out that nerve" will he see anything else? As in, will the MRI be a scan of my full brain or just the nerve and will it see anything else if it is present? Just wondering since I will be finding a neuro in a month or two and don't want to have to repeat the MRI  because of the $$.
Thanks for the input!
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147426 tn?1317265632
It would still be a good idea to call the imaging department and ask if the test that they have scheduled will be sufficient to be an MRI of the brain AND orbits, with and without contrast AND be done per MS Protocol.  Tara is totally right and of course she would be.  But, different places define different requests differently...Hm.... garbled, but true.

This is a time when you need to be proactive and make sure that you will get the best information you can.  I also recommend that you find out the Tesla strength of the open MRI.  Some are less than 1 Tesla, which is less than the Guidelines for MRI Protocol recommend.

You are not "bound" by an appointment.  If things aren't correct you can always cancel this appointment while you make sure the right test is scheduled and on a powerful enough machine.  My concern is that the neuro-ophthalmologist ordered it and not the neruologist, so the order may not be as all-inclusive.  It's your work-up.  And we have learned here by experience we should not assume it's all going to be done the way we need.

Quix
Helpful - 0
486038 tn?1300063367
Well, the nurse just called and said it's an MR done on an open machine and it's of the entire head (she didn't sound too sure of herself though). So, here goes!
Helpful - 0
486038 tn?1300063367
Wow, I wish I'd known this all this afternoon... i'm afraid they are going to say that the insurance and/or the doctor only ordered one or the other and now that is what I MUST take. Oh well, I shall see... I don't have much time to play with it as today is friday and the MRI is tentatively scheduled this coming Monday. This has been really helpful!
thanks everyone!
Sunnytoday
~Undiagnosed~
Helpful - 0
233622 tn?1279334905
Oh, I can tell you from very recent experence.  I've had ON twice and have had MRIs to confirm it. That is what lead to my MS diagnosis.  

If the eye doctor ordering the MRI will do it ask for a brain AND eye orbit MRI - WITH and WITH OUT contrast.  You need both the eye orbit and brain.  You also need the contrast.  If you get all of that done now it will save you from going into that MRI tube more than you really need.

Are you dx'd with MS?  If not then the brain scan would be important to show if there are any spots that could indicate MS.  So, ask for both.

I was able to take my brain and eye orbit MRI to my MS doctor and she did not order another one.  

LA
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Avatar universal
Your welcome hun... you can see the orbits on a brain MRI but they are not the thin slices through the optic nerve tract.  If you have any more questions feel free to ask.   Good luck again~!  =)
Helpful - 0
220917 tn?1309784481
Sorry about the misinformation.  Listen to Tara!  She would know for sure.  Please do as she says, and check with your doc's office as to which type you're getting.  Ask for a full head MRI if it's not ordered.  Explain that you're seeing your neuro soon, and she/he will want one done anyway.

Thanks for the info, Tara!

Have two cookies and call me in the morning!

Zilla*
Helpful - 0
486038 tn?1300063367
Wow, thanks for the wonderful explanation on MRI's- that's sooo helpful! I will ask the nurse which type it is when she calls back this afternoon with the test times for Monday. I'm also taking another optic nerve test monday so I guess it will be a rather interesting day!
Sunnytoday
Helpful - 0
486038 tn?1300063367
My eyes are dilated and I just reread what I had typed, OOPS!
..."blue CLOUDS here in my "sunnyday"... I guess it's rather dangerous to type when you can't see what you are saying!
Helpful - 0
220917 tn?1309784481
I know it's hard.  I'm sorry.  But, it looks like you will be getting some answers soon.  Answers you probably don't want in the first place, though, right?

Hang tight.  We're here for the cloudy days.  Until then, I hope your pain gets better.

Feel well, and keep in touch!

Zilla* P.S. -- Go ahead and have the cookie!  I think of them as medicinal!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hey sunny-
       im an MRI tech so hopefully I  can definately help clarify this for you.  It completely depends on what your neurophthamologist orders.  At our facility, if a radiologist protocals an MRI of your orbits (eyes), we as technologists only scan the orbits.  This is the way it is like at the two hospitals I work at so you probably want to ask him what he ordered.  If you do not yet have a dx, which it sounds like you don't, they most likely would order your entire brain.  Again, some MRI centers have different protocals on orbital studies, and may include the entire brain.  The two facilities I work at do not.  They are entirely seperate exams.  Zilla is correct about the inner ear scans.  They are "protocaled" by the radiologist as IACs (internal auditory canals), but we scan the entire brain and take a few thin cuts through the IACS before and after contrast is adminstered.    Definately talk to your doctor about this one.   Many doctors will order both when sending their patients (brain and orbits), but he probably ordered just your brain if you haven't had an MRI before.     Good luck and best wishes.  Keep us updated.
                  Tara
Helpful - 0
486038 tn?1300063367
Thanks, that's reassuring that they will hopefully look at the bigger picture. :)
The last two weeks have been really rough, as I guess it's what you would call a 'flare" even though I'm not diagnosed with MS ....it's kinda scary for me when things go numb or don't work properly!

My eye has been really painful to move and has been really blurry, it was VERY diffucult to finish my spring semester finals this past week since several were "computerized" and my eye was blurring over and jumping everywhere.

As far as emotionally, I simply try not to think too hard about my health and whenever I get down I go and eat a cookie and watch a movie (hence a five lb. gain) but i will say, this forum has kept me sane! :) Hopefully I will pull out of this soon and everything will look a little rosier... or soon you will see a few tears here on this forum coming from some blue cloods in my "sunnyday".
Helpful - 0
220917 tn?1309784481
Hi, Sunny~

I'm sorry your doc wasn't much in the listening mood.  Maybe he was really concerned about the ON and was thinking of what he needs to do.  Or, maybe he's always like that.  Regardless, it's aggravating when doctors don't pay attention.

At least you've got a Dx of ON, and will now get an MRI.  I am sure it will be of your head, and if it is, they will likely be on the lookout for classic MS lesions.  ON is often a precursor of MS, as you may well know.  So, I would like to say that the radiologist will keep an out for signs of demyelinating disease.  For MS.

I had an MRI of my inner ear done, and it wasn't JUST of my ears.  It was the whole head.  I'm sure it will be the same for the optic nerve study he wants to do.  They'll look at your whole head.

I'm sorry about your diagnosis, too.  How are you doing?  Are you in pain?  Is your vision all right?  How are you emotionally?

I hope you are feeling well,

Zilla*
Helpful - 0
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