Pain Dr.

[tick8295]

I have been going to the same pain management Dr. for more then five years. He has scheduled me for an MRI. I have a bullet lodged against my spine that's been there for thirty five years. He told me not to tell them it's there before the MRI. If I do not what are my options? If I tell them it's a good possibility the pain Dr. will get mad and kick me out of pain management.  Also is there a legal responsibility to tell the MRI technician? I have had an MRI many years ago with the bullet there. So Is it safe? Worried and I would like some advice. Thank you ...

[ChristNonsense]

OMG omg omg..... You better D****M  WELL tell the MRI tech that you have metal in you!!!! Period!
No if's ands or buts about it.

Forget about the Quanto-Magnet YANKING the bullet straight out through your skin, shredding the nerves and your spinal column as it pierces through your 'soft tissue', severing your bones and violently exiting your skin as it jettisons out of your body towards the MRI magnet, -- instead, consider for a second, the BAZILLION DOLLAR machine that you will wreck.

But, please do not take my word on this. No, I don't know what I'm talking about. Rather, please google-search MRI machines and metal....

I'm sorry about your bullet next to your spine, and such, but please for goodness sakes, be socially responsible and choose NOT to be the one to ruin one of the only MRI machines in your town.

Obviously, you are smart to post here. Your "gut" is telling you "something ain't right in Dodge."

Your gut is right.

[philnoir]

Some types of metal heat up in a magnetic field and can cause a burning sensation that may hurt nearby structures during the procedure. Steel is a real problem, which is why most surgical prosthetics are made of titanium, which does not react to MRI radiation.

Bullets have different metallic properties, and I don't know how certain metals behave in an MRI.

However, the link provided by maggiekay7 is informative and contains this quote:

"Ballistics made of lead with copper or alloy jackets appear to be safe with respect to MRI-related movement at 1.5-, 3-, and 7-T static magnetic fields, whereas ballistics containing steel may pose a danger if near critical body structures because of strong magnetic field interactions. Temperature increases of selected ballistics during 3-T MRI was not clinically significant, even for the ferromagnetic projectiles. Finally, ballistics containing steel generated larger artifacts when compared with ballistics made of lead with copper and alloy jackets and may impair the diagnostic use of MRI."

[maggiekay7]

Your question really sounded strange, I had to know about this. So I went on a search...here is what i found.  :People who get shot don't usually have the opportunity to choose the type of bullet -- unless the wound is self-inflicted, of course. But the kind of bullet involved may be important in figuring out whether the bit of metal will wreak havoc in an MRI's magnetic field.:  It's really lengthy so here is the url to the study...maybe you should even give it to your dr!

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Blogs/IvanToday/44413

[remar]

I think you need to tell the technician before your MRI. They should know if you have any metal in your body because and MRI can move metal objects, this is from what I've read anyway.
I'm wondering why your Dr doesn't want the tech to know? That doesn't make any sense.
If it were me in your situation I would call my Dr and ask why he doesn't want anyone to know and tell him that it may not be safe for you to even have an MRI if you have metal in your body. You can also call and talk to the tech and ask if it's safe for you to have one or not.
I wouldn't think your Dr could release you as a patient for telling the tech about the bullet. Do you have a contract with him? If so, read over it again.
I hope everything works out for you. Your health is the most important thing and your Dr should realize this. Please keep us up to date on how things go.