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How many MRI's are too many??? I have had MS for almost 13 years now and at least every 3 years my doctor wants a new MRI. These MRI's are not cheap and my insurance just does not pay as much as it used to, not to mention I have fallen on hard financial times this year. My question is what is the point of having all of these MRI's besides just collecting expensive data on me? I have already had an MRI to diagnose me with MS. It is not like they can go in there and carve out all the lesions. I am not currently on and medication for my MS and do not plan to be any time soon. This year my doctor ordered another MRI that I am suppose to have before my appointment. I have cancelled this MRI appointment. I guess I will have to try to explain to my doctor my reasoning. I feel like some kind of medical guinea pig. I am wondering if other MS patients out there get MRI's on a regular basis and if so why?

Thanks,

Alicia

Few days ago I paid $320 out of pocket (no insurance here in Ukraine) for MRI on:

- brain, with and without contrast
- neck, with and without contrast
- spine, with and without contrast

I guess it's pretty much a killer deal comparing to what I paid back in the US being covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield

Btw, your complain makes sense given you are not on any med at the moment. I don't quite understand why your neuro would request a MRI done prior to your visit.

I agree with you we all made our first MRI to get diagnosed. What's the point doing it over and over again when not on therapy. Is it neuro's curiosity? It gives them heads up when you walk in their office, so they can go: bla, bla, bla. Screw them

Alicia wrote:How many MRI's are too many??? I have had MS for almost 13 years now and at least every 3 years my doctor wants a new MRI. These MRI's are not cheap and my insurance just does not pay as much as it used to, not to mention I have fallen on hard financial times this year. My question is what is the point of having all of these MRI's besides just collecting expensive data on me? I have already had an MRI to diagnose me with MS. It is not like they can go in there and carve out all the lesions. I am not currently on and medication for my MS and do not plan to be any time soon. This year my doctor ordered another MRI that I am suppose to have before my appointment. I have cancelled this MRI appointment. I guess I will have to try to explain to my doctor my reasoning. I feel like some kind of medical guinea pig. I am wondering if other MS patients out there get MRI's on a regular basis and if so why?

Alicia – I think you understand the situation exactly; beyond diagnosis MRIs have little value, in my opinion. There is no correlation between the number of lesions and the frequency/severity of symptoms.

In today's economy I think doctors hear, "I just can't afford it," quite often. I would just lay it out before them the way it is.

Killer deal is right on the MRIs in the Ukraine.
I checked into the cost of a private MRI here in Canada and I was quoted CDN$1,000 for only one MRI w/o contrast. The problem here is that unless the problem is work or sports related an MRI can take well over a year to get, so some people chose to pay.

Azaeleaprawn wrote:Killer deal is right on the MRIs in the Ukraine.
I checked into the cost of a private MRI here in Canada and I was quoted CDN$1,000 for only one MRI w/o contrast. The problem here is that unless the problem is work or sports related an MRI can take well over a year to get, so some people chose to pay.

Indeed! My last MRI in about 2001 was of the brain and cervical spine with and without gadolinium contrast and was billed to the insurance company at about $8000 US.

NHE

Sometimes there is a connection between new symptoms and lesions.
When I had my cognitive relapse...lesions were found in both frontal lobes and these were new....It didn't help me get better in any way but it let the dr's know what we were dealing with x

By the way I have had 24 MRI's over a period of 16 years!! I now have 2/3 a year (thank-g-d for the NHS)

Azaeleaprawn wrote:Killer deal is right on the MRIs in the Ukraine.
I checked into the cost of a private MRI here in Canada and I was quoted CDN$1,000 for only one MRI w/o contrast. The problem here is that unless the problem is work or sports related an MRI can take well over a year to get, so some people chose to pay.

Living in Canada as well, it does NOT take over a year to get an MRI unless it is for a very low priority requirement. Get in a car accident and suffer a head injury and you'll get an MRI immediately. Again, a lot depends on the urgency. (of course, if you are a high profile sports person it's amazing how quickly that MRI machine becomes available!!)