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Original poster

Why would you have an MRI?

54 replies

demotedreally · 04/07/2022 20:35

An older man I have some responsibility for is having an MRI this week. He says it is part of routine tests but I'm not sure if that is a routine test.

Why do people have MRIs?

OP posts:
BinBandit · 04/07/2022 22:23

DS is waiting on one on his brain as a CT scan he had to help diagnose hearing loss has potentially identified some brain issues (unrelated to his hearing they think, which they haven't found any reason for and apparently that's ok...because losing your hearing at age 21 isn't important?). We are now on the waiting list for an MRI to assess and attempts to find out how long he might wait have had the health board refuse to reply and instead ask me to submit a freedom of information request. 😡

TuftyMarmoset · 04/07/2022 22:27

Yes could be anything really. I had one to see how a broken bone was healing after surgery. You’ll have to ask him!

MiniPiccolo · 04/07/2022 22:28

MRIs are pretty routine when you get over 40.

Trainfromredhill · 04/07/2022 22:31

@MiniPiccolo no they aren’t. Going to the toilet is routine, having an MRI scan is not.

OP, he could be having it for all sorts of reasons. If he is elderly it is most likely cancer or a stroke but there are many other reasons .

NerrSnerr · 04/07/2022 22:34

It could be anything from looking for torn cartilage in his knee to as others have said looking for dementia, cancer etc.

He'll tell you if/ when he's ready but please don't try and force him to as it's his choice.

AnImaginaryCat · 04/07/2022 22:36

To look inside you. There's so many reasons it's not possible for us to tell you why this mam is having one.

Why do you need to know? Or are you concerned he's ill and not telling you.

They can be routine, quite standard. It's not always a suggestion of something sinister.

MiniPiccolo · 04/07/2022 22:38

Trainfromredhill · 04/07/2022 22:31

@MiniPiccolo no they aren’t. Going to the toilet is routine, having an MRI scan is not.

OP, he could be having it for all sorts of reasons. If he is elderly it is most likely cancer or a stroke but there are many other reasons .

For diagnostic tests to rule things like cancer out, yes they are. Because after 40 pretty much every major symptom could be a cancer.

But fuck me for being a medical professional and knowing what I'm talking about, right? 🤷‍♀️

Don't be so obtuse.

mummabubs · 04/07/2022 22:41

You can get an MRI scan on pretty much any part of your body, so no-one here is going to be able to help you "narrow it down".

With respect OP, if this man wanted you to know he would tell you. If you needed to know for caring purposes then you would also have been given a channel to know, so I suspect it's not relevant information that you need to know right now. In the nicest of ways... I wonder how you would feel if someone posted on an online forum asking strangers to try to work out what health issues you may be receiving treatment for?

Original poster
demotedreally · 04/07/2022 22:42

I'm not going to force it out of him,don't worry! And I'm not invading his privacy as none of you know him!
He will tell me if I need to know,as I will need to make contingency arrangements, but it does sound worrying and I don't want him to be unwell. I just wanted an idea of how much planning it would be wise to do.

OP posts:
ItsMutinyontheBunty · 04/07/2022 22:44

Honestly it could be for pretty much anything! I’ve had two MRIs, one when I had a spinal issue and one for a damaged knee following a fall. MRIs are very expensive so aren’t often the first diagnostic done (for example I had an X-ray of my knee first that was inconclusive) but they offer an incredible amount of detail so they are a helpful view to aide diagnosis in a lot of cases.

mummabubs · 04/07/2022 22:45

I understand you are acting out of concern OP but you are invading his privacy by trying to suss out information about himself that for whatever reason he hasn't shared with you at this time. (I'm a health care professional who frequently has this situation of friends/relatives wanting to know information about a person that they are not entitled to know. Confidentiality is important and although well-intentioned you trying to make guesses about ant health care issues he may have is not respecting his). If he wants to he will tell you when he is ready. X

Amid · 04/07/2022 22:46

Loads of reasons! I've had 2 this year and my son has had 1.

lolil · 04/07/2022 22:49

And I'm not invading his privacy as none of you know him!

I think it's the trying to find out what it is for, when he clearly doesn't want you to know, that is considered an invasion of privacy.

mumwon · 04/07/2022 22:51

prostate kidney stones bone related disorders hearing lost etc etc etc endless some more serious than others
Has he had any other investigations or blood tests op?

DramaAlpaca · 04/07/2022 22:54

I'm due to have one soon for a sore knee.

OP, it really could be anything but it really isn't any of your business.

SummerSazz · 04/07/2022 22:55

I've had:
One on my ear for tinnitus
One on my shin (stress fracture)
One on my foot (cartilage damage)
One on my stomach (turned out to be a ruptured stomach muscle)

I do also have a 'routine' one annually for a nodule on my pancreas (picked up on the stomach MRI)

I think you'll be doing well to pin down the reason for his!

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 04/07/2022 23:13

I have had them when the dr thought it would be diagnostically useful. Probably the same for him. Could be anything, if he wants you to know he will tell you.

SpaceJamtart · 04/07/2022 23:16

My dad had one every year for 20 years because he had a particular operation when he was young and they needed to keep an eye on it.

They did one for my cousin when he shattered his ankle and the CT wasn't finding all the bone fragments.

I had one as a part of a genetics study
Some times it is really routine

skippy67 · 04/07/2022 23:37

MiniPiccolo · 04/07/2022 22:28

MRIs are pretty routine when you get over 40.

My 32 year old friend was shocked when I told her I was having my first mri (knee pain). She's had in her words "loads". So not routine over 40.

WhackingPhoenix · 04/07/2022 23:58

I’ve had one on each shoulder to assess the extent of joint damage. My mum had one to rule out a brain tumour.

The man having the MRI will share his reasons for you if he wants you to know them.

WhackingPhoenix · 04/07/2022 23:58

With you*

CredibilityProblem · 04/07/2022 23:59

The four members of my family have had three between them (brain, knee and bladder). So yes they're pretty common. They're often performed "to rule out cancer", and IME they often do exactly that. I'd say that an older man having an MRI is only slightly more likely to have a serious health concern than one who isn't - and at least wherever it is is being looked into.

tobee · 05/07/2022 00:07

Tangental question is It MRI s that for health reasons they limit? As in invasive? Or is that CT scans? Or neither?

maddy68 · 05/07/2022 00:17

It's standard. I have had several one for my hip, one for my vision etc. But fundamentaly it is non of your business

IdisagreeMrHochhauser · 05/07/2022 00:21

This is highly highly highly inappropriate. If you have responsibility in a professional capacity I hope someone reports you so you can get done more training.