Time to MRI results

[MRIresults]

DH had a spine MRI today, I was so breezy about it and now getting superanxious and like I can't cope with waiting for results. How long is it likely to be? Days? Weeks?

Also grateful for experiences if anyone had had the same. He has had back pain for a few months but now he describes it as feeling like something is swollen internally and he gets weird tingly sensations that spread around his back.

The pain is mostly localised to the lower left quadrant of his back and worse with certain movements.

I have just realised he is quite worried and as he is usually really relaxed about everything it is making me anxious. He says he worries as it doesn't feel like anything he's felt before and even wonders if it could be a tumour of some sort.

He has recently lost his dad unexpectedly so I don't know if it's making him more anxious. He's usually very healthy and has never needed tests for anything, he's early 40s.

Are there some cancers that could start as a random pain in the back?

Probably depends where you are in the country. I have a complaint into our local hospital as it took over three weeks to get a CT result back for something quite urgent. I’d give it a week and then call the department that did the scan. Sorry for your anxiety, the waiting is horrible.

Results can take up to a few weeks I’m afraid due to pressures in the NHS and shortages of Radiologists and Radiographers. Your DH should have been given an expected timeframe for the results though - you can ring the PALS department at the hospital and they will find out how long it’s likely to be?

Gosh, I was hoping for a week max. I imagine the bank holidays aren't going to help either.

Thank you both and hope you are OK @Iwishmynamewassheilah

@Xrayvision DH was too polite to ask, he didn't want to put the radiographer on the spot, so we have no idea.

Overall our trust is quite good though, we can get appointments easily and never have to wait too long for anything luckily.

I waited 7 weeks for a previous MRI scan result before Covid, but that particular consultant was always slow to send letters. I had an MRI last December and got the results in February.

I've recently had to wait a month for results. It was a looooong wait.

DH had a scan that showed something life threatening and he heard very quickly (within hours). He also had scans that showed something serious and again, heard quickly (within a week). From my understanding the images are looked at, but not fully reported, quickly then sorted into urgent and non urgent categories then the full report is drawn up which can take weeks if something non urgent is seen.

A week is being very optimistic. Many weeks going in to months is more likely.

If it is cancer then days/hours. So a long wait is actually good news.

My sister is a nurse, I asked her and she said it sounds like a pulled muscle. Hope the other comments about a long wait being a good thing also puts your mind at ease x

I know you're trying to be helpful but your sister couldn't possibly know what's wrong and shouldn't be diagnosing anyone over the internet.

Yes, this is how I heard it is done too.

So if you don't hear back very quickly it's a positive sign there's nothing like cancer that's immediately obvious

Mine was two and a half weeks call for results. SE based.

I had an mri for the same reasons, results in 10 days but my area of the country is quite good for MRIs apparently! Results showed two disc herniations and a tear. I also get the tingling/swelling sensation especially if I ignore or push through the initial pain. Try not to worry unduly, tumour is extremely unlikely x

Has he has blood tests? These would also show signs of anything significant.

A delay in reporting is usually a good sign. Radiologist look at the scans and prioritise those that need an urgent report. A full report requires full analysis so can take longer.

My daughter got her results instantly a few weeks ago, but then it was a referral from A&E for suspected neurological issue. Previously I think it was a couple weeks or so.

Dh consultant had his mri results in a week.

I had an mri for a back problem last year. It took about 8 weeks for the results to get back and me to see the doctor.
If it was a suspected cancerit would be fast tracked but mine was just pain (although I have a history of cancer)

Thank you, I'll reassure myself over the next few days that no news might be good news.

@Chattycathydoll thank you that's reassuring. I know statistically that's way more likely than a tumour but it's hard to keep things in perspective. I've been Googling way too much, though I did read if pain was worse at night it would be a red flag and DH doesn't get pain at night so I'm holding on to that!

@Karma2023 no blood tests, only had urine test as initially thought it could be kidney pain.

I've been waiting a week now to hear about possible breast cancer, and just wish things would hurry up (no shade to NHS staff btw, just my own anxiety to manage!)

I had one last summer to diagnose sciatica. The orthopedic surgeon called me three days later with the results,