I need to have a MRI

Are you in constant pain?

I am not in constant pain. I have almost no pain when sitting or lying down. I have various levels of pain when walking or standing. Sometimes i have slight pain and sometimes I am in excruciating pain. There is no pattern or consistency. I have lived with and managed the pain for years but in the last few months, my feet and legs have begun to fall asleep while I am walking. I am forced to seek medical care. I have a slipped disc and facet joint syndrome. That I know but there may be other problems like pinched nerves.

The doctor thinks I may have several problems. I need the MRI to find out what's going on and how my problems might get corrected. My appointment is not until June.

I may decide to be sedated. Since I am an insomniac, it would be nice if I could fall asleep. Unfortunately, I am also a nervous person and do not lie or sit still very well.

I would prefer that the two sexy guys give me a massage rather than dance around me. One could do my feet and the other my head, neck and shoulder. And that is just the beginning.

Sedation is nice. Sedation with piped in music even nicer... Sedation with a sexy guy dancing above you is even nicer... Sedation with two sexy guys dancing around you is even better...

I am on Medicare and I believe that my plan only will cover 80% of the cost making me liable for the other 20%.. That 20% can be very costly. I did not ask enough questions when I made my appointment on Friday. I plan to call back this week and as a lot more questions.

In my opinion, I would weigh the pros and cons in my head to determine if having the MRI and a more definitive diagnosis would help my treatment and/or relieve my suffering in any way. That way would possibly make it easier for you to decide on incurring the debt that will occur as a result. If you decide on proceeding, if the MRI is done at a hospital, there are usually financial counselors who can help you work out payments or perhaps alternative sources of funding if your resources are limited. As for the MRI itself, it does not hurt. It is a noninvasive procedure. The noise can be annoying and if you have trouble laying still for a period of time, this might pose some difficulties. However, with sedation, you should be able to manage the annoyance for the time it takes to complete the procedure. My suggestion would be to close your eyes and envision a place of peace and calm throughout the procedure. Talk to yourself about pleasant things and pleasant remembrances. The more you are able to relax and take your mind to another place, the quicker the test will proceed and will be over before you know it. As far as the silver or metal fillings in your teeth, medical professionals are fully aware that people do have these things and I feel the MRI will not affect that at all. They will ask you questions before the procedure and will take any precautions that are necessary to insure your safety. Best of luck to you in your decision-making process. Try not to worry about it. There are a lot more uncomfortable procedures out there in the medical field that would, in my opinion, be worthy of your anxiety than an MRI.

I am on a Medicare Advantage plan because I can not afford supplemental insurance. My income is very low but I do have a savings account which I use to travel. When my savings is gone, it is gone. It can not be replenished. I can not bring in the money that I did years ago. Depending on what my share of the MRI is, I may be able to take it out of savings but I do not want to use up all of my savings for my MRI. I have a slipped disc and facet joint syndrome. That I know. But my foot has become a real problem. I sometimes, not always, have severe pain in my foot when walking or standing. I have lived with the pain for many years and managed it. But now, my feet and legs are falling asleep while I am walking. I was forced to see a doctor. A MRI would probably determine why this is happening and what treatment might be advised. So, i really do need the MRI. I may try sedation because I do not want to screw up the MRI because of movement. I am a hyperactive person and can not easily lie or sit still. I am not worried any longer about the procedure (mylotters have been so assuring and re-assuring) but I am very worried about the out of pocket expenses. The facility tells me that once Medicare approves my MRI, they will call me back to let me know how much I will be liable for.

The link was very helpful. I am feeling a lot better regarding the procedure but still concerned about cost. I called this morning and was only told that they would call me back when my insurance authorized the procedure. I was told that, only then, could they tell me what the total cost will be and what my share will be. My appointment is not until June and I won't even go through with the procedure if I don't know how much I am going to have to pay. I have read horror stories of people getting bills for $5,000. A co-worker told me that his mother got a bill for $1,800 after having a MRI.

I don't blame you. Don't forget the hidden costs, too - like if they give you a valium or something - probably charge two hundred bucks for one...lol. It seems like everyone who enters your hospital room or area has a portion of the bill dedicated to paying them!

I was also thinking of the hidden costs of sedation. They can sedate me at the facility but my neurologist can call in a prescription. I can take a pill about an hour before the procedure begins. I think that, if I choose sedation, I will do the pill although an injection would probably work better. I am hearing that many people have had MRI's. i thought that it was sort of rare but now I am finding out it is common. I am wondering if MRI's are being overdone so as to keep the machines and techs busy and bring in the money. Are there lower cost substitutes like old fashioned x-ray's?

Because I am a senior citizen, I have Medicare for insurance but it does not cover everything. I still am liable for 20%. The cost of MRI's vary greatly in the United States. I have found out that my share will be about $154 which is not too bad. I have probably needed one a long time. Not everyone has insurance in the United States. About half the country is not insured. President Obama is trying to rectify that with ObamaCare but his plan has its problems and critics.

My sister has had some MRI's. She was also very re-assuring about my fillings. How much did you have to pay for your MRI's, if anything? I actually do not really know the cost yet. I saw the doctor on Thursday and hastily made the appointment for the MRI on Friday. I did not ask enough questions and plan to get back with them tomorrow. My information is based on searches as well as information co-workers have given me.

my medical covered mine back then

I am not yet certain what I am going to have to pay. I have read horror stories on line where people got bills for $5,000. My appointment is not until June and believe me, I am going to find out what I will be paying before I go. I don't believe in sticker shock. I called this morning to ask some questions about what the total cost will be and what my share will be. They told me once they get approval from my insurance company, they will call me back and let me know. There are terrible problems with the United States health care system.

Thanks for your comforting information. I feel so much better by the responses from mylotters who have had one except I am still worried about the cost. I have read on other sites that some persons were shocked by the bills that they received. I do not need sticker shock and plan to ask some more questions before going in.

I see that you live in Chile. Maybe, MRI's are less expensive there. However, you say that you also pay a lot in health insurance. I pay just over $100 in premium for my health insurance which is Medicare. I am still responsible for 20% of the MRI. I have no idea what my MRI is going to cost but if it costs $1,000, that means I will still have to pay $200.00. I plan to call today and find out more. I made the appointment Friday very hastily and did not known enough to ask some questions. All mylotters responding to my discussion have assured me that the MRI itself is not that bad. That is re-assuring.

Thanks for what info you did share. Apparently many people have had MRI's without a lot of difficulty. I never thought of cost until this weekend and when I did a search, I discovered that while costs, they can cost up to $5,000. Since, I am responsible for 20% of the cost which would make me that would make me liable for $1,000. That is a lot of money. I am going to do a lot more checking this week.

I looked to see if some kind of research project was available for me but no such luck. I did find out that my share of the MRI is going to cost me about $155.00. I can live with that. I could have had mine done next week but I have chosen to wait until mid June because I do not go back to the doctor until late June. I think that I may ask for medication because I am an antsy person. I am also an insomniac and I can sometimes fall asleep in the strangest places. It will not surprise me at all if I fall asleep.

I received your PM's. I want to respond to this post as well as your PM's but I have just gotten home from work and am exhausted. I am an insomniac and was unable to sleep last night but still had to go to work. I am going to go to sleep now. I plan to comment more to you tomorrow and then answer the PM's on Wednesday. To be continued.

I had a great sleep, glad to say. Being an insomniac is very difficult. I have suffered and continue to suffer terribly with it. Three MRI's all in one day? You must have been at the facility most of the day. Why could they not do just one all at the same time, from toes to brain? Blue Cross must be a good supplemental insurance. I can not afford a supplement and am on a Medicare Advantage Plan. I do not have to pay anything out of pocket when I go for primary care but specialized care is another story. I will be very interested in what your share is for the three MRI's when you get your bill. If you remember, would you post here or PM me. I called the facility to ask what my share might be. They told me that they will call me back after Medicare approved the procedure to let me know. I am not going to have it done until I know what I will have to pay. My appointment to have the MRI is not until mid-June.

I agree that health is important but so is money. I can pay for it if I have to but I was shocked by the possible cost. But, I do have to find out why I am having back, leg and foot pain. Furthermore, the pain is growing worse. I have put it off as long as I can.

So, prioritize your health.. do not take it for granted .. life is really like that medication is really expensive.. but we have to gamble to have long life...goodluck to you...

70 U.S. dollar is a lot of money in China, isn't it? I would have expected that China would have free health care.