Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) Has anyone gotten one?
 

I am like many others trying to figure out the source of my idiopathic Neuropathy. Mine is strictly burning and it’s symmetrical and in my upper back/shoulder areas C5-C7. After a conversation with Glenntaj it is possible I could have a combination small fiber PN that just happens to be in the same area as a mild disc herniation in C4-C7 area of my cervical spine, which is very common as people age. Normally you may not have any pain in that area but because of the Neuropathy it could make that area hypersensitive.

My MRI just shows a slight herniation with no nerve or cord impingement but I wonder if this type of Magnetic scan could provide more detail to doctors about my condition. It could open the door for possible nerve block’s/ Radio Frequency treatments if the nerve root could be isolated. I only found a few posts on this forum with people talking about it but never found anyone who has actually gotten one. On the link below they talk about many different reasons why you should get a scan including CRPS, TOS, BPD and a few other pain syndromes, Neuritis and Neuropathies.

http://www.neurography.com/about-mr-...w-does-it-work
http://www.neurography.com/technical/development


If anyone out has had thing scan or knows someone who might have , please reply.

Hey
 

I haven't heard of it until I saw the link. I don't know if it is offered here in Oz. if it is it has been held top secret. One thing I did learn about regular MRI's is that they can't always show the real picture because we take them laying on our backs, but we are not laying on our backs throughout the day. We are moving and twisting around. Things can look and be very different when you are moving around as opposed to laying down. Also in the case of sensory nerves at least, neighboring nerves can get irritated and communicate with each other sending more pain signals. This may At least partially explain the widespread dermatomal pattern.

Aussie

You are correct. I also had a sit down MRI of my Cervical but those sit down versions are not as clear as the lay down. Currently the gold standard for lay down's here in the US is 3 Tesla The sitdowns are around 1 Tesla.

Unfortunately--
 

--in the US at least, though it has been around for about 20 years as a test, magnetic resonance neurography (which is basically a specialized MRI tuned/focused to look very specifically at nerves) is still considered an experimental test in most quarters here, meaning it won't be paid for by insurance (and it's not cheap).

I've talked about this test with various radiologists, and not all of them are familiar with it, either; apparently it takes very specialized training to interpret the results of MRN's. (I had tried to pursue this when my pudendal symptoms were flaring up, but couldn't get my insurance company to even acknowledge this existed. I had to send them articles and such about it. Their "experts" don't seem to know anything regarding it, though, so no chance of getting it paid for.)

I did some more research on this.

Seems some people say he has helped them but is all about the money, but most are in same or worse pain.

I wonder if this scan could help or if its just a rip off. It looks legit but who knows. IT's a shame this guy doesn’t care about helping people in pain and is all about the $$$. I wish I could hear from someone who benefited from the scan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6kAZ...eature=related
http://www.ratemds.com/doctor-rating...MONICA-CA.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYRbUdLN3T4



I contacted one of the doctors in my area that was on his website, his staff receptionist didn't know what an MRN was. I faxed this information to her and she is supposed to get back to me. I looked up the reviews for this Doctor I just called and he got 4 stars go at least I can get an honest answer.

OK,

I just spend last few hours finding out some more good info.

Check this out.


I remember a member on our forums Enbloc had a special MRI done specifically focused on her DRG at John Hopkins.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread147771.html

I googled John Hopkins and Magnetic Resonance Neurography and look what came up:

http://www.hopkinsradiology.org/Musc...al/Neurography.

Check the video on left hand side by Dr. Avneesh Chhabra, MD. In Enbloc’s thread she mentioned that he was the Dr. who read the results of her scan.

So after a few phone calls, I found his number and contacted him directly. He publish a book on MR Neurography.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/9350255685/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

Dr. Chhabra was very pleasant to talk to. I asked him about the MRN Dr. Filler performs and he told me its only a 1.5 Tesla MRN and there's are 3 Tesla. The best part of all for what he is saying is that the insurance company covers it. It may be the way John Hopkins submits the paperwork, not sure. He told me all I have to do is get my Neurologist to write a script for an MRN of the Brachial Plexus and fax it to:

Yolanda Barnes
mskscheduling@jhmi.edu
410-502-2831
410-502-6454 (fax)

I just left a message for my neurologist to talk about this.
He also told me he works with Dr. Allan Belzberg if I need to have any injections. Here is info just in case anyone in PA, MD, VA area would want someone closer to home.


http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neuro...Allan_Belzberg