[my4sons2007]

I saw my rheumatolgist today he thinks I have not only nerve damage in the left arm, but a compression of the axillary artery. He's going to treat me right now with Neurontin. Has anyone here had an MRA test, supposed to be like an MRI but of the artery? I'm so sad now. The TOS symptoms are back ALONG with the nerve pain. RIght now, for me, surgery will not be an option. The first one was bad enough, I don't want to go thru that again. I'll deal with this as long as i can, unless of course I begin to feel worse. I have noticed increased dizziness in certain positions when I turn my neck, which doctor thinks is related and that the compression is high up in the neck/shoulder area. So anyway, I"m curious about this MRA. Thanks, Becky

[Jomar]

I'm pretty sure a few have had that test, but with the Holiday and such many are busy.

I'll try to keep this bumped up near the top so you can get some replies.

[kellysf]

I had one in SF. It would not have been a big deal except for the fact that the technician injected the contrast material into my forearm, instead of my vein. Ballooned up and hurt like heck, but no damage.

The procedure I had was just like an MRI with contrast.

Should be a piece of cake.

Kelly

[marabunta]

Becky,
Sorry to hear of your recurrence. You may want to check if your insurance covers the drug Lyrica, which is the "new" version of Neurontin, made by the same company.

The drug company touts less side effects vs. Neurontin, but several here would laugh at that suggestion. Many do tolerate it a lot better.

The downside of course is it is priced astronomically in the USA, so many insurance companies offer limited or no coverage for it.

Myself, I was intrigued enough(and in enough pain) to pay cash for a month's supply from Costco to try it out last December. It's covered by our current ins.now.

[ocgirl]

I had the MRA and it seemed just like an MRI, it didn't bother me Best wishes __________________________________________________ __ "MRA Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) is an MRI study of the blood vessels. MRA provides detailed images of blood vessels without using any contrast material, although a special form of contrast is sometimes given to make the MR images more clear. The procedure is painless, and the magnetic field is not known to cause tissue damage of any kind. The patient is placed on a special table and positioned inside the opening of the MRI unit. A typical exam consists of two to six imaging sequences, each taking from 2 to 15 minutes. Depending on the type of exam being done, the total time needed can range from 10 to 60 minutes, not counting the time needed to change clothing and have an IV put in (if contrast is needed). When contrast material is needed, a substance called gadolinium is given by IV injection during one of the imaging sequences. It highlights blood vessels, making them stand out from surrounding tissues. *Discomfort and Risks There may be discomfort if you are claustrophobic. Please tell your doctor if you have trouble in small spaces. Open-sided MRI's are available in certain areas or sedatives can be prescribed. Patients also need to tell their physician if their body contains any ferromagnetic objects such as shrapnel, a pacemaker, or aneurysm clips. These patients cannot undergo MRI study. Ferromagnetic objects are attracted by the MRI's magnet With contrast: There may be some minor bleeding and there is a small risk of infection where the IV is started. There is also a risk of an allergic reaction to the contrast dye." from tellmeabouttos.com