How long before I hear back from an MRI?

[snarlingcoyote]

I had an MRI Monday after work. I'm guessing that no news is v. good news. However, how do these things work?

Will the Radiology clinic call me and then I call my neurologist to book the next appointment? Will the radiologist clinic just call my neurologist's office and the neurologist's office will call me to book the next appointment? Do I call my neurologist's office to book the next appointment, and if so when?

It took me a month to get my initial appointment with the neurologist, so I'm kind of antsy about the appointment setting, as I know I need to get in there and get the appointment made ASAP, but I don't really know when I should do this or what.

I'm not very experienced in medical matters. Before this I've had a physical every 2 to 5 years and gone to the urgent care clinic for things like UTI's and yeast infections. I think I've had more doctor's appointments in the past few weeks than I've had in YEARS.

 

[mommasita]

3 weeks around here. I just had one almost 3 weeks ago, and go int his week for the results. I have them often. My surgeon has/can read it immediately in his office, but they like to have the radiologist's report.

I'd call and make the appt ASAP.

 

[Poohforyou]

I'm able to get the results the next day directly from the radiology group. I order a copy of the scan with the report online the evening I have one done and pick it up the next day. The radiologist sends the report to the ordering physician within a day or 2 and my doctors always call me right away. However I find having a copy of the report when my doctor calls helps get any questions I have answered.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

3 weeks!

I was told by the neurologist's office that the reason they use the clinic I went to was because their radiologists read MRI's very fast, so I'm hoping it isn't that long to wait. In the meantime, I'll keep thinking positive thoughts. The odds are totally against finding anything.

Thanks for the advice. I will call tomorrow.

 

[WDWBarb]

After months and months of waiting on various test results for DD, I was at my wit's end when she finally had an MRI. I was a total wreck and kept asking the guy who performed the test how long the results would take. He took pity on me and by the time DD was dressed again and we were leaving, he pointed at the fax machine and said, "NOW, they have your results" (meaning the neuro).

But it still was 2 weeks before the neuro called... And that was even after I called many, many times.

 

[Poohforyou]

I forgot to add this. The radiologist will send the report to your dr. Every time I've had a scan they've been read the same day and my dr has had the report the next day. Like I said though I get a copy of the scan and report for myself the next day. If you don't have a follow up appt I'd call and schedule one.

 

[h2oophelia]

I had an MRI Monday after work. I'm guessing that no news is v. good news. However, how do these things work?

Will the Radiology clinic call me and then I call my neurologist to book the next appointment? Will the radiologist clinic just call my neurologist's office and the neurologist's office will call me to book the next appointment? Do I call my neurologist's office to book the next appointment, and if so when?

It took me a month to get my initial appointment with the neurologist, so I'm kind of antsy about the appointment setting, as I know I need to get in there and get the appointment made ASAP, but I don't really know when I should do this or what.

I'm not very experienced in medical matters. Before this I've had a physical every 2 to 5 years and gone to the urgent care clinic for things like UTI's and yeast infections. I think I've had more doctor's appointments in the past few weeks than I've had in YEARS.

I work in a MRI imaging center so I can tell you how it works in our office....of course, every place is different.

Our exams are usually dictated by the radiologist the same day as the exam. It's usually the following day before it's transcribed and goes through final approval. At that point, we fax the finalized report to the referring physician.

You can always call the radiology department and ask when your report is likely to be done. I'd also recommend that you call and make a follow-up appt with your neurologist asap.

 

[scooter7487]

My oath group traditionally gives a 3 day return unless they have a stat order. I find that to be true with our hospital as well. Depends on what the scan is of and how many views were requested. Good luck! After a couple days I would call.

 

[scooter7487]

Orthopedic group not oath group sorry dang autospell

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The one time I had it, I had it on the same day or within a couple of days. (For my knee, I was in office for the results and had my referral the following week with surgery 2 days after that.)

I recall it all happened Very fast for me. IT was non-emergent, but the radiologist was attached to my PCP office.

(ETA: I have actually had multiple MRI's--but that is the one that seemed very quick. I think others were within a week. I didn't use the right words.)

 

[disfan07]

It depends.

I had a brain MRI done this past monday. The full results were actually available yesterday because it was a stat order but I can't go up to my surgeon until tomorrow so I won't get the results until tomorrow.

I had multiple brain MRIs last year and the first one took 17 days to get the results. It was not a stat order so it took longer.

I have had everything from same day results to a 3+ weeks wait. It depends on how urgent the doctor thinks it is.

The neurosurgical institute here does all of the radiology scheduling for you so they call you with your radiology appt and at that time they make you a follow up depending on what day you are having the scan and what you are having.

My surgeon only sees patients in the clinic on wed. and thurs. so if you have a stat scan done on one of those days you could have the results by that afternoon. It helps that the imaging center and the neurosurgical institute are both in the hospital so the moment the scans are uploaded into the computer system, the surgeons have access. So they have immediate access. It just depends on whether or not they have a radiologist read it as well.

For me, it seems to take longer to schedule the dang thing than to get the results. Sometimes it has taken me weeks to get into the imaging center because of having to get it pre-approved and because of how crazy busy they are. I just wish the doctors could schedule it without having to deal with the insurance companies!

 

[JessicaR]

There is no set answer. It depends on the place you had it done and it depends on your doctor. Call your Neuro tomorrow - make your appointment and ask if the results are back yet. You can also request the physician call you with them asap. 5 days should be sufficient and your doctors office likely has the results already. When you call let the office know you are anxious to get your results and would like to know when you can expect that to happen.

Good luck!

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Thanks for all the answers, ya'll! I will definitely call the neurologist's office tomorrow.

The thing is. . .hmm. The neurologist doesn't think I have trigeminal neuralgia. It's definitely facial pain and if the MRI doesn't show anything, he'll probably treat it similarly, but he isn't doing anything until after the MRI results are in.

This wouldn't be such a huge time deal, but there is no way in he** I'll get any more fillings until we can take care of the godawful-chew-your-face off pain that occurs in completely different parts of my face from the filling, and I still have 3 cavities to fill and I have a wisdom tooth that might, possibly, need to come out eventually. So I need some sort of treatment.

I don't want a new calendar year to roll over before I finish up all my dental work. I have met my deductible and have plans to meet my co-pay this year; I don't want this to stretch into next year, when I'll have to pay out deductible and co-pay again. (I know it's only May. Still.)

Also, I am one of those people who goes to Disney in September and still uses Ridemax AND Touring plans AND has ALL the wait time and planning apps on her phone. I'm the obnoxious person who gets to the park way before rope drop to position herself in the best place to get on her favorite rides FIRST. I am a true commando who cannot stand to wait for anything. . .and I am that way in RL!

ETA: In summation, I hate waiting for anything, and I want answers so I can get treatment for the facial pain so I can get my dental work done.

 

[FredinFL]

Ours gives us copies of the MRI and then I call the doctor for an appointment, the MRI place sends him a copy of the report and we get the results. They should have sent your doctor a copy of the results by now. Call him.

 

[Cindy B]

Here is my MRI experience:

Went in on a Wednesday.
Got a DVD with my MRI scans on it in Friday afternoon mail. Prior to receiving the DVD I wound up calling my OB/GYN just to make sure they got the MRI from the radiology center, they did.