Mri Question...

[rpowell01]

I need to feedback information I am researching at the moment on possible misreading of MRI results by the VA.

1. Has anybody ever ran into this problem where their MRI was actually misread or you ever heard of it happening?

2. What action was taken on your or the person's part?

Am I allowed to get a copy of the MRI on CD I had last year on my cervical and lumbar so I can have it read by somebody else?

My dilemna is I feel there is a possibility somebody read my MRI and gave some bad results on it. Why? Because whenever I had the VA MRI in May 2010 they stated I only had 3 bulge discs. But, I had all the symptoms of a herniated cervical discs which started January 2010 and got worse by May 2010. In Febuary of this year I had another MRI completed which the results showed 2 bulge discs and one herniated disc. The MRI was done by a privated agency. I actually requested a second reading on the MRI with a different radiologist and the conclusion was the same. Tuesday the Orthopedic Surgeon showed me the herniation. You can clearly see it. BTW I had my first ever cervical ECI done that day. Day 1 I felt really good. Yesterday, I felt okay. Today, my neck stiff once again and it feel the way the symptoms appeared last year is now creating the same pattern now. I was told that it would help me for a few days. I am glad it did but I now it was a dream to get that epidural done. The surgeon said he would try it onetime and if it didn't work they will have to go in. I think I am going to take the chance of letting them do the procedure.

I want to find out if there is a possible CUE so I can file a NOD on my percentage increase claim from last year last year. I am hopefully going to get a new MRI done on my lumbar which is now affecting both my legs, ie numbness in both thighs, pain in my calves and numbness and shocking feeling at the bottom of my feet and toes. The orthopedics did give me Gabapentin 300mg twice a day for everything I hope it helps some...

***EDIT*** I just read what I typed. Sorry for all the typos but this is how it is now affecting me and I didn't want to go back and redo it.

Edited April 16, 2011 by rpowell01

[carlie]

I want to find out if there is a possible CUE so I can file a NOD on my percentage increase claim from last year last year.

rpowell - If you still have time left to file a NOD, then your issue is not yet even ripe for a CUE claim.

Claims for CUE are only to be filed on final, unappealed decisions.

The way I understand what you've posted is, you contend the basis for CUE relates to the mis-reading of your MRI by the radiologist.

Is this correct ?

If so - no this would not be a CUE as the decision maker is supposed to go by the medical evidence of record to include

if there was a mis-diagnosis.

The Feb 2011 MRI might contain medical evidence that would support the grant of another increase, but since this evidence

was not of record at the time the prior decision was made - it was not part of the evidence or the decision.

In a claim for CUE, the only evidence/information that can be considered is what was of record at the time the prior decision was made.

[rpowell01]

Thanks Carlie I just learned what a CUE actually was. I understand the RO and C & P Examiner were going by what was on record. I think I am going to wait on the current secondary claims I have in which might put me close to the top, if not the other ones I didn't file for yet probably will. This thing has created a huge mess in my life. I am still trying to comprehend how some of you folks have lived with it for so long. I only have been like this for 1 year and 2 months and it is driving me up the wall.

The other question, I am allowed to get a copy of the MRI CD?

[Susan]

I think you will be able to get a copy of the cd. My friend received a copy of their MRI cd to hand deliver to an out of town specialist. When I had an MRI done, I asked for a copy of mine. They hesitated and said that I would have to wait. So I waited and the cd was ready in a few minutes. Just be polite and persistent in your need for the cd. It never hurts to ask.

Good luck, Susan

[retiredat44]

I need to feedback information I am researching at the moment on possible misreading of MRI results by the VA.

1. Has anybody ever ran into this problem where their MRI was actually misread or you ever heard of it happening?

2. What action was taken on your or the person's part?

I have a doozy of a story about misreading mri's, cat scans' x-rays...

You may have already saw me make a post about part of it in previous threads, so excuse me if I have already posted some of this info..

As most of you know I spent 6 months ina VA hsopital bed fighting for my life with severe complications after pancrease surgery to remove a 5 inch cyst.

among the many complications were serious lung problems.. I had to get a cat scan, and xrays every day for months on end sometimes more than 1 per day. These were for the stomach area, chest, etc...

after a couple weeks of daily scan.. from both in bed (mahcines that are portable and brought to patients beds to the machine sint eh x-ray dept... they would take these scans every day.. they were frreaked ouit every day and I kept asking what was wrong,t hey never gave me a straight answer.. I was pretty much a slab of meat with no muscles and tube fed.. I could not move on my own and could barely soeak..

I did, however, ask them why they kept taking x-rays and scans of my chest... they never gave a straight answer..

2 months went by and they cconstantly asked what type of work I have done and what was I esposed to.. and i told them about my jobs..

they finally said, after about 2 months of this going on, that i had a spot in my lung... and it was growing,,

imagine that new on top of my condition...

I did not tell me wife because it was just to much to bear..

after a couple more weeks I told my wife..

the next day the doctors told me the machine made a mistake and had put a spot there, that wasn't really there..

I don't know much more to tell you about that, but can say that every day I had to exercise my lungs by brething into a ventrui like tube with a floating object to try to keeep the liquis from forming in my lungs..

since i was stuck laying down for months in a hospital bed I Had all these complications and tryin to avoid more lung problems from not being able to walk or exercise..

without going on with all the problems..

I can say yes, I have had misreadings of the machines you are asking about..

I also had a broken disc in my back and the studpid x-ray machine never saw it,, so the doctors refused to help and I suffered greatly for 6 months with a broken disc pressing on my spinal cord.. the doctors just plain refused to do the mri... and relied on the crappy x-ray machine... that invident left my witha crippled back..

Edited April 16, 2011 by retiredat44

[Berta]

"1. Has anybody ever ran into this problem where their MRI was actually misread or you ever heard of it happening?"

Yes-it was a critical medical error.

2. What action was taken on your or the person's part?

I raised Hell right away and got a VA Neuro to read it.By this time my husband had received multiple diagnoses-all wrong- When the neuro read it (he was from a different VAMC and I made the VA doctor call him from the nurses station)

the second VA doctor mitigated the initial damage of the wrong MRI reading (my husband's VA doctor had read it and told him he was being transferred to another VAMC immediately -to have brain surgery)

No brain surgery was required at all.He was transferred however based on the actual MRI results.And the correct diagnosis.

The MRI narration became part of my 1151,FTCA claim.for other reasons.

Since you have 2 doctors in agreement with the MRI and I assume they are VA doctors, it would give you peace of mind if you can get a private IMO if you still feel something is wrong with their interpretation.

The MRI narrative however became part of my Sec 1151/FTCA claims.

[rpowell01]

Berta, actually the two people are privated radiologists and there is my private orthopedic surgeon who showed me the herniated. I am researching on WHY the VA didn't detect the herniation last May whenever I had all the symptoms. It is my understanding they outsource the radiologists? I want them to acknowledge there was a mistake. I did file secondarys and with those secondary's I did give them copies of all the private MRI reports. I am hoping the RO at least acknowledges somebody made a mistake.

Reading a lot of stories on hadit has opened my eyes that this will probably never be corrected and I will be like this the rest of my life. I hope not but I am coming to the realization of it now.

Thanks Susan I think I will go over there maybe next Saturday and get a copy. I know the MRI is open on Saturday at Bay Pines..... And I will ask for copies of the newest one on my thoracic spine which they said shows mild spondylosis. If they say this is mild then I would hate to feel what moderate or severe feels like. This doesn't feel mild. BTW I am 42 and this has somewhat baffled the orthopedic surgeons because they said you don't see this that much in patients my age.

Edited April 16, 2011 by rpowell01