NYC MRI and pain management- interesting and helped me!!

[johna]

Hi,

I wanted to post this to whomever might find this helpful. I just found a new form of MRI being done in NYC called high definition MRI. The Doctor is Dr Potter at the Hospital for Special Surgery E 70th St NY NY. A normal pelvic MRI showed me as normal. This high definiton one has found a trapped genitofemoral nerve under a varicocele which I am having repaired in a months time. It also found hydroceles. This new form of MRI can see nerves and tissues, this Dr is like an artist finding the stuff that no one else can find with her high definition cameras. I have been lumped into chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome as no one could figure out the cause of my groin/testicle pain for the last 2 years.
Furtherore in the same hospital is a Dr Dan Richmond in pain management. He did a thing on me called a diagnostic nerve block, blocking one nerve at a time per procedure to find out what caused relief and hence what nerve was being affected. The genitofemoral block caused much relief and hence we knew where to look on the MRI.
I am hopeful of my upcoming surgery with this info pre known. I would highly reccomend this diagnostic nerve block coupled with a high def MRI to identify problems. Hey, I am sure many of you out there are fed up with urologists and are desperate. This is a path I have found and perhaps it may help. Also I am on Neurontin which helps nerve pain big time. I learned that you should split up the medication during the day as the body can only absorb 1200 mg at a time so for me its 1200 mg 3X a day and is helping. Good luck to all in your quest for health and peace!!
Please say a prayer and wish me luck for my upcoming surgery.
John A.

[Ddream]

How is the high definition MRI that you had different from the MRN (MR Neurography)? I know that the technology for the MRN is not very sophisticated, especially in seeing small nerves. So, if the special MRI you had found the source of your problem then you are fortunate.

Has your doctor performed this particular surgery before and if so, how many? What does the doctor say your chances of surgical success are and how long will it take before you know if the surgery is a success? What are the risks? I would ask the doctor if previous patients who have had this procedure would be willing to contact me (it doesn't hurt to ask). These would be the sort of questions going through my mind if I were in your shoes.

I wish you all the best. Please keep us updated after your surgery.

[johna]

Hi D Dreamer,

Thanks for the reply. I am having dual varicocele repair and dual hydrocele repair. The guy who is doing the operation is the guy who invented the varicocele procedure and has done 600 of them. His name is Dr Mark Goldstein and is considered a leader in reproductive urology. He is also fixing the hydroceles which he is more than capable of doing. With the new test results, he will be able to see where the nreve is entrapped. I am discussing with him if he feels comfortable untrapping it or required a neurosurgeon by his side. I feel that I am in the right hands, but good advice on double checking everything. thank you also for your good wishes and I will keep this site updated on my progress.
PS Dr Potter was written up as a Best Doctor in NYC on her cutting edge MRI work. I don't know how to answer your question on types of MRI but she has a reputation of finding stuff no one else can find by seing both nerves and scar tissue and other soft tissue. Just thought I would share the info.

[Gabriel]

Any thoughts on this, webslave?

Edit: This line of thought reminded me of this: http://www.pudendal.de/

Which I think we've discussed here at length in the past...

[Glenn27]

Thanks fot the interesting post,John,and best of luck for the surgery.I will keep my fingers crossed for you.Let us know how you get on.
Glenn,