10 hours ago
I have got metal hip replacements but feel weaker and in more pain since having an MRI – help!
OUR resident specialist and NHS GP, Dr Zoe Williams, shares her expert advice.
Today, Dr Zoe helps a reader who is worried an MRI might have affected their hip.
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Q) I HAVE got metal hip replacements with the oldest from 2003.
Two years ago, I began to experience pain. I finally found a painkiller that helped and have been on it since.
I had X-rays that showed damage and was told to be careful because there was a chance I could suffer a fracture.
I was sent for an MRI and a friend warned that maybe it could aggravate my pain. Since having the scan, my hip is more painful and feels weaker.
Lying still for so long was very uncomfortable, but could the MRI have affected my hip? Can an MRI aggravate the problem it is scanning?
A) AN MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images.
Modern hip implants are typically made of materials like titanium, cobalt-chromium or stainless steel, which are non-ferromagnetic, meaning they don't react strongly to magnetic fields.
So having an MRI will not worsen the joint physically, but lying still for 30-45 minutes can aggravate pain.
Patients can feel sore and stiff afterwards, but this should be temporary as the cause is the positioning for the scan rather than the scan itself.
My advice to anyone having an MRI is to always ask the staff to make you as comfortable as possible before going into the scanner.
TIP: While we're enjoying the hot weather, it can be dangerous for some.
Keep an eye on older relatives and those with long-term health conditions as they can be at higher risk of heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke.
