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anonymous1473280 Asked September 2022

Does anyone understand the difference between an x-ray, CT Scan and MRI? Does Carpal Tunnel affect a shoulder?

BarbBrooklyn Sep 2022
MIL, here is the Mayo Clinic's article on treating Carpal Tunnel:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355608

anonymous1473280 Sep 2022
It just seems like a scam with insurance. I had an order for a carpal tunnel brace that increases my pain by alot. The place said I could pay $25 or wait 8 weeks for insurance to approve and pay $76. I do not understand that. Then before I can get a soft tissue image, I need to do 6 weeks of therapy. I have 30 visits at 30% copay and need 6 weeks of 2 to 3 times a week therapy before I can get the proper test. What happens after the run around? Is it all out of pocket?
BarbBrooklyn Sep 2022
What sort of insurance do you have?

Did you ask the orthopedic doc to override what the insurance company wanted?

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vegaslady Sep 2022
Look up thoracic outlet syndrome as a possible cause of your symptoms.

JoAnn29 Sep 2022
My DH was having a shooting pain in his armpit. Tests were done, but no problems found. They finally did a test on his arm where they shock it. It was found he had carpal tunnel in that wrist. Seems there is a nerve that runs from the wrist up to the armpit.

MACinCT Sep 2022
I had both carpal tunnels. Pain can radiate up. See a hand surgeon. It is found by description of symptoms and a hand manipulation exam. No need for radiology.. surgery takes 15 minutes one hand at a time so that you can use the other to dress yourself. Recovery is less than a week or until stitches removed. The hand surgeon can answer the shoulder issue by asking you specific pain questions. From there you will learn if you have to see someone else.

Other questions.
XRay looks at bones and larger abnormalities than searching for a nerve. CT scans can improve views of bone and tissue in a 3 d format and MRIs are best at vessels and soft tissues.

Frebrowser Sep 2022
This might help to explain the tests and what they are used for.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/ct-vs-mri-vs-xray

PeggySue2020 Sep 2022
MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) use radio waves . CT (computed tomography) scans use X-rays. Both can image things that might not be visible in a normal x ray.

Advanced carpal tunnel can cause patients to change their movement to avoid pain on use, ie using the better hand, which can affect the whole arm.
anonymous1473280 Sep 2022
Thank you.

I went to a sleep doctor and the 2 at home tests were inconclusive. The third test was an in facility study. That study said I do not sleep due to pain in the shoulder, they said I talked and yelled in pain. They put me on Gabapatin. 100 or 200 mg, I only take 100 because I feel cloudy if I take more.

My dr ordered xrays and I have no broken or dislocated bones but I can not lift my right arm and it just tingles, I can not really feel it. Insurance says I need to do PT 2-3 times a week before I can get CT or MRI.

It all seems like a scam.

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