Shoulder Arthrogram
An Arthrogram is an MRI done with a contrast injection. These are helpful in more clearly seeing tears in shoulders and hips.
I'm only writing this because I'd searched and searched for answers to two questions:
1. Is the contrast injection painful, or what does it entail and feel like?
2. How much does a shoulder arthrogram cost?
Now that I know, I'll answer those questions for others who are signed up for the same test.
First of all, you've probably injured your shoulder recently or have been dealing with nagging pain, instability, or all around faulty joint problems. You have my sincerest sympathy. Shoulders can be a bitch. Congratulations on being honest with yourself and deciding to do something about these said problems.
Onto the questions above...
1. The injection itself is not painful. You're going to get numbed first. The first shot feels like a small prick and then you can't feel the rest of them. So that isn't bad at all. After being numbed, you'll receive your contrast injection. This part of the exam is pretty neat because you get to watch as the X-rays change on screen, and see everything as it is happening.
Quite honestly, this wasn't painful at all. It just felt awkward. It actually felt like someone has placed a heavy weight in my shoulder joint and behind my scapula. My shoulder injury has to do with several dislocations, so when the contrast dye was injected it kind of felt like my shoulder had recently dislocated, which is this strange hollow feeling.
Today, my shoulder is definitely sore, which I can't say is due to this injection or not. It was sore yesterday before my appointment. I'd say, at worst, you're not going to feel any more pain that you usually do... which is why you are here in the first place.
2. When I scoured the internet for a price, I saw anything from $1200 to $4000. Quite a range, if you ask me.
In the great state of Washington (the land of beautiful mountains, bad Canadian drivers, and seasonal affected disorder), a shoulder arthrogram runs just over $3000. To be exact, mine came to: $3353. Given, my insurance will cover a good chunk of that cost, but it is still a pretty hefty bill.
If you've never had an MRI before, you can expect the following:
You'll be placed on a sliding tray, more or less. Propped into some type of laying down position with foam blocks placed strategically around your entire being. You'll be instructed not to move, and immediately wonder if you could manage to move anything with so much foam tucked around, under, and in between your limbs. The answer, once slid into the tube, is most likely no.
You'll be asked what kind of music you'd like to hear as the MRI technician places oversized headphones on your head. I always ask for Classical. Anything calming is good for the 20-30 minutes you're required to hold completely still in a tube that rests 6 inches away from your face. You'll start out hearing the music you requested. It's nice for a few moments... Then the machine turns on. There is some type of rhythmic low tone thumping, kind of like a robot heartbeat. This goes on the entire time, more or less, remixing your Beethoven with a techno bass beat. This bump, bump, bump noise then becomes greatly overshadowed by loud mechanical clanging and banging. You requested music of some kind, but honestly you aren't going to hear it for 85% of the MRI. Let's be honest... you're going to be laying in this machine hearing, "ERRRR, ERRRR, ERRRR, BANG BANG, ERRR," or some combination of those sounds. Overall, it isn't bad and the headphones provide some type of ear protection.
Hope this answers any questions you have and good luck.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
I'm only writing this because I'd searched and searched for answers to two questions:
1. Is the contrast injection painful, or what does it entail and feel like?
2. How much does a shoulder arthrogram cost?
Now that I know, I'll answer those questions for others who are signed up for the same test.
First of all, you've probably injured your shoulder recently or have been dealing with nagging pain, instability, or all around faulty joint problems. You have my sincerest sympathy. Shoulders can be a bitch. Congratulations on being honest with yourself and deciding to do something about these said problems.
Onto the questions above...
1. The injection itself is not painful. You're going to get numbed first. The first shot feels like a small prick and then you can't feel the rest of them. So that isn't bad at all. After being numbed, you'll receive your contrast injection. This part of the exam is pretty neat because you get to watch as the X-rays change on screen, and see everything as it is happening.
Quite honestly, this wasn't painful at all. It just felt awkward. It actually felt like someone has placed a heavy weight in my shoulder joint and behind my scapula. My shoulder injury has to do with several dislocations, so when the contrast dye was injected it kind of felt like my shoulder had recently dislocated, which is this strange hollow feeling.
Today, my shoulder is definitely sore, which I can't say is due to this injection or not. It was sore yesterday before my appointment. I'd say, at worst, you're not going to feel any more pain that you usually do... which is why you are here in the first place.
2. When I scoured the internet for a price, I saw anything from $1200 to $4000. Quite a range, if you ask me.
In the great state of Washington (the land of beautiful mountains, bad Canadian drivers, and seasonal affected disorder), a shoulder arthrogram runs just over $3000. To be exact, mine came to: $3353. Given, my insurance will cover a good chunk of that cost, but it is still a pretty hefty bill.
If you've never had an MRI before, you can expect the following:
You'll be placed on a sliding tray, more or less. Propped into some type of laying down position with foam blocks placed strategically around your entire being. You'll be instructed not to move, and immediately wonder if you could manage to move anything with so much foam tucked around, under, and in between your limbs. The answer, once slid into the tube, is most likely no.
You'll be asked what kind of music you'd like to hear as the MRI technician places oversized headphones on your head. I always ask for Classical. Anything calming is good for the 20-30 minutes you're required to hold completely still in a tube that rests 6 inches away from your face. You'll start out hearing the music you requested. It's nice for a few moments... Then the machine turns on. There is some type of rhythmic low tone thumping, kind of like a robot heartbeat. This goes on the entire time, more or less, remixing your Beethoven with a techno bass beat. This bump, bump, bump noise then becomes greatly overshadowed by loud mechanical clanging and banging. You requested music of some kind, but honestly you aren't going to hear it for 85% of the MRI. Let's be honest... you're going to be laying in this machine hearing, "ERRRR, ERRRR, ERRRR, BANG BANG, ERRR," or some combination of those sounds. Overall, it isn't bad and the headphones provide some type of ear protection.
Hope this answers any questions you have and good luck.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
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