MRI scan at Hamad Hosp?

private sectors may try to over investigate patients for revenue, so be cautious....

Simple back problems do not need MRI scans or xrays.

Treatment is universally the same which is physiotherapy and analgesia. Generally speaking if a back problem has not resolved after 2 weeks then a referral for physiotherapy is the best option.

Cases which are resistent to treatments and longstanding may benefit from an MRI scan in order to confirm the diagnosis and extent of the problem.

However in priniciple back problems are treated:

Initially - conservatively with physio

Medical - with injections and pain reliveing agents

Lastly by surgery which should be your last resort and where an MRI scan is most necessary.

If you need further advice or some physio sessions your welcome to contact us.

regards

Nothing to worry about dude! But you should not lift any heavy weight from now on, even a water bucket, just all you need to stretch your spine as much as you can, I mean some regular pull-ups. This will help you to restore your slipped disc, or whatever, the same time will strengthen your back & belly

Just don’t go for MRI & all these S***, it won’t work, specially the doctors running the private clinics will make money out of you, so take my advice, if you would like further to go on, inbox me, be strong, forget the GYM, change your lifestyle, you good to go bro

Hi Hmd, yup you are paranoid and the answer to your first part is No. Muscle spasm, tear, slip disc are not the same. Sometimes ou can get pain if your bed is too soft, room is too cold, sometimes a simple jerk of the back can start a relay of different pains.

Coming to slip disc I know of two people close to me having it, but alhamdullilah they are able to do everything. There is nothing that cannot be rectified with proper exercise, diet control, right guidance.diet, if you are a heavy person, since your work is sedentary.

Don't worry, and yes X-ray can also detect the problem, and if the dr insists on MRI you can ask about X-ray, since it will b cheaper.any good dr can see if the problem requires a detailed investigation. The physical examination and your complain will help the dr decide what it is and what additional examination needs to be done.

You can call the hospital or even clinics today or tomorrow and check about the dr availability.

Do let us know what the dr says.i am curious now.

Once again thanks a lot for the response Han19,

Just a few QUICK questions as I am now very paranoid.

I know that it is probably and hopefully just a muscle spasm.

Do you say a slipped disc can strike anytime BECAUSE I have a muscle spasm?

Am I more susceptible to it? Or you are just saying that would be the case if what I have is NOT just a muscle spasm.

I read online that they can often do x rays and an MRI is not always necessary, so I will definitely look for a doctor after Eid.

One last question.

As I am a Pilot, and that's all I am trained and qualified to do.

In the unlikely case that I do get a slipped disc (god forbid), is this something that can never be corrected surgically or improve?

I will require to sit in the cockpit a lot obviously.

Thank you again.

Hi Hmd, I would not advice you to do any strength training till you back pain subsides. Are you a heavy person. Brisk walking is preferred to jogging as in jogging you are putting a lot of impact on your lower back, as well as our knees. If you are a heavy person then you shuld try to avoid jogging n skipping.brisk walk is great again body posture is important. The stomach muscles support the back, so you need to firm up our stomach.

A good physiotherapist can suggest some basic exercises, especially for the back and they really help. They are very simple, if you are into exercises u should know the cobra posture, cat stretch, simple leg lifts while lying down.

For sitting position try to google office ergonomics and they usually have a standard picture that shows how one should be seated at an office desk.

Wile driving, if you drive long distance, you need to move your neck frequently.

You may call Doha Clinic hospital, and ask for Dr. Bhat, he is very good and his treatment is usually quite simple. Doesn't require an appointment, but you need to check if he is available here or not.

One thing, and this is not to scare you, slip disc can strike at any time, but it does not mean that you cannot live a normal life or do the usual stuff, you just need to take extra care f your back.most probably you have just pulled a muscle, and are in pain, sometimes it can take a very long time to heal, depending upon the type of injury.in the meantime, when you lie down, lie on a firm bed, and don't lie on the couch while watching tv, this aggravates any back pain.

Hey han19,

Thank you so much for the reply, and the advice.

I feel so much better knowing that it hopefully most likely is NOT a slipped disc.

Being so young, and having started a new career, it would really not be a good thing.

I have stopped weight training completely for now which sucks, but do you think it would be a good idea to introduce it very mildly?

You think jogging is okay?

I want to meet a proper Doctor, even if at a private hospital, as the guy at Hamad was busy, and only barely gave me any advice.

I am sure a proper doctor can give me advice as to how exactly the right position is to sleep, to sit, etc.

Maybe can give me some exercises to do to help me recover faster.

You know any Doctor, even at a private hospital you specifically would recommend?

These problems are to do with the Radiology section is that right?

Forgive me as I know VERY little about hospitals and such problems, as I have had very few problems in the past (touch wood).

Thank you again

Hello, sad to hear about your back pain. Your dr is right, if your pain is not extending to your limbs and are not feeling any pain or numbness in your fingers or toes, feet, then you don't need to worry. It's possible that you have injured yourself during your workout or is due to your work position, the way you sit at your desk, the way you sit while driving etc.

Slip disc would give you excruciating pain, even simple tasks can become difficult,

I am not sure if slip disc is the same as disc bulge, but in a disc bulge, if it starts touching the nerve, then you can have crazy tingling pain.

You can try asking for an appointment with a dr.arun at hamad hospital in the evening clinic, or try to meet him at alkhor hospital. He is available in Doha only on Tuesday the other days, he is in alkhor.waiting time can be long, because he quite sought after.

You can also meet dr.bhat at Doha clinic, he is one of the best and a longtimer in Doha.

I would advice you to refrain from weight training till your pain subsides, and stick to only aerobic workout, like walking, or treadmill. I would not suggest even the cross trainer, because of the way your body moves on it.Focus on your back and how you maintain your back, because the way you hold your stomach and back will affect those areas. Avoid stomach crunches, if you are doing them, even in this you can injure your neck, if you are not doing it properly.

Use hot packs to relieve the pain in the mean time and just use the muscles creams, they help.

Firstly thank you all for the quick and informative responses.

Nobody has actually ASKED me to get an MRI, but I want to do it myself as I am worried about my back.

My lower back has been aching me for about 2 weeks now, and yesterday the upper right side of my back starting hurting.

I visited a Doctor and he instantly told me that it is NOT a slipped disc, and is just a muscle spasm as the pain doesn't extend to my legs, though I still want to be certain as I want to start working out again, but I don't want to mess with my back if I shouldn't.

And he said the upper back pain was also normal, and not related to a slipped disc whatsoever.

Thanks again!

I must add that they keep changing their rules so one month you can get an appt over the phone and the next month they would ask you to go to the phc first for a different appt.

Moreover getting an MRI done outside could cost almost 1500 or more,depending upon the area being scanned. But it depends on how worried you are about your condition, and the cost is nothing, you get your results quickly, but if you can wait, its better to get into the national health care system, its not costly, and let them take care of you.

Hope you feel well soon.

Hi flexicode, you can see a doctor at hamad without going through the health centre. I have had two appointments with different doctors and one for my family member, by directly asking for an appointment.ofcourse you don't get the appt immediately, depending upon the doctor, some specialists are available within a week's time, while renowned consultants have a std waiting period of 45 days, miss that appt and the next one is after another 45 days.grrrr,downside of waiting to meet a consultant is that if he is on a casual leave on the day of the appointment, they don't inform you and some junior dr will see you, beats the point of actually taking an appt with a consultant and then waiting to see him.

It helps if you have a referral and a referral by a private dr should be fine too.

Most important is to have a health card,once you have applied, they issue you a receipt, you can use the hospital services with the receipt.

Secure a health card if you have not done so already by visiting the Health Center of your area with a pp size photograph and QR 100. (Of course you need to be an RP holder to be eligible) It might take a couple of days or even more to be with you. With that in hand visit your local health center again and see any GP with your complains, let him refer you to some specialist in Hamad related to your complain. Take an appointment of the specialist in Hamad. If luck is by your side and depending on the specialization you have been referred to, it might take somewhere between 1 to 6 months before you could see the specialist. Last time when I was there to take an appointment for evening clinic (not free even with health card), I was told that the appointment system itself is being upgraded and no appointment is possible until January next year. So watch out. Now if you are really lucky and you get to see the specialist and he feels that you need an MRI Scan done, he will issue you a paper requesting the Magnetic Imaging Department to get one done on you. Your next move would be to visit the MRI Department for an appointment by depositing QR 150 through some very deceptive window which is really hard to find. After you submit the deposit proof with the MRI help desk your phone # will be recorded for further information. You'll receive a call within a fortnight to be available for an MRI.

The other possibility would be to get one done in a private setup by paying QR 1000 or so and get the result within a couple of days.

The problem is, you can not see a doctor in Hamad without going through the Health Center network. I could not and I stand open for correction.

May Allah gives you good health. In order to get any service from HMC, you need a Health card. Alongwith the Health card, go with your private Doctor MRI referral to the Main HMC MRI section or Al-rumaila MRI section ang get the appointment. So simple. Best regards.

Who asked you to go for an MRI, that doctor can give a referral for hamad hospital, requesting a MRI. Appointment can take upto a month. I don't think it's necessary for the phc dr to give a referral or that you need to check again with a dr at hamad. I had a referral once directly from A private clinic for an MRI. but rules change.

You can check with the dr you are following up your problem with, ask him or her for a referral and then go to hamad hospital X-ray MRI unit and check about the appointment. They are usually helpful, and if they appear uncooperative, please complain since their customer service takes such things seriously, but I don't think you will get such a problem. Their staff is usually helpful, sometimes it can take more than 3 staff members to give you the right picture but they will try and help you and guide you.

I think you would need to get a referral from your PHC doctor that is a doctor from your own PHC. Basically you would need to have a health card of HMC to have your PHC

AP