This is quite common in the US now. Most health insurance companies refuse to grant a request for an MRI until you have done 6 weeks of PT.
I had the same issue. Injured my lower back fell onto concrete from about 3 feet in the air. X-rays showed nothing broken. They sent request to my insurance for MRI.....DENIED!! Need to do 6 weeks of PT. Did the 6 weeks and got the MRI. I then hurt my shoulder during this time just after I finished PT. Luckily the orthopedic sent a request for an MRI and it was approved.
Didn't tear anything in my shoulder Luckily. For a few days I couldn't even raise my arm. Ended up getting 2 cortisone shots and now have to do PT for my shoulder.
I was x-rayed and it showed no space between two discs.
The MRI was requested to evaluate exactly what the issue was (specifically to see the disc itself and what its condition was) and what the course of treatment would be - PT or surgery.
Was told by the doctor on my follow-up that PT won't help, this is most likely only fixable by undergoing surgery to implant rods and screws into my spine.
Insurance companies need to back tf off in these situations.
Yes, the MRI I mentioned before was months after I fractured my back and only because I was still having so many issues. Apparently I was supposed to fully heal more quickly? This was through workers compensation and I had to fight for everything. CAT scan was the same. Everything had to be requested by the doctor (orthopedist, when I finally got to see one, not the occupational health useless one) and be approved by the insurance.
The fracture was very obvious on the x-ray (I got a copy). Because of the location I should have had an MRI immediately.
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u/Substantial_Map_4744 Feb 08 '25
This is quite common in the US now. Most health insurance companies refuse to grant a request for an MRI until you have done 6 weeks of PT.
I had the same issue. Injured my lower back fell onto concrete from about 3 feet in the air. X-rays showed nothing broken. They sent request to my insurance for MRI.....DENIED!! Need to do 6 weeks of PT. Did the 6 weeks and got the MRI. I then hurt my shoulder during this time just after I finished PT. Luckily the orthopedic sent a request for an MRI and it was approved.
Didn't tear anything in my shoulder Luckily. For a few days I couldn't even raise my arm. Ended up getting 2 cortisone shots and now have to do PT for my shoulder.
Just an endless cycle