Health Organization for Pudendal Education

Hi guys and gals,

I am booked in for a MRI scan to check for labral hip tears. I would just like to know if they have to inject a contrast product in order to see these tears, as there seems to be some confusion over the issuse. Also, does this injection carry any risk for the pudendal nerves ?
Keep on keeping on,
Al

Ask your doctor what kind of a scan s/he has ordered. The gold standard for detecting labral tears is an MRI with contrast, which involves injecting dye. I never had that but still my torn labrum was detected with a regular MRI.

The dye is injected in the hip joint which is no where near the pudendal nerve, so you don't have to worry about that. But the procedure itself is somewhat painful, both during and after. Typically they also inject some local anaesthetic as well, which can also be diagnostic if it relieves your hip pain for a few hours. Let us know how it goes!

From the research I have read and my own experience an MRA (arthrogram where they inject dye into the hip) or a 3T MRI (must be 3T- the most powerful MRI available - specifically of the hip, not the pelvis. Good luck!

For me they injected a contrast as well as some other medications like Lernica mentioned for diagnostic value. The only pain I experienced was the initial needle and nothing else. Easier than a trip to the dentist for me.