Question
I have been diagnosed with sciatica and just been for an mri scan and I`m waiting now for the follow up app.I have had it about 4 months non stop pain everyday . Now after the mri I have developed numbness in my little finger on the right hand and the finger next has lesser feeling...the sciatica is down the right side also.Why i mention this loss of feeling is that 3 yrs ago I had a tendon repair in the right hand using a screw , and remember the mri people asking time and time again if I had any metal parts in me.
Is this coincidence or is the sciatica linked to the feeling in my hand ?

Answer
Richard,

The numbness (loss of sensation) you have in the right hand is purely coincidental to the concurrent sciatica.  The nerves involved in the transmission of sciatic type pain are separate and distinct from the nerves that are responsible for sensation ion the hand.

Although the hardware in the wrist can be mobilized due to the powerful magnets used in the MRI scanner, this is actually highly unlikely since it has been placed in the bone and utilized for stabilization.

When the staff of the radiology department asks about metal in the body, they are much more worried about surgical staples, clips, arterial stents, residual bullet fragments etc...  This is because these artifacts are located in the soft tissue rather than being drilled into the bones and they can be heated up or moved inside the body causing damage.  Often times the heating effect is minimal.

Hope this helps Richard.

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net