Kerry's MRI following bicycle accident was impossible

WPHT 1210am | Aug. 25, 2004 | MojoWire

[Edit35]

Several months ago, John Kerry fell off his bicycle while riding in Boston, and subsequently told reporters that he got an MRI just as a precaution.

Now, considering that he also claims to have shrapnel in his leg from Vietnam, doesn't it make an MRI impossible due to the metal's magnetic interference.

This is my first vanity post, so forgive me. But I just heard WPHT radio host Rolleye James talking about the impossibility of Kerry getting an MRI with metal in his leg, and I thought I post the info.

I never had an MRI so I'm not sure.

[Steven W.]

BE WARY ABOUT THE SHRAPNEL STORY!

It has all the inklings of OJ trying on his glove.

Kerry probably had some accident as a kid - falling down the ski slopes or something - and is just itching to pull a scam here. There's plenty to nail him on by having him RELEASE THE RECORDS.

[stockpirate]

"I was wponded in the leg by VC before I wasn't wounded in the leg by VC"

[Arrowhead1952]

I didn't want to look at every reply to look and see if you had seen this, but this is very suspect.

[pointsal]

Rice shrapnel is probably not magnetic

[bad company]

Nice catch. You are absolutly correct. I've had mri's at a VA hospital and they downright interrogate you as to whether or not you might still have some shrapnel still in you.

[StarCMC]

Very interesting!!!

[Old Sarge]

ARROWHEAD: Thanks for the PING.

TONKIN: I've read the whole thread, and it seems to me we might have another chapter in the evolving Kerry saga.

MRIGUY: A belated Welcome to Free Republic! Your expertise is most refreshing, and here's to seeing you around!

[Osage Orange]

Thanks....

I was aware that many medical implantable devices these days are nonferrous and therefore not attracted to magnetic force fields.

But I was unaware of the shrapnel question...I would suppose that scanning or not would of course depend some..on the location of the shrapnel in the body, ie: Near some great vessel, or organ....OR in one's butt...

Thanks again, & welcome to FR.

[bvw]

Good one!

[dennisw]

Isn't that the BIG magnet??? would think if there is any metal in your body you would meet that magnet pretty darn hard.........


Would heat up the metal I would think. But it has to be steel (iron) shrapnel.

[dennisw]

1992 Kerry broke ribs/collarbone in bike accident:

http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&q=%22broke+his+collarbone%22+kerry

[19th LA Inf]

I guess I am a walking disaster. I have wire in one collarbone from 1945 (doc long since dead, nobody knows what kind of wire), metal plate with what look like self-tapping sheet metal screws in one arm near shoulder, circa 1987, and two rods in forearm bones of same arm. Also, implanted real magnets in a couple of teeth to hold denture in place. I was getting a CT scan for my back a couple of years ago and I specifically asked about what we are discussing here in case an MRI was indicated. The tech seemed to be more concerned about the tiny magnets than the larger masses of metal. I don't plan to test the theories.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

I have metallic dental work and took a beautiful MRI. In fact I'm offering autographed copies. The MRI shows I'm all heart!

[Hildy]

I believe You can have an MRI on your head/brain even if you have metal in your body. My Mom has a metal pin keeping her hip in place, but that didn't stop them from doing an MRI a few weeks ago.

[savedbygrace]

From what I've heard, it might just rip that "other leg" right off as it pulls the metal into it. It's pretty powerful.

Am I exaggerating? I don't know.

[bert]

Looks like red meat for you to dessiminate

[VadeRetro]

I've been wondering about the implications of my crowns (too many to mention) and titanium-post implants (two). I suspect they're allowable, but will have to wait until it comes up.

[aruanan]

Maybe he doesn't have the shrapnel in his "thigh" any longer. I know that an MRI machine can pull an oxygen tank across the room. I've read of a cop's gun getting pulled out of the holster and firing. MRI isn't supposed to have much of an effect on non-ferrous metals such as titanium or dental fillings, though. However, certain dark tattoo inks contain metal and can get heated to burning hot by an MRI.

[VadeRetro]

MRI isn't supposed to have much of an effect on non-ferrous metals such as titanium or dental fillings, though.

You may have just posted the answer to my question. There are a lot of gold crowns and more than a few titanium jaw implants out there. I was having trouble beleiving we who have such can't be MRI'ed.

[aruanan]

Here's what Mayo said. I think the "may" may have something to do with the metal being able to be magnetized.

Tell the technologist if you have any metal or electronic devices in your body, such as metallic joint prostheses, artificial heart valves, implanted electronic devices, cochlear implants or magnets in your dentures. The presence of metal in your body may be a safety hazard or affect a portion of the MRI image.