Need help with medical issue

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lovingia

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Oct 24, 2024
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Good day all! I have a very unusual need.

Briefly....I'm 65. When I was 14 I was shot in the right leg with a Sheridan Silver Streak 5mm pump. The pellet lodged behind the femur just above the knee. Doctor said best to leave it where it was, Fast forward 51 years to 2024. I blew my right knee almost two years ago. Upon x-ray they saw the pellet (I had forgotten). For 2 years they have refused to do an MRI due to the pellet. Without the MRI the best they can do for me is gel injections. To my knowledge it is all lead and shouldn't be a problem.

Since I had a successful abdominal MRI last year I convinced the hospital to screen my knee for approval. They have approved and I'm scheduled for 11/15. They want me to try to find the projectile type and bring it so they can test it. That's the only way they can be 100% sure there will be no "problems" during the MRI. It was the Sheridan 5mm pellet in the yellow plastic can of 500. I just need 1 pellet. Is there any route I can take to get one 5mm pellet that hasn't been produced in decades? If there is a source that can provide I'm willing to pay for it or even return it after the 15th. If it sounds like I'm begging that's about the size of it.

I have contacted Sheridan. They were sympathetic but told me the company had changed hands in the past and all old stock was long gone.

Thank you guys for your time. Any advice would be appreciated. Anybody undergo a MRI with a lead projectile?
 
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With some internet searches, I expect you can find some old data that will give the content of the pellet. If you can find that, and if it's pure lead, then you could give them a pellet from your current supply that is also all lead. I'm no radiology tech, but I've heard that adjustments can be made to the machine that allows for certain metal content. I guess it depends on the type and amount.
 
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Well I am an X-ray tech. Technically, retired last year. Not that it matters, MRI has nothing to do with Radiography other than being in the same part of the hospital. Radiography uses ionizing radiation for imaging, a unique light that penetrates objects, we capture their shadows. MRI uses a very powerful magnetic field, Ferrous metal is the concern with MRI, Lead is of concern in Radiography primarily because we can't see through it. Well not using KV levels that are safe for living things. Lead causes image artifacts in Radiography due to it's density.
No worries whatsoever getting your MRI. You could give them any old lead pellet to test. Glad that we have great posters that keeps it all kosher, but frankly? Ridiculous!! How much are they charging for this testing? Barking STUPID! Lead bullets are often left in people, depends how darn hard it is to remove. Not the same at all as ingesting lead.
 
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When I was 13 or so I got shot with a 12 gauge at a distance , About 8 pellets went in my back and side, We kids doctored them and didnt tell anyone for fear of losing our guns, After about 15 to 20 years they came out , not much lead just puss and junk, Stupid kids, Had the last one show up on a Xray after 50 years , It was released like a big pimple, Had a few MRIs not sure why they didn't show up.
 
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Revoman said:
I have some, where would like me to ship, please?
They are from both a metal tin and the yellow plastic box. They are the 'trash-can' style pellets from long ago, NOT the newer ones.

mike
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Always knew you were an awesome dude, Mike. That’s why I like meeting you along with the rest of the cool kids at the San Diego corvette diner!
 
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lovingia said:
Good day all! I have a very unusual need.

Briefly....I'm 65. When I was 14 I was shot in the right leg with a Sheridan Silver Streak 5mm pump. The pellet lodged behind the femur just above the knee. Doctor said best to leave it where it was, Fast forward 51 years to 2024. I blew my right knee almost two years ago. Upon x-ray they saw the pellet (I had forgotten). For 2 years they have refused to do an MRI due to the pellet. Without the MRI the best they can do for me is gel injections. To my knowledge it is all lead and shouldn't be a problem.

Since I had a successful abdominal MRI last year I convinced the hospital to screen my knee for approval. They have approved and I'm scheduled for 11/15. They want me to try to find the projectile type and bring it so they can test it. That's the only way they can be 100% sure there will be no "problems" during the MRI. It was the Sheridan 5mm pellet in the yellow plastic can of 500. I just need 1 pellet. Is there any route I can take to get one 5mm pellet that hasn't been produced in decades? If there is a source that can provide I'm willing to pay for it or even return it after the 15th. If it sounds like I'm begging that's about the size of it.

I have contacted Sheridan. They were sympathetic but told me the company had changed hands in the past and all old stock was long gone.

Thank you guys for your time. Any advice would be appreciated. Anybody undergo a MRI with a lead projectile?
Click to expand...
Thank you to all that have read and responded kindly. This will certainly relieve some stress. You guys have me motivated. I haven't pulled out the old Benji .22 pump or Crossman pistol in quite awhile. Maybe I'll give them a little field trip. Thank you again!
 
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The barking stupid comment has a basis. Dogs bark at things they do not understand. Scrap metal dealers were the source of my ire the last few years I was working. It is difficult to scrap X-ray equipment, major companies have national policies that refuse to accept X-ray equipment due to radiation fears. Let's just ignore the laws of physics shall we? Radiation therapy equipment is very different and dangerous, scrap X-ray equipment has zero residual radiation, that is physically impossible. Hint: They will not accept a dental panoramic X-ray machine. They will accept a dental panoramic scanner. All about words. Barking stupid. Rather like claiming your boat is radioactive because you have a radar unit.
 
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