How Long Does It Take To Get An Mri

How long does it take to get an MRI?

I just got the referral for an MRI from having damaged my meniscus and the wait time I got for my appointment is 1-3 months. I'm concerned about my knee in the meantime, is this a normal wait time for an MRI in Ontario?

level 2

We need more machines. They are still treating the population of Onatrio like its from the 90s.

level 1

All depends on how urgent. So you have to wait because people with more serious and urgent health conditions need one faster. Tell them you are willing to do one in the middle of the night.

level 1

Yes, unfortunately this is normal. There is a lot of demand for MRIs, and a limited number of machines. When my husband needed an urgent MRI (he was being investigated for cancer) he got one within 24 hours . Non urgent scans are never booked that quickly though.

level 1

My initial appointment for my MRI (non-urgent) was 5 months after being referred, for May 2020. It was consequently cancelled due to pandemic and rescheduled for early October, at 1:30a.m. So 1-3 months sounds pretty good! (I'm in the Niagara region).

On the other hand, as a USian immigrant with a not-yet-awful knee problem, the fact that this is covered by OHIP makes it well worth the wait.

level 1

Go and see a physiotherapist while you're waiting- they'll teach you how to protect your knee in the meantime.

level 1

Wait times are one way we ration health care in Canada.

level 1

I've had a couple MRIs for several leg injuries. They usually get set for 1-3 months away but every MRI I'd had was pushed up due to cancellations and I had them within two or three weeks of the first scheduling.

level 1

It depends on how urgent it is and where you are in the province sometimes. When they thought I might have a torn meniscus, the ortho suggested going straight to the scope because he said he would need to do it anyways and he could fix the meniscus then and there.

I have had to wait a couple of days for a MRI for one issue (possibly fatal brain thing they needed to rule out that would kill me in a month or two if not treated ASAP) and 3 months for another for a different issue.

level 1

· 1y Toronto

The last few I've had have been about 5-6 week waits for the planned appointment, but I usually have good luck with the cancellation list.

level 1

I had a similar problem a few years back and I think I had to wait 4-5 weeks both times I was required to do an MRI.

(Ottawa area, so I had a midnight trip to CHEO to have it done.)

level 2

My wife tore her ACL last year was a 4 week wait still.

level 1

If you want one quicker, you gotta wreck your knee really bad. If your legs mostly works that's not good enough.

My 2 first ones were 3-4 month waits. Then when I destroyed my knee enough I finally got one within days. You don't want to do that.

Cancellations do happen so hopefully you get one 🤞

level 1

I've had two non-urgent MRIs when living in Ottawa, both were scheduled within couple weeks at CHEO in the wee hours of the morning (2-4 am) when the machines are otherwise not busy. My ex waited months for hers. I have no idea why mine were so speedy other than perhaps the surgeon got me in a different queue

level 1

phone and ask, my s.o. cut her wait time in half or less by accepting and appointment at three a.m.

level 2

Those are the best appointments! No waiting, no crowds and you can literally park for free right outside the hospital in downtown Toronto. Highly recommend the middle of the night appts.

level 1

I was quoted around 3 months for my knee, but was able to get in sooner due to a cancellation - maybe 1.5-2month mark.

level 1

Same issue for me earlier this year. In mid-March, my sports medicine doctor initiated an appointment for an MRI at Humber river. They got back to me quickly with a date near the end of April. However, probably because of the pandemic, they pushed it back to end of August.

Quebec has private diagnostic imaging clinics, so if you can afford it you can go up to Ottawa (Gatineau) and get in next week. One knee is about $700. That's what I did and I'm glad.

level 1

Anyone know the deal with pro athletes? I'm certain any pro football/soccer/basketball/hockey injury is getting an MRI next day... somewhere... Presuming as well, not through OHIP.

level 1

· 1y · edited 1y

I had a family member have an emergency MRCP within 2 days but yeah unfortunately it can take months to wait for scans like an MRI if its not urgent.