My question is basically the same as my title. Which is better for visualizing hernias, a ct scan or an mri? I've gotten conflicting responses from doctors on this issue. Not sure who to believe anymore, I just know somebody is missing something big time, it's not normal to be suffering the way I am.

Thank you in advance for any input...

Nobody has any input? I'm just wondering because I feel something is going unseen...and I don't want to subject myself to radiation with a ct scan again if an MRI is just as good without the radiation.

MRI

As Dr. Goodyear said, nothing is better than a comprehensive medical examination. An MRI may miss a hernia.

I can see how that might be true. I do have countless doctors examine me over and over for months upon months at one time and they all missed the fact that I was open behind my belly button and that I also had a second hernia above it. As I have read, and there is also an article in the New York times online about this entitled "Hernias May Be Hidden Agony in Women", it states that a woman can walk around with an inguinal hernia and no obvious bulge will be felt by examination. Also, may not even be seen in an MRI or CT scan. I'm only asking because I feel something is not right down there and it seems as though nobody will take me seriously when I see these doctors. I'm going to end up consulting the famous hernia surgeon in California who specializes in this stuff with women I think.

No advice on which is better but I will tell you my experience. When I was pregnant, I developed a hernia. The dr did scans a few months after the baby was born. The CT showed a hernia on my right side. When the surgeon examined my stomach, he found it immediately. When he was done, I pointed to another area on my stomach and asked him to examine it too. Turns out, it was a second hernia with no bulge and it was not on the CT scan.

Hey Ash, thanks for your response, I did have an mri the other day and again, it says no hernia. How did the surgeon end up being able to feel the second hernia when there was no bulge if you don't mind me asking? It seems like this is more common in women than a lot of doctors think. I've tried to go along with the idea that there isn't a hernia if the MRI and CT don't show it...but I always have this tinging, burning on the side of my crotch, and it gets worse when I exercise, like do lunges or squatts. When I cough, I feel a bit of pain there and also feel it mainly in the muscles on the sides of my crotch, instead of in my abdomen. There is also a heavy, sort of pulling, dragging feeling down there...but of course, no bulge or anything. Frustrating times a million. I'm taking my MRI and sending it to a female surgeon in California who is well known for finding hidden hernias in women when other doctors and radiologists missed it.

I obviously could be wrong, but i'm not someone who just complains about small pains, for me to keep pursuing this means something.

I should also state that I too, had a ct scan back before I ever had hernia surgery that showed one hernia, when infact I had two...in the umbilical area.

So, now, when I'm having this NEW pressure and pain on the side of my pelvis/crotch, it makes me wonder if again, it's going undiagnosed because a ct or mri didn't pick up on it...or perhaps the radiologist didn't pick up on it.