MRI For Evaluating Knee Pain In The Elderly. Yay Or Nay?

Knee pain in the elderly has been very common for as long as anyone can remember. It is most common in those of fifty years and older. Studies have shown that the most likely cause of knee pain in the elderly is Osteoarthritis or OA rather the pain being acute or chronic it's still extremely painful. Using a MRI on knee pain like this has positive and negative results which has physicians bickering back and forth about weather or not to use it. Starting with the positives, using an MRI on knee pain can pin-point exactly what is the cause of the pain is in the patient and there is no "if", "and's", or "but's" on the diagnosis. Nevertheless there are negatives about using MRI's on knee pain. For instance using it causes overuse of expensive imaging, delay in diagnosis and treatment when waiting for the images to be processed, inconveniences to patients, and increases health care costs. All in all using an MRI for elderly knee pain is useful but to a limit. I feel as though it should be up to the patient if their doctor has told them the cause of the knee pain and they want to be more sure then request a MRI if not then just stick with what the doctor is telling you. I came to this conclusion because looking at the negative aspects tells me it would be more beneficial if you don't utilize the MRI when most likely all that is wrong with an elderly persons knee is OA.