How an MRI Scan of Your Lower Back Can Help with Farmington Back Pain
The lower back, also known as the lumbar spine, can be prone to injury and pain, especially in areas like the disc between vertebrae. If you have low back pain, your doctor may order an MRI Scan of Your Lower Back to get more information about the problem that’s causing your pain and what kind of treatment might work best for you. You can learn more about how an MRI scan of your lower back can help with Farmington back pain from this article written by Dr. Emma from Southern Hills Neurology.
What is an MRI Scan?
An MRI scan uses magnets and radio waves to capture images inside your body without making a surgical incision. The scan allows your doctor to see the soft tissue of your body, like muscles and organs, in addition to your bones. This makes it a helpful tool for diagnosing conditions that may be causing MRI Scan of Your Lower Back, such as a herniated disc or spinal stenosis. An MRI can also help rule out other potential causes of back pain, such as infection or nerve damage.
Preparation For An MRI
An MRI scan uses magnets and radio waves to capture images inside your body without making a surgical incision. The scan allows your doctor to see the soft tissue of your body, like muscles and organs, in addition to your bones. You might need an MRI if you have been experiencing back pain for more than a few weeks and other methods, like X-rays or CT scans, haven’t provided enough information about the source of your pain. An MRI Scan of Your Lower Back can help rule out conditions that cause similar symptoms, such as a herniated disc or spinal stenosis. In some cases, it can also be used to guide procedures like spine injections or surgery.
What To Expect From The Procedure
An MRI scan is a noninvasive way to take a look at what’s going on inside your body. The procedure uses magnets and radio waves to capture images of your lower back. You may feel a bit claustrophobic during the scan, but the good news is that it’s over relatively quickly. Once the images are captured, your doctor will be able to see if there is any nerve damage or infection. In some cases, it can also help identify the source of leg pain or weakness.
Will It Hurt?
No, the MRI scan itself won’t hurt. You may feel a bit claustrophobic inside the machine, but that’s usually the worst of it. The machine is loud, though, so you may want to wear earplugs. If you have metal in your body, like a pacemaker or artificial joints, you can’t have an MRI scan. The magnets in the machine will interact badly with the metal and could cause serious problems. Before the scan, your doctor will likely give you a contrast agent to help make the images clearer. This contrast agent is injected into your vein through an IV. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in, but it’s not painful.
Who Is A Candidate For An MRI?
An MRI can be helpful for diagnosing conditions that cause back pain, such as a herniated disc or degenerative disc disease. If you have been experiencing symptoms like ingling or weakness in your legs, or leg pain that gets worse when you sit or stand, it may be able to help your doctor determine the cause.
Questions To Ask Before Getting An MRI
- What is the purpose of the MRI? it is the lower back can help diagnose the cause of back pain, identify which structures in the spine may be causing pain, and rule out other conditions that may be causing symptoms. 2. What are the risks? Although MRIs are generally safe, there is a small risk of developing cancer from exposure to the magnetic field and radio waves. 3. How should I prepare for the scan? You will need to remove all metal objects from your body before the scan, as they can interfere with the magnetic field. 4. What will happen during the scan? You will lie on a table that slides into the MRI machine.
What does an MRI of the lumbar area show?
An MRI scan can show the soft tissue of your body, including muscles, organs, and bones. The scan can help your doctor diagnose problems with your lower back, such as ingling or weakness.
Will an MRI show a pinched nerve?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic tool that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed images of the body. it can be used to examine the lower back and look for signs of a pinched nerve. A pinched nerve in the lower back can cause pain, numbness, or tingling in the legs or feet. An MRI can help your doctor diagnose a pinched nerve and develop a treatment plan.
What scan is best for lower back pain?
There are many different types of scans that can be used to diagnose lower back pain, but the most common and effective scan is an MRI. it uses magnets and radio waves to capture images inside your body without making a surgical incision. This allows your doctor to see the soft tissue of your body, like muscles and organs, in addition to your bones. The scan is painless and usually takes less than an hour.
