MRI Scan Services
Spine and Orthopedic Center (SOC) offers the Siemens Essenza — a high field 1.5T MRI. It is a newer MRI machine that has a shorter tunnel allowing spine patients greater ease and comfort with less claustrophobia.
This MRI system used by SOC delivers the highest degree of accuracy than any other existing MRI system in the industry. There is a difference in imaging your spine with a low field MRI compared to a high-field MRI.
MRI Extended Hours
- Tuesdays from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
What is an MRI?
MRI Stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. MRI is a way of getting pictures of various parts of your body without the use of X-rays. Unlike X-rays and computed tomographic (CT) scans, which use radiation, a MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves. A radio wave antenna is used to send signals to the body and then receive signals back.
These returning signals are converted into pictures by a computer attached to the scanner. Pictures of almost any part of your body can be obtained at almost any particular angle. A MRI scan may be used to diagnose or evaluate abnormal growths and tumors, blood flow, blood vessels, lymph nodes, organ function, and more.
Combining MRIs with other imaging methods can often help the doctor make a more definitive diagnosis. MRI images taken after a special dye (contrast) is delivered into the body may provide additional information about the blood vessels.
MRI for Back Pain Diagnosis
Because a MRI scan allows a physician to see in detail and evaluate soft tissue, it is used to help diagnose and determine:
- Herniated and bulging discs
- Alignment of the spine
- Disc height and hydration to determine degenerative disc disease
- Compressed or pinched nerves or sciatica
- Spinal abnormalities
- Spinal Stenosis which leads to nerve compression
MRI Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages of MRI include diagnosing:
- Spine, or joint infections
- Visualizing torn ligaments in the wrist, knee, and ankle
- Visualizing shoulder injuries
- Herniated discs in the spine
MRI also has disadvantages. These include:
- People with pacemakers cannot have MRIs.
- Patients who are morbidly obese may not fit into an MRI system.
- Claustrophobic patients often cannot make it through a MRI. These patients may require sedatives or an Open MRI which is an MRI system that is not completely closed around the patient.
- The MRI machine makes a tremendous amount of noise during a scan. The noise sounds like a continual, rapid hammering. The noise is due to the rising electrical current in the wires of the gradient magnets being opposed by the main magnetic field. The stronger the main field, the louder the gradient noise. Patients are given earplugs or stereo headphones to muffle the noise.
- MRI scans require patients to hold still for extended periods of time. MRI exams can range in length from 20 minutes to 90 minutes or more.
- MRI systems are very expensive. Therefore the exams are also very expensive.
- Lastly, people with kidney disease, dialysis patients, or people who didn’t know they had kidney disease are at high risk to develop an incurable condition called Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) from the MRI dye injection gadolinium. NSF causes a hardening or stiffening of the skin and joints.
Preparation for MRI Test
Before your MRI test, let your health professional and the MRI technologist know if you:
- Are allergic to any medicines.
- If you are or might be pregnant.
- If you wear any jewelry, eyeglasses, hearing aids, hairpins, removable dental work or other objects that may interfere with the procedure.
- Have any other health conditions, such as kidney problems that may prevent you from having an MRI using contrast material.
- Had recent surgery on a blood vessel. In some cases you may not be able to have the MRI test.
- Wear any medication patches. The MRI may cause a burn at the patch site.
The late hours for the MRI
- Tuesdays from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM