Need an MRI for back pain?

Given the difficulties in diagnosing back pain, patients are often eager to try all available diagnostic methods. There is a popular idea among pain patients that magnetic resonance imaging is a necessary part of the diagnosis. For many reasons this is wrong.

Magnetic resonance

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses a large magnet to surround the patient with a magnetic field that excites the water molecules in his body. MRI films capture the image of these excited molecules and end with a precise and detailed image of the patient's spinal cord anatomy. Magnetic resonance imaging is more complete than radiography, showing mainly bones. Magnetic resonance imaging shows softer tissues such as slices, nerves, muscles and ligaments, and bones.

This type of imaging test is a breakthrough in diagnostic science as it enables medical professionals to detect disc abnormalities, nerve obstruction, tumors and infections. However, for the typical patient with back pain, MRIs may not be very useful aon minet dependants.

"Normal abnormalities"

Some in the medical community have called certain changes in the spine as "normal abnormalities." This is especially true for disk degeneration. Spinal discs wear with age and use. A number of studies that reported MRI findings in the spine have included people with no back pain. The results have varied, but scans showed disc degeneration on average approx. 30% of asymptomatic individuals. This means that an MRI may show a problem, but the problem may not cause your pain.

applications

Magnetic resonance imaging is very competent for detecting disc and nerve abnormalities, but for most people, the cause of pain lies elsewhere. At least at least 80% of the population suffers from low back pain; In about 5%, pain is caused by a disc problem with nerve shock. MRIs also detect tumors and infections around the spine, but these are even rarer than nerve and disk problems. The type of pain you feel and the correlated symptoms you have should help confirm or exclude discogenic pain, nerve impression, spinal cord tumors or infections. More commonly, the cause of back pain is muscle or ligament tension. This can take anywhere from days to a few months to heal with conservative treatment.

cost

No one wants to sacrifice their health to save a few dollars, but the limited utility of MRI combined with its cost can be seen as sufficient reason not to rush into it. You can expect a scan to cost around $ 2,000, but a lot more or a little less depending on where you live. Insurers do not always offer full IRM reimbursement.

Magnetic resonance imaging is best reserved for people whose pain does not resolve with months of conservative treatment and those who immediately represent severe symptoms associated with nerve shock, tumor or infection. If the medical professionals treating you do not request a scan right away, it does not mean that they are not doing their job. But if all they do is give you pain pills, it means they are not doing their job. The diagnosis of back pain should include a physical examination, questions about your medical history, and if there is no apparent cause for the doctor, a trip to the physiotherapist to check muscle balance and to the chiropractor for an adjustment test.

MRIs are not necessary for everyone, not even for most people with back pain. As long as your doctor takes other steps to understand the source of your pain, you do not need MRI.