What is an MRI?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic modality utilizing magnetic fields and radio frequency fields to produce high-contrast images of the body.
When is an MRI necessary for back-pain?
While a good clinical history and detailed physical examination by a skilled doctor is often sufficient for an initial diagnosis and treatment of a patient with back pain, it is sometimes preferable to proceed to imaging.
Compared to X-rays, an MRI will produce a much better image , especially when it is necessary to see the soft tissues more clearly.
These may include:
- Para-vertebral muscles
- Inter-vertebral disc
- Epidural spaces
- Spinal cord
Some special situations in which your doctor may order an MRI for back pain would include cases where it is associated with:
- Unexplained fever
- Weakness of any limb or an unexplained difficulty in walking
- Loss of defecation and/or urinary control
- Sensory loss
- Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
- Signs of spine arthritis on X-Rays
- X-Rays showing decreased inter-vertebral space or collapse of vertebral bodies
In such situations, the MRI could help make a diagnosis of, or exclude:
- Spinal cord problems:
- Spinal cord trauma
- Spinal cord abscess (infection)
- Cauda equina syndrome
- Spinal cord tumor
- Tethered cord syndrome
- Disc problems:
- Slipped disc
- Discitis (infection of the intervertebral disc)
- Disc degeneration
- Spinal canal diseases:
- Spinal canal stenosis
- Hypertrophy of longitudinal ligaments
- Vertebrae problems:
- Compression fractures
If in doubt, always discuss with your doctor on whether you should have an MRI done.
Dr Terence Tan, The Pain Relief Clinic
