Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a medical test performed for obtaining detailed images of internal body parts. This method involves the use of a magnetic field as well as radio frequency pulses. Once a spinal MRI is conducted, the physician or the radiologist interprets the images and the radiological examinations, and can then locate the cause of pain or discomfort in the spinal region. A spinal MRI is used for identifying spine-related problems.
An MRI can help a doctor diagnose spinal problems.
Features
The vertebrae aide in shock absorption.
A spinal MRI will show the complete anatomy of the human vertebrae, which is composed of the spine, the vertebral discs that facilitate shock absorption and spinal mobility, the spinal cord, as well as the spacing for the passage of nerves in the vertebrae.
Purpose
A spinal MRI test is usually performed for some common reasons, which include assessing the anatomy of the spinal structure, identifying spinal anatomical aberrations and unhealthy tissues, monitoring post-surgical changes and developments in the spine, relieving spinal pain through guided steroid injections, planning meticulous surgeries of the spine, locating tumors and infections in the spine, and evaluating complications in the spine disks.
Anatomy
The human spinal anatomy is categorized into four major sections, which includes the cervical spine (the neck region), the thoracic spine (the region in the upper back), the lumbar spine (the lower back region), and the sacral region (the bottom of the spine). Each of these parts play a role in the normal functioning of the human body, and thus, spinal problems that arise in any one of these regions can cause a lot of pain and extreme discomfort.
Causes
There are several causes for severe back or neck pain, which can be linked to spinal problems like irritation of the nerve roots, straining of the muscles, injury or stress caused to the ligaments and joints, herniated or bulging disc, narrowing of the spinal column, and problems with disc spacing.
Results
A thorough review of the spinal anatomy is of utmost importance in identifying and understanding the causes for severe spine-related problems. Its non-invasive nature makes it the least painful and the most reliable technique for analyzing the spinal cord. Clear imaging results are obtained and facilitate an evaluation and diagnosis of problematic spinal conditions.
A wide range of analysis can be done, including a survey of congenital conditions, disc conditions, chronic spinal cord diseases, vascular anomalies, and other spinal conditions.
Subtle changes and variations are immediately detected, and the MRI will show abscesses or masses accumulated near the spine. Subtle spinal injuries, like compression of the spinal cord, are also effectively detected.
Warning
Allergic reactions are reduced to a considerable extent with an MRI, which are otherwise frequent in the conventional methods of CT scanning and X-rays.
Tags: spinal cord, spinal problems, absorption spinal, cause pain, causes severe