The Latest MRIs - Will They Explain Your Pain?

Photo: (c) Clarita

Advances in MRI technology continue to develop. A new study, published in the 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, predicts that new enhancements to the test will mean more benefits to orthopedic doctors and their patients. For back pain sufferers, the MRI is used to help diagnose problems with intervertebral disks, facet joint degeneration, nerve root irritation, spinal stenosis, trauma and more.

The engineering behind the machine is very complicated, but basically it uses a magnet along with radiofrequency waves to stimulate the protons in all types of spinal tissue. Once the protons have been stimulated, their energy can be measured and produced on films for the doctor to see.

Computed tomography (CT), a type of x-ray that allows for a variety of views, has also improved technologically. If you have a pacemaker, wear a neurostimulator, or if you have claustrophobia, the CT is probably the best test for you. Unfortunately, there is some radiation exposure associated with CTs. There is no radiation exposure with MRIs.

Some of the newer types of MRIs are MR neurography and the upright, or positional MRI. Diagnosing back pain solely by diagnostic testing may not result in an accurate explanation for your pain. The purpose of testing is for the doctor to correlate your stated symptoms with the films or other results. Many times the MRI reveals no damage to the spine, yet the patient experiences a lot of pain. (The opposite is also true – patients with no pain often have MRIs that show damage to spinal structures.)

This is why it is necessary for you to have a thorough medical interview and a physical exam when being diagnosed for neck or back pain. The films alone may be misleading.