Question 1

what can a spinal mri show without contrast?

Accepted Answer

It shows a lot: Contrast not always needed.

Question 2

should a chiropractor order spinal xrays and an mri within 1 week of seeing me?

Accepted Answer

Depends entirely: upon your symptoms and physical findings on examination.

Question 3

what can a doctor learn from a spinal mri?

Accepted Answer

Packed full of info: A spinal MR is done to look at the spine and its surrounding structures. It is most commonly used in the work up of back pain, but it is also used to evaluate fractures, infections involving the vertebrae, tumors on or around the spine, and diseases such as multiple sclerosis that effect the myelination of the spine.

Question 4

why do they use gadolinium for spinal mri?

Accepted Answer

Contrast: Gadolinium is used when there is a desire to exclude or further define processes that  may show increased enhancement (contrast accumulation). Such processes can include tumors, inflammation, and infection. Gadolinium is not routinely used when there is a history that suggests disc disease or trauma.

Question 5

could one have an mri after having a spinal fusion?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Spinal instrumentation used for fusions is titanium  and is MRI compatible.

Question 6

would a nerve directly damaged by a spinal show up on mri without contrast or does only compressed or pinched nerves show up?

Accepted Answer

Maybe: Depends on how severe the damage is.  MRI with contrast may show more.

Question 7

no contrast spinal  mri. felt back getting warm & made it feel like my back was being pulled into the pad. it was not comfortable. why happen?

Accepted Answer

Unless you: have surgical hardware in your back, it was likely a subjective sensation not related to the MRI per se.

Question 8

does an mri of the spine show spinal fluid problems?

Accepted Answer

Need a spinal tap: For evaluating spinal fluid a spinal tap is necessary. This is the only way to evaluate the fluid for any problems.  An MRI would only be able to evaluate if there is a leak in the sac containing the nerves.

Question 9

how come my lumbar spinal mri showed contrasting results?

Accepted Answer

Spinal vs. MRI: These are different types of tests looking for different types of information. WE don't even know what the symptoms or the working diagnosis were.

Question 10

can parkinson's be detected by a neck and spinal mri?

Accepted Answer

Not at this time: A far better test is a PET scan with an appropriate chemical tag for dopamine transporter function.

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Doctor answers about:

White round blob on spinal mri

A member asked:

What can a spinal mri show without contrast?

A member asked:

Should a chiropractor order spinal xrays and an mri within 1 week of seeing me?

A member asked:

What can a doctor learn from a spinal mri?

A member asked:

Why do they use gadolinium for spinal mri?

A member asked:

Could one have an mri after having a spinal fusion?

A member asked:

Would a nerve directly damaged by a spinal show up on mri without contrast or does only compressed or pinched nerves show up?

A member asked:

No contrast spinal mri. felt back getting warm & made it feel like my back was being pulled into the pad. it was not comfortable. why happen?

A member asked:

Does an mri of the spine show spinal fluid problems?

A member asked:

How come my lumbar spinal mri showed contrasting results?

A member asked:

Can parkinson's be detected by a neck and spinal mri?

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