MRI for Herniated Disc Diagnosis

There are several important factors to consider, such as when an MRI scan must be performed and limitations with an interpretation of findings to get an MRI scan for herniated discs.

To begin with, the difficulty with the results of an MRI scan, as with several other diagnostic studies, is that the abnormality may not always be the source of an individual’s back pain or other symptoms. Numerous studies have shown that approximately 30 percent of people in their twenties and forties have a lumbar disc herniation in their MRI scan, even though they don’t have any pain.

An MRI scan cannot be interpreted on its own. Everything Has to Be well-correlated to the individual patient’s condition, for example:

• Symptoms (such as the duration, location, and severity of pain)
• Any deficits in their examination

Another concern with MRI scans is the time when the scan is done. When a patient has experienced the following symptoms would be the only time that an MRI scan is needed immediately:

• Bowel or bladder incontinence
• Progressive weakness due to nerve damage in the legs.

Herniated Disc Analysis with MRI

Obtaining an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) can be important in correctly assessing a herniated disc in the spine. Unlike an X-ray, MRI uses a magnetic field and a computer to create and record detailed pictures of the internal workings of your entire body. This technology can also produce cross-sectional views in identifying a disc of the body, which greatly helps doctors. MRI scans are based on new technology, but they have become essential in diagnosing several back and neck issues, such as spinal stenosis, herniated discs, and bone spurs.

An MRI scan has several benefits that greatly help a herniated disc patient. The advantages of an MRI can be:

• Unobtrusive
• Painless and free of radiation
• Can focus on a particular part of the entire body
• Extremely accurate

Diagnosing Disc Herniation

Should you believe you have a herniated disc in the neck or back, the very first step would be to visit a physician. Your physician can supply you with a complete evaluation and inspection of your medical history to create an identification. Following that, you may be referred to execute an MRI to stabilize and confirm the herniated disc.

You’ll be put into the tubular MRI machine at the imaging center to get a body scan. You may remain enclosed in the MRI device for up to an hour while the comprehensive scan of the place where the herniated disc along the spine is completed. The MRI can reveal the exact condition of the herniated disc and surrounding arrangements. This allows your doctor to produce the right treatment plan for you and understand the origin of the disc damage and pain.

Herniated Disc Follow-Up Treatment

Most patients can successfully treat herniated disc pain using nonsurgical standard treatments prescribed by their physician. These include relaxation, compression treatment, and mild exercise. Surgery can then be explored when months or weeks of treatment do not bring a return to the previous action.

Contact a specialist if you’re researching surgical options and have become concerned by several of the risks and unsuccessful results of traditional open-back operations. Spine surgery specialists perform minimally invasive spine surgery, including invasive stabilization surgeries and minimally invasive decompression, which can treat several acute herniated discs. They may review your MRI to determine if you are a candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery, which may help you regain your life.

 

Additional Topics: Sciatica

Lower back pain is one of the most commonly reported symptoms among the general population. Sciatica is a well-known group of symptoms, including lower back pain, numbness, and tingling sensations, which often describe the source of an individual’s lumbar spine issues. Sciatica can be due to various injuries and/or conditions, such as spinal misalignment or subluxation, disc herniation, and spinal degeneration.