When most people experience back pain, they seek the assistance of a chiropractor. A chiropractor provides a minimally invasive relief. However, a chiropractic adjustment may not always be the remedy for back pain. A patient may have to undergo further examination to determine the underlying cause of back pain. A chiropractor may order an MRI if they feel that it is the best course of action. Chiropractors order MRIs to determine how to best handle their patients physical ailments. After an MRI scan is easier for a chiropractor to help a patient understand the real cause of the pain. If you need an accurate chiropractic MRI, Los Angeles Diagnostics can assist you. We take referral patients as well as cash-based patients.
When a Chiropractic MRI is Necessary
When investigating the health of a patient's spine, chiropractors use x-rays, and hands-on assessment. However, at times, these diagnostic tools might not be enough to identify the root problem. A chiropractor may need an advanced way of diagnosing spinal health problems and other causes of neck or back pain.
It is common for chiropractors to order an MRI when they want to investigate certain issues like:
- Disc herniation
- Soft tissue injuries
- Misalignment of bones
Unlike an x-ray, an MRI offers a lot of information regarding the back, which most chiropractors are interested in. MRIs help to reveal chronic or acute injuries and illnesses. Often, when tissues are severely injured, they usually contain lots of fluids. With an MRI, medics can identify any health issues that are hard to identify using an x-ray. MRIs have, in a big way, helped chiropractors to change their treatment approach.
Most people visit a chiropractor when they are suffering from neck, back, or leg pain. People also visit a chiropractor when they have a recurring headache. An x-ray can be a good starting point and can help reveal some underlying health issues. However, chiropractors may require some additional information that you can't get from an x-ray. This is where an MRI comes in to help chiropractors to:
- Trace dislocations
- Look for tumors
- Identify fractures
- Look for aneurysms
What is the difference between an MRI and an x-ray?
The difference between these two imaging procedures is more like the difference between watching a black & white television and watching color television. If the experts conduct an MRI on a patient, it captures everything. An MRI will not miss crucial information that might not be available on an x-ray.
Health Conditions that May Call for a Chiropractic MRI
A chiropractor may recommend that a patient gets an MRI if they suspect that a patient has specific conditions. The conditions include:
Disc Degeneration
This medical condition affects the discs between vertebrae with loss of cushioning, herniation, and fragmentation, usually due to aging. In most cases, degenerative disc disease has no symptoms. At times, the spine may lose flexibility, and a bone spur may pinch your nerve root, causing discomfort. Treatment for degenerative disc disease includes physiotherapy, exercise, and medication. If a chiropractor suspects that a patient has degenerative disc disease, they may order an MRI to confirm if the condition exists.
Dislocations in the Back or Neck
A chiropractor may also order an MRI if they suspect that a patient has a back or neck dislocation. A dislocation occurs when two connected bones slip out of position at a joint. Usually, a dislocation occurs due to a hard impact or a fall. These injuries are more common in teens and young children and often occur due to accidents and sports injuries.
Dislocations usually require immediate medical attention to prevent additional damage. For this reason, a chiropractor might order an MRI if they suspect that a patient has suffered a dislocation. Chiropractic adjustment may not be enough to treat a dislocation. A patient will require additional treatment.
Vertebral Compression Fractures or Fractures in the Bones
If bone fractures or vertebral compression fractures are present, they may indicate the presence of osteoporosis, a condition that calls for medical intervention. Vertebral compression fractures, commonly abbreviated as VCFs, occur when the vertebral body or the bony block in the spine collapses.
These fractures could lead to deformity, severe pain, or loss of height. In most cases, these fractures occur in the middle section of the spine, mainly in the lower back. Usually, the fractures occur due to osteoporosis (loss of bone mass). Loss of bone mass commonly occurs as a part of aging. An MRI will reveal if a patient has osteoporosis, and the chiropractic will advise the patient to seek further treatment.
Spinal Stenosis
Chiropractic may also order an MRI if they suspect that a patient has spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal. This condition often puts pressure on the spinal cord or the nerves that are within the spine. Spinal stenosis mainly occurs on the lower back or the neck. In most cases, people suffering from spinal stenosis do not have any symptoms. However, some people experience symptoms like tingling, pain, muscle weakness, and numbness. If spinal stenosis is not addressed early, a patient's symptoms may get worse over time.
Why is it important for a chiropractor to determine if a patient has spinal stenosis? A chiropractic adjustment is not enough to treat this medical condition. Treatment for spinal stenosis may involve surgery to create more space for the spinal cord and the nerves. Since stenosis does not exhibit symptoms in many patients, the only way to find out about the condition is through an MRI scan. If symptoms are present, they may vary depending on the stenosis location and the affected nerves.
Spinal stenosis mainly occurs in people with a narrow spinal canal. Even if some people are born with a narrow spinal canal, something may happen and narrow the space within a patient's spine. Some factors that may narrow the spinal canal and cause stenosis are:
- Herniated discs
- Thickened ligaments
- Overgrowth of bones
- Tumors
- Spinal injuries
The majority of people who suffer from spinal stenosis are above 50 years. However, spinal stenosis may also occur in younger people due to degenerative changes.
Spinal Tumors
Patients with spinal tumors often have abnormal tissues surrounding the spinal column or the spinal cord. Tumors occur when abnormal cells grow and multiply uncontrollably. Spinal tumors may be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). A patient may have a primary spinal tumor that originates from the spinal cord and may also have a secondary tumor. A secondary tumor occurs when cancer spreads from another part of the body to the spine.
A chiropractor may suspect that a patient has a spinal tumor and recommend an MRI scan under certain circumstances:
- A patient has a stiff neck or back.
- Muscle weakness or loss in the legs and loss of sensation in the arms, legs, or chest
- Decreased sensitivity to heat, cold, or pain
- Loss of bladder or bowel function
- Neurological symptoms like tingling and pain that increase with Valsalva maneuver
- Paralysis of varying degree in different parts of the body
- Spinal deformity or sclerosis resulting from a large or destructive tumor in the spine
Most people will visit a chiropractor when they have back pain since most are not aware that they have a spine tumor. Chiropractic or medical examination is the first step in diagnosing a spinal tumor. However, an MRI is important for a positive or accurate diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) produces three-dimensional images of the body tissues and structures. MRI experts use advanced magnets and computer technology to perform MRI scans. An MRI will reveal the spinal cord, the nerve roots, and the surrounding areas. An MRI will also reveal any tumors, degeneration, or enlargements in the spine.
Candidates for a Chiropractic MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging is a safe procedure, and most people can undergo the scan without any complications. However, in some instances, an MRI scan is not recommended. Therefore, before recommending the scan to their patients, chiropractors should ensure that they qualify to undergo an MRI scan. It is important to find out if a patient has metal in their body. It is also important to know if a patient is pregnant or breastfeeding.
If a patient has metal in their body, the strong magnets used during an MRI scan might affect the body's metal fragments or implants. MRI scans are also not recommended for pregnant women.
Experts point out that MRI scans are safe for pregnant women after the third month of pregnancy. However, there is no evidence on whether the powerful magnetic fields could impact the developing baby.
Metal Implants and Fragments Pose a Challenge for Chiropractic MRI
Does having any metal in their body mean that a patient should not undergo an MRI scan?
No, having a metallic component in the body does not entirely disqualify a patient from undergoing an MRI scan. However, it is important to disclose to the expert carrying out the MRI scan about the patient's body's metal fragment.
The MRI experts will decide on a case-to-case basis whether they should proceed with the MRI scan despite the metal fragments in the patient's body. For instance, the experts may proceed with the MRI but monitor the patient's heart rhythm during the procedure.
Some of the metal plates and fragments that patients should disclose during an MRI scan are:
- A pacemaker used in controlling irregular heartbeats
- An ICD (Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillator) used to regulate heartbeats.
- A nerve stimulator
- Brain aneurysm clips
- A drug pump implant
- Metal plates. Screws, rods, or wires used in people with bone fractures
- Metallic prosthetic heart valves
- Intrauterine device (IUD)
- Tubal ligation joints
- Artificial joints
- Dental bridges and fillings
- Surgical staples and clips
- Penile implants
- Eye implants
Chiropractors should interrogate patients to find out if the patients have any of the metal fragments mentioned above. When the MRI expert is aware that a patient has metal components in the body, they will take the necessary precaution when conducting the MRI scan.
Can patients with tattoos undergo an MRI safely?
Yes, even if some tattoo inks have traces of metal, people with tattoos can undergo an MRI without any harm. A patient should inform the radiographer immediately if they happen to experience any heat or discomfort at the tattoo site while undergoing an MRI.
An MRI scan may also not be suitable for people with epilepsy. You should inform the radiologist if you suspect that you are pregnant, even if you are unsure. An MRI may lead to an increase in the temperature of the amniotic fluid, and this may be harmful to the baby.
People who are allergic to medication or certain dyes should also inform the radiologist. The same case applies to people who are allergic to iodine and shellfish. If the radiologist has to use a contrast dye during the MRI, people with allergic reactions might suffer. An MRI contrast dye may also have adverse effects on people with low blood pressure, anemia, asthma, allergies, and sickle cell disease. Other risks may arise depending on a patient's medical condition. Therefore, a patient needs to disclose all their health details before undergoing an MRI.
When to Have an MRI
In chiropractic medicine, an MRI is an excellent diagnostic tool that helps evaluate the spine. It is the perfect option for evaluating disc herniation that could be compressing the nerves on the spine. When undergoing an MRI scan, a patient lies still in a tube that creates magnetic fields. A patient has to remain in the tube for up to 45 minutes for the best image quality.
What happens to the claustrophobic patients and those who can't manage to lie still in the MRI tube? These patients can benefit from open MRIs, which are more flexible, and everyone can enjoy them. There is no evidence whether an open MRI produces the same quality of images as a closed MRI.
MRI is perfect and enables chiropractors to detect easy-to-miss fractures, tumors, scar tissues, and pinched nerves while evaluating the spinal cord. What if a patient develops back pain gradually due to lifting heavy objects. In this case, a chiropractor may decide to wait a while longer to see if the patient will improve through chiropractic adjustment and conservative care.
Whether a chiropractor recommends an MRI for a patient depends on several factors. They will first consider when the patient's back pain began and how long the pain has lasted. A patient may need an MRI if they have been involved in an accident and injured their back. An MRI will help reveal injuries that may be hard to detect using an x-ray. In instances of a disc injury, the body might be capable of healing from the injury on its own without the need for surgery.
Undergoing an MRI too early might lead to unnecessary surgery, yet the patient would have recovered without surgery. Most doctors and chiropractors agree that only a small percentage of people with leg or back pain require surgery.
Certain red flags might indicate that a patient requires an immediate MRI. The warning signs include numbness or progressive weakness in both the patient's legs. An immediate MRI may be necessary if a patient's leg or back pain is combined with weight loss, chills, and fever. If a patient has had a recent infection or has a history of cancer, an immediate MRI might be important.
Interpretation of Chiropractic MRI Results
What are the most critical factors when interpreting the results of a chiropractic MRI?
When interpreting the results of a chiropractic MRI, the results should clinically-correlate with the patient's problem. A patient might be experiencing pain in their right leg, but the MRI scan reveals that a disc is affecting the left nerve. In this case, the MRI scan results do not match with the patient's medical condition, and it might not be helpful to offer treatment based on it. An MRI may reveal many things that are wrong with the patient's back. However, medics need to base their treatment on an MRI that correlates with the patient's symptoms.
Before referring patients to a radiologist for an MRI scan, chiropractors often subject patients to chiropractic care for several weeks. By the end of this period, a chiropractor will be aware of whether a chiropractic adjustment is enough to solve a patient's pain or whether a patient will need further treatment.
An MRI Helps Chiropractors Know If a Patient Responds to Treatment
An MRI comes in handy in chiropractic treatment to show whether a patient is responding to chiropractic payment. An MRI scan reveals the positive benefits of chiropractic treatment. MRIs reveal that chiropractic adjustments help enhance the body's response to inflammation and reduce the nervous system’s over-sensitization. It is possible to see the benefits of a chiropractic adjustment on MRI. Therefore, a chiropractor may order an MRI to determine how the patient has responded to a chiropractic adjustment.
Preparing for a Chiropractic Adjustment
Patients do not have to undergo much preparation before an MRI scan. Patients may require to have all metallic objects removed from their body before they undergo a chiropractic scan. If a patient is extremely anxious or nervous, a radiologist may administer sedation to help the patient relax during an MRI.
Relaxation is important during a chiropractic procedure because patients have to lie still during the imaging. The patient has to breathe normally during the procedure for the best results. While conducting an MRI scan, the MRI technologist maintains a connection with the patient all through.
During an MRI scan, loud and repetitive clicking noises are common. The MRI technologist may need to inject the patient with a contrast dye to improve the images' quality. The period required to complete an MRI scan will vary depending on the body's area undergoing the scan. Typically, an MRI scan takes between 30 minutes and 1.5 hours.
How fast does a chiropractor receive the results of an MRI scan? The results are available after the completion of the MRI scan. After the scanning, the computer produces visual images of the body part that was being scanned. The radiologist transforms this digital image into a hard copy. The radiologist interprets the MRI scan results and sends the interpretation in the form of a report to the chiropractor who requested the MRI scan. The chiropractor then discusses the results of the MRI scan with the patient or their family.
The Side- Effects of a Chiropractic MRI
You might be wondering about the side-effects of a chiropractic MRI. You might also be wondering whether an MRI is painful. An MRI scan is a painless radiology procedure that helps patients avoid radiation exposure with an x-ray. Besides low radiation exposure, an MRI is also advantageous because of its accuracy in detecting structural abnormalities in the body.
If a patient has metal fragments in the body, such as artificial valves, metal implants, heart pacemakers, and clip-in or metal chips in or around the eyes, there is a risk that these fragments might shift out of place. A patient needs to inform the MRI technologist about the presence of metal fragments.
During an MRI scan, some patients experience a claustrophobic sensation. Therefore, patients with claustrophobia may have a hard time undergoing a chiropractic MRI. A patient who has claustrophobia should share this information with the MRI technologist to take the necessary measures. To help alleviate this feeling, the MRI technologist may administer a mild sedative.
The MRI technologist is always nearby during an MRI scan. There is also a means of communication between the MRI technologist and the patient. Therefore, in case of anything, the patient can press a hand-held buzzer to alert the technologist. A patient can press the buzzer if they are unable to withstand or tolerate the MRI scan.
Find a Chiropractic MRI clinic Near Me
Back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and it prevents people from engaging in day-to-day activities or leading normal lives. Back pain is also the leading cause of absenteeism in the workplace. Chiropractors help patients to overcome back pain and other discomforts through a chiropractic adjustment. A chiropractic MRI may be necessary to help you make an accurate chiropractic diagnosis. You can count on the Los Angeles Diagnostics for the best chiropractic MRI. Contact us at 323-486-7502 if you are a chiropractic practice and speak to one of our radiologists to learn more about referring your patients.
