When experiencing back pain, many people may seek a chiropractor for minimally invasive relief. However, an adjustment may not always be the most appropriate course of action and could even be dangerous. A chiropractor may determine that you need an MRI. An MRI scan can reveal important information, and a chiropractor may order one if they believe it is the next best course of action.
An adjustment may not always be the answer, but many chiropractors use this to determine the best way to treat their patients. To assess your spine’s health, a chiropractor uses hands-on exams and X-rays. These evaluations are often sufficient to understand and diagnose spinal health issues or back or neck pain.
However, if your pain persists, an additional or different treatment may be warranted, such as an MRI.
When Might a Chiropractic MRI Referral Be Necessary?
Specifically, a chiropractor may recommend you get an MRI if they suspect:
- Disc degeneration—Vertebral degenerative disc disease occurs when the rubbery pads between the vertebrae become dry and crack. When these discs lose their ability to cushion the spine, they may bulge or shift out of place. When this occurs, painful pressure can develop.
- Dislocations—Car accidents and sports injuries are examples of events that may dislocate areas such as the hip, knee, shoulder and spine. An MRI can offer more information about the health of the bones and soft tissues.
- Fractures in the bones or vertebral compression fractures—These injuries may signal the presence of conditions, such as osteoporosis, that require medical intervention.
- Spinal stenosis—This common condition causes the spinal canal (the channel in the spinal column which houses the spinal cord) to become narrow. This narrowing can compress the nerves and, in turn, cause numbness, pain, tingling, and weakness.
- Spinal tumors—Though they are rare, spinal tumors can cause back pain and nerve damage. If your back pain is resistant to chiropractic intervention, a spinal tumor could be present.
Can a Chiropractor Read an MRI?
If your chiropractor recommends an MRI to evaluate your back pain, board-certified radiologists can diagnose the issue using state-of-the-art equipment. A low back MRI captures detailed images of the spine and surrounding soft tissues in minutes. The imaging test is painless, and you can typically expect same-day results.
Radiologists can collaborate with your chiropractor to read your MRI and make determinations about the cause of your back pain.
If you are concerned about the cost of low back imaging, we can help you access screenings at rates up to 60% lower than hospital-based imaging.
If chiropractic care is not providing relief from your back pain, an MRI may help identify the root cause. Contact us to learn more about an MRI with AHI.