If you have arthritis in one or both of your shoulders, your doctor may order a shoulder MRI scan to help them evaluate and treat your pain. A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test is a procedure that produces detailed images of your shoulder joint, including the bones, tendons, blood vessels and muscles inside it, by using radio waves and a magnetic field. If you’ve never had an MRI before, the prospect of undergoing one can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s what you need to know before, during, and after your shoulder MRI.
Preparing for Your Shoulder MRI
Your doctor or the imaging facility may give you specific instructions to follow before your MRI. Be sure to follow those instructions carefully. It’s important to let the radiologist or MRI technician know if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to contrast dye, if you have any severe health conditions, if you’ve had any recent surgeries, or if there is any chance that you are pregnant. Claustrophobic patients may also want to ask their doctors for a mild sedative before the procedure to help calm their nerves.
The Day of Your MRI
On the day of your MRI, leave jewelry at home, if possible. You’ll need to remove jewelry, watches, hearing aids, body piercings, hairpins, removable dental work, eyeglasses, pens, and any other metal objects, as metal and electronic items can interfere with MRI technology and distort the image. A contrast dye may be injected into your shoulder joint. This is called “arthrography,” and it provides more detailed images of your shoulder joint. The procedure itself should be painless; however, your shoulder may feel warm. You’ll be asked to lie down on a movable exam table that will slide into the machine. If your test includes a contrast dye, you may be hooked up to an IV line. During the test, you will be alone in the room, but the MRI technician will still be able to see and hear you. The technician will control the machine to take a series of images of your shoulder. The technician will probably want to take several series of images for your doctor. Each series will take several minutes, but the entire MRI process typically lasts between 15 and 45 minutes. If you weren’t sedated, there’s no recovery time needed after your shoulder MRI.
After Your MRI
The MRI technician will provide the images to a radiologist, who will read and interpret them. The radiologist will then deliver the results of their review to your doctor so that they can work with you on an appropriate treatment plan for your shoulder pain. For financing options, go to >bad credit rating payday loans
Contact AHI to Schedule Your Shoulder MRI Today!
American Health Imaging (AHI) offers the same quality MRI scans you could get at a hospital, but at a much lower cost. To learn more about undergoing an MRI for your shoulder and to explore why patients across Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Texas are turning to AHI in increasing numbers for MRI scans, contact us today.