Lumbar Spine MRI

spinal stenosis

Back when you were a child, whenever you're trying to lift a heavy object, your mom or dad used to tell you to use your legs, and not your body, to lift the object from the floor. As you grow up, your body has changed, as it becomes stronger. However, your gym trainer would pick up where your parents left off, and that's by using your legs and not your body when lifting the weights off the floor.

Sometimes, we tend to lift too heavy, that we force our back to "cheat" our motion and not the limbs. The result becomes catastrophic, since the brunt of the weight was absorbed by our lower back. We see other people or ourselves suddenly trying to take a breather, and grab the lower part of their back while agonizing in pain. For those who have experienced this first hand, you know what I'm talking about. For those into exercising, think deadlift.

Now, while we usually feel chronic back pains on our upper back, the lower back incurs the more damaging consequences due to the motion that it can provide to us, especially in lifting heavier objects. Once you're unable to perform a lift properly, or anything that directly affects your lower back, quickly consult with your family physician to avoid further damage and risk possible paralysis.

The lower back, or the lumbar spine, consists of the 5 lowest vertebrae of your spine, attached closely to the pelvic bone. Since your lumbar spine is located at the hip region, doctors usually recommend their patients with lower back problems to undergo an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Scan to check on the midsection alone, or a CT (Computed Tomography) Scan for a full body scan to point out other probable dangers within your body.

Full body scans like CT Scans or CAT (Computed Axial Tomography) Scans are ideal for general check-ups and other preventive body screening measures to seek out potential malignant elements in our bodies. The risk of full body scans is that it emits radiation, which can add to the risk of the patient, especially with the reproduction of cancer cells. MRI's are more practical, in terms of health and finance. MRI's are not radiated, and can be used to detect potential disease catalysts in a specific body part, similar to how an X-ray works.

The best part about MRI's is that it has a clear and high definition imaging that produces a 3-Dimensional visualization of all internal structures inside your body, including tumors and cancer cells. Common problems discovered usually in our lumbar spine are ruptured nerves, inflammations, swelling and bleeding, and tumors in the discs.

To get the clearest MRI results, patients are suggested to remain still while inside the machine, for the computer to obtain a precise data during panoramic image capturing. It is also important for patients to inform the MRI operator of any allergies, pregnancy, and body pierces or tattoos. A lumbar spine MRI usually takes half an hour to complete, so it can get quite uncomfortable if you're not used to staying in one position.

The best thing about MRI? It is painless, and gets the job done for you, in terms of preventive body screening and taking clearer details on the smallest of cells, giving you the chance to cut the problem by its roots before it starts to grow.