Have you been experiencing knee pain? If so, it’s important to get evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible, especially if your knee pain doesn’t subside with rest or ice and requires medication or other treatments to become manageable. While you may think that you don’t need an MRI of the knee, the Santa Fe imaging specialists at MRI of New Mexico warn that skipping this diagnostic tool could cause you to miss out on important information that could potentially change the course of your treatment.
What Is a Knee MRI Scan?
MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) are diagnostic tests used by doctors to examine various parts of your body. An MRI creates images of your internal organs, tissues, and bones. It uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field that cause structures in your body to become visible on an image. Because it doesn’t use radiation as x-rays do, an MRI is considered safer than other imaging procedures such as CT scans. And unlike with an x-ray or CT scan, there’s no need for you to change into a gown or remove any objects from your pockets when you have an MRI—you’ll stay completely covered while you get scanned.
What Is Myelography?
Your doctor may recommend myelography if you have a spinal injury, tumor, infection, or another medical condition that causes swelling in your spinal cord. Myelography involves injecting dye into your body at one end of your spinal cord and taking X-rays as it slowly moves through your body. This type of imaging can help doctors diagnose problems with your spine and evaluate damage from tumors or degenerative conditions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used more often than myelography to detect problems in people who are suffering from spine injuries, tumors, or infections; however, MRIs aren’t always accurate because they can’t identify problems at earlier stages when surgical intervention might be possible.
What Are the Different Types of MRI Technology Used for Knees?
There are three basic types of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners: open, closed, and panoramic. The machines used for knee MRIs are either open or closed. An open scanner is commonly used for full-body scans while a closed scanner focuses on specific regions of your body. A closed machine means that you will be scanned in an enclosed tube, which is better if claustrophobia is an issue. Also, newer models have more powerful magnets and stronger gradients – creating clearer images than previous generations.
Who Needs an MRI of the Knee?
The knee is one of our most highly used joints, particularly as we age. This means that we’re more likely to experience wear and tear, which can result in painful osteoarthritis. Because an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan takes time, it’s important to get a medical exam as soon as you notice any pain or discomfort. If you’re experiencing knee pain in Santa Fe, NM, contact our office today. We can order an MRI of your knee so you can rest easy knowing that everything is OK and develop a plan for moving forward.
When Do I Need an MRI of the Knee?
If you have pain or swelling around your knee that doesn’t seem to be related to an injury or overuse, or if you’re experiencing stiffness in your knee after exercise and don’t know why you may need an MRI of your knee. As for whether one type of scan is better than another, it largely depends on what kind of information is needed. The term MRI can refer to either magnetic resonance imaging or magnetic resonance arthrography; in both cases, radio waves and strong magnets are used. It’s possible that some conditions can only be identified with one technique while others require both—it all depends on where they are located about each other within your body.
How is an MRI Performed on my Knee?
An MRI can be performed on your knee by placing you into a long tube that has powerful magnets. The machine will use these magnets to make your knee area turn different types of gray depending on where it’s injured. Depending on what kind of injury it is, your specialist might perform an additional scan after injecting some type of dye into your body. This will help give them even more information about what’s going on in your knee and how they can go about treating it. An MRI scan is painless, though many people experience some slight discomfort due to claustrophobia during their scan. Another reason why you should opt for an MRI over x-rays is that they are better at showing doctors how serious any injuries are and how much damage there has been done.
Are There Any Side Effects from an MRI Test?
An MRI is a safe, non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic resonance technology (rather than radiation) to generate images of your knee. There are very few risks associated with MRIs, and you’ll have several minutes in an enclosed space when you’re exposed to strong magnets and radio frequency waves, but there aren’t any side effects directly related to these aspects of MRIs. That said, if you happen to be claustrophobic or just uncomfortable in small spaces, an MRI can be anxiety-inducing.
Can I Have an X-Ray or CT scan if I Am Allergic to Contrast Dye?
No, you cannot have an X-ray or CT scan if you are allergic to contrast dye. The contrast dye contains iodine, which can trigger an allergy attack. X-rays and CT scans use contrast dyes for the contrast between tissues and organs and detail in soft tissue images. Also, there is no substitute for these types of tests; no matter what test or procedure you choose, it must be done with a radiologic technologist present.
