Everyone gets a bad back now and again, and pain around the spine will often get better in a few days. However, if you experience pain in and around the spine for more than a few weeks and it’s interfering with your daily life and mobility, it could be time to seek medical attention. A spinal MRI scan can comprehensively assess the spine, including the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical regions, to identify any abnormalities or conditions affecting these areas.
MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, which is a way of taking pictures inside the body using magnetic fields and radio waves. It’s a safe, painless, and non-invasive procedure capturing high-quality images. Unlike X-rays, MRI doesn’t use potentially harmful radiation. A spine MRI scan can focus on one of three defined areas of the spine, depending on your symptoms and where you’re experiencing pain.
Medicana Winchester provides a number of different types of spine MRI scans.
Cervical Spine Scan: This will include images of your C1 to C7 vertebrae (your neck bones). These go from the base of your skull to the top of your ribcage and are the most flexible parts of your spine.
Thoracic Spine Scan: This covers the 12 vertebrae in the middle of your spine, labelled T1 to T12. These vertebrae start at the base of your neck and go down to the bottom of the ribs.
Lumbar and Sacral Spine Scan: The lumbar spine comprises the final five vertebrae between your ribs and your pelvis. The sacrum supports and connects the spine to the pelvis. This is the second most flexible section while also carrying the most weight, making it the most susceptible to injury.
If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, a spine MRI scan could diagnose the problem and help you plan treatment:
A shooting or burning pain in your spine, or down your limbs
Numbness or tingling in your hands or feet
Weakness in any part of your body
Incoordination or paralysis
The results of your private MRI spine scan could help diagnose a range of injuries or conditions, including:
Spinal fracture
Spinal cord damage
Herniated discs
Pinched nerves
Tumours
Inflammation and infections
Spinal congenital defects
Cervical stenosis
A spine MRI scan is a diagnostic tool, so it won’t treat these conditions, but the results will allow your physician to make informed decisions and recommend appropriate treatment.
Our patient care team will ensure you’re ready for your scan, but you can help by telling them about your medical history. Unless you’re asked to do otherwise, you can continue to eat, drink, and take medication as normal before your scan.
Some implants and conditions may affect how your MRI scan is performed, or whether it’s safe to do it at all. These include cochlear implants, pacemakers, artificial joints, artificial heart valves, and pregnancy. If any of these applies to you, please raise the issue with the patient care team before booking an appointment.
Here’s what to expect when you book a private spine MRI scan with Medicana Winchester:
Choose your location and date. Submit the self-referral form or book online.
Attend your chosen centre on the day of your appointment. Your spine MRI scan should take about 15-20 minutes, and we ask you to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
Receive a full report and scan images within three days. You can also add an optional consultation with one of our private GPs to explain your results.
Please click the button below to request your private medical consultation.
Quick, secure, and personalised appointment requests in just a few steps.
To learn more about arranging your self-pay healthcare at Medicana Winchester Clinic, please don’t hesitate to contact us:
📞 Call us: +44 1962 587821
