A Guide to Spinal MRIs

If you have suffered a back injury or complained of chronic back pain to your doctor, you may have been scheduled to undergo MRI imaging of your back. MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, was pioneered in the 1970s and offers an unparalleled opportunity to peer into the deepest portions of the human body. MRI is commonly used to assess back injuries as it is non-invasive and generates a high-resolution image. This short guide will help you better understand the device, the procedure, and how it can help both you and your spine surgeon in Chennai.

MRIs are used to visualize the internal structure and functioning of the body. They do this by means of a large, supercooled magnet. This magnet harmlessly aligns the hydrogen atoms of the water present in the body. These aligned particles are detected by a scanner and the resultant information is processed by a computer and rendered as a two-dimensional image. 

Though it may seem frightening that extremely powerful magnets are aligning atoms within your body, it is important to remember that the fields alone can do no harm to you. The only danger directly posed by this field is that it can damage or destroy any metallic and electronic implants, such as pacemakers and artificial joints, and that it can rip jewelery from the body. Your technician, of course, will be sure to remind you to remove all metal objects from your body.

When the procedure begins, you will be asked to lie down on a narrow, rail-mounted table. This table will be moved into a tube at the center of the MRI device. The magnets are installed, like a donut, around this slender tube. Several images will likely be taken, each one requiring around two to fifteen minutes to process. A full back scan may take up to an hour to complete. You will experience no pain, but some people become anxious while waiting in the tube. 

Claustrophobic patients who have trouble remaining still may be administered a sedative to calm them and still their body. You may also have a substance called gadolinium injected into your bloodstream. This is used as a contrast dye, and it will help make the vascular tissue in your back more visible in the final images. If you are pregnant, you should not receive this dye as it can potentially harm your unborn baby.

The procedure will ultimately generate images depicting in high resolution the bony segments, spinal canal, and soft tissue (such as disks and ligaments) of your spine. This will allow a doctor to assess the health and condition of your spine and administer a treatment either to help it heal or reduce your back pain.

How To Achieve Lower Back Pain Relief Quickly And Easily

 If, like me you suffer from lower back pain, relief will be the first and foremost thing on your mind.

In the early stages of lower back pain, relief can often achieved by performing some simple stretching exercises or having a gentle massage. Alternatively you could try using ice and heat packs, these will help reduce inflammation, and reduce muscle spasms. Here are the few tips from best neurosurgeon in Chennai on how to acheive lower back pain relief quickly and easily.

If you are frequently experiencing lower back pain, relief can be achieved in several ways, the main two being through either an anti- inflammatory or through special and targeted back pain exercises.

Anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen can be purchased easily over the counter at your local pharmacy, or your medical practitioner may prescribe something stronger.

Taking prescribed medication over long periods of time is not highly recommended, solution to lower back pain as some of these drugs may be addictive, or carry side effects.

There are some excellent natural products available which are geared towards lower back pain relief and some are extremely effective. Any natural product should be your preferred choice of pain killer or anti-inflammatory over prescription drugs, however you should be aware that any anti-inflammatory or pain killing products are not a cure for lower back pain; they are just giving you relief from pain.

In order to eliminate back pain and prevent future occurrences you should look at introducing a regular lower back strengthening program and some non-impact aerobic exercises into your weekly schedule.

The best aerobic exercises for fast and effective lower back pain relief are achieved either by using a stationary bicycle, or by swimming. The gentle motions from both of these exercises will get the blood flowing through your muscles, increase flexibility in your lower back and will release endorphins into your blood stream - the body's natural pain killer. Performing either of these exercises for around 20 - 30 minutes daily will have you feeling a lot better, not to mention the overall benefits to your health,

Many sufferers and experts alike agree that for long term lower back pain relief and prevention you should practice some specialist and targeted lower back pain exercises.

By strengthening and toning the muscles in your lower back, upper legs and abdomen you will give support to your spine, and the surrounding muscles. The benefit that these lower back pain exercises have will be immense. You will not only notice that you no longer suffer from lower back pain, but you will also be a lot more flexible and will find it easier to achieve many daily tasks, that were sometimes difficult or tiring.

A good lower back pain relief and exercise program will likely be available at your local health centre or gym. Your medical practitioner will also be able to offer some information on the correct exercises you should perform for optimal lower back pain relief.

You will also find further details of some online lower back pain exercise programs on our website the details of which can be found below.

In summary lower back pain relief can be achieved quickly and easily by following a these few simple steps. Firstly achieve relief with a good natural anti-inflammatory. Next start a simple aerobic exercise program, and finally introduce some targeted lower back pain strengthening exercises and stretches into your weekly schedule.

These simple steps will ensure that you will rid yourself of back pain in the shortest possible time, and will greatly reduce the chances of any re-occurrence.

Spine Surgeon in Chennai - How to Choose

Choosing a spine surgeon should be a thorough, planned effort. When you have pain that is debilitating and your general practitioner or internal medicine physician can no longer address it, its time to find a specialist. The best kind of doctor will be one that has been referred to you, either by your primary care physician, a friend or family member. But because health insurance plans do not always let you chose the physician you were recommended, you may need to choose from a list. Below are some criteria for how to choose a spine surgeon in Chennai.

Board Certification

For a physician to be board certified in a particular specialty, he or she must undergo an approved education program and evaluation that assesses the medical knowledge, judgment, professionalism and clinical and communication skills required to perform well in that specialty. The physician will continue to go through the process throughout his career to ensure that he can continue to provide quality medical care. 

While there are board certifications for both family medicine and internal medicine, the higher level of board certification for a spine surgeon, especially if he performs surgery, would be the board of orthopaedic surgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurological surgery, thoracic surgery or surgery. This certification will assure you that the physician is up-to-date on the latest treatments and technologies in back pain.

As an added benefit, the spine surgeon in chennai you choose will have completed a fellowship in spine care. This additional year of experience gives the doctor an edge over other physicians, and shows commitment to the practice.

Experience and Information Sharing

Your spine surgeon should be willing to share with you his experience in surgeries and treatment of the spine. The North American Spine Society recommends that you choose a physician with over 50% of his or her cases related to working with the spine. It's a good idea to come prepared for your first meeting with the physician. You should be ready to share information about how long you've suffered with a condition, the level of pain, when pain occurs and if treatments have offered relief in the past. Once you have met with the physician you may ask questions such as:

- What are my alternatives to treatment?

- What are the risks of a procedure?

- How is a treatment performed?

- What are the complications and success rates?

- Will I need future treatments?

- How long is recovery?

- Can I get a second opinion?

Your Comfort Level

As with any medical professional with whom you are sharing intimate details about your current health, it's very important to be comfortable with him or her. Your spine surgeon does want to help you overcome pain, but if you receive a negative impression on the first visit, you may want to consider contacting another physician.

When gathering details about how to choose a spine surgeon, you may ask questions of the office staff or even go online and research him or her. Board certification, experience and your peace of mind in choosing a spine surgeon are of utmost importance for an excellent outcome to your back pain.