Expert MRI Blog

BELLFLOWER, Cal.
ExpertMRI is pleased to announce from November 1, 2019, we have started taking major insurance providers.
Currently, we are accepting insurance plans from these insurance providers.

Health Insurance Provider List

• Careworks (Rockport)
• Conserve Care, Inc.
• Corvel Corporation
• Coventry
• Department of Labor
• Homelink
• Medicare
• MTI – MedComp USA
• OneCall
• Orchid
•  Transparent Health Marketplace, LLC
•  Payers Direct
•  VES Veterans Evaluation Services

The announcement of “accepting major health insurance plans” is a source of patient and healthcare provider assurance to access diagnostic imaging protocols without having to worry about medical bills. However, it is the responsibility of patients to connect with their insurance carrier for further verification of benefits and coverage.

Connect with the ExpertMRI Team to know more about the plan or ask further questions in regards to the recent announcement. Call 877.MRI.8888 or email at info@expertmri.com

About ExpertMRI

ExpertMRI is the leading network of Advance and New MRI Technologies in California – and Experts of Brain, Neck, Spine, Orthopedic, and Litigation Imaging. Located conveniently throughout California – ExpertMRI boasts of 17 Locations.

ExpertMRI diagnostic Imaging Network is also a foremost resource of diverse Front Open, Upright Multi-positional MRI devices with state-of-the-art MRI equipment including High-Field (3T & 1.5T), designed to deliver comfortable, Zero-Radiation Imaging Experience to patients and accommodates patients of all ages, weight and with distinctive diagnostic imaging requirements.

Millennials and those within Generation Z are victims of emerging modern-day diseases. This can be primarily due to one’s lifestyle, especially spending long hours browsing the internet on laptops or smartphones. One of the common disorders among young people is known as Text Neck Syndrome. A U.S. chiropractor coined the term (also known as Turtle Neck Syndrome). Text Neck Syndrome develops because of continuous stress to the normal neck curvature. 

How is Neck Pain Associated With Text Neck Syndrome?

One can experience neck pain due to sustaining an injury, or as a result of remaining in an unnatural or poor posture for a prolonged period of time (e.g. constantly looking downward our mobile devices).

This stress leads to the development of tightness and soreness in our neck and around our shoulders. The more we strain our neck, the higher the level of weight it must be required to carry.

Can an MRI Scan Diagnose Text Neck Syndrome?

Many people are uninformed about the term Text Neck Syndrome. They go by “neck pain,” “inflammation,” or “shoulder stiffness,” etc. When you experience constant pain in your neck or shoulder region, you cannot afford to overlook the symptoms. Your doctor will recommend undergoing an MRI to properly diagnose the issue.

You may require a cervical spine MRI to diagnose or discover the cause of your shoulder or neck pain. A cervical spine MRI scan will produce images of your musculoskeletal system, focusing on the neck and spine region. The scan will detect deformities or defects associated with your pain, including weakness or numbness.

Are Smartphones Causing Neck Pain and Spinal Disorders?

In an upright position, our ears are aligned with the center of our shoulders. When upright, the average weight one’s head can sustain is around nine to 12 pounds. However, when the head is tilted forward (even by only a few inches) the pressure increases dramatically. In fact, as much as 60 pounds is exerted on one’s neck when the chin touches the chest.

Our neck and spinal posture changes as we spend an extended amount of time on our mobile devices. As a result, our neck muscles and shoulders experience or bear excessive tension. This can further exacerbate chronic headaches associated with Text Neck Syndrome.

Overlooking the symptoms of Text Neck Syndrome can cause inflammation in our neck ligaments, nerve irritation, and also lead to an abnormal spinal curvature. Furthermore,Text Neck Syndrome can change the structure of our vertebrae, causing a deformity known as “dowager’s hump.” Sitting slumped for long periods can restrict our lungs’ ability to expand – which is crucial for the flow of oxygen to one’s heart.

Signs and Symptoms of Text Neck Syndrome

Text Neck Syndrome sends innumerable signals through our bodies. The most common type of signal is neck pain or shoulder stiffness. However, you should also lookout for the following signs to access the right treatment process:

• Stiff neck: Difficulty moving one’s neck
• Pain: In the form of a dull ache or a sharp pain occurring in the lower part of the neck
• Radiating pain: Text Neck pain can emerge from our neck and spread to our shoulders and arms.
• Muscle weakness: Our shoulder muscles, like the rhomboid or trapezius and external rotators, are weakened due to constant strain. This often causes muscle weakness.
• Headaches: The tightening of our suboccipital muscles can cause chronic headaches.

Additionally, patients should be aware of the following symptoms:

• Compressed craniocervical joint
• Loss of lung capacity
• Spinal degeneration and early onset of arthritis

If you’re suffering from widespread neck pain, you should immediately visit a physician to receive an accurate diagnosis to remedy the issue.

Cervical Spine MRI for Neck Pain or Text Neck Syndrome

Your physician will prescribe an MRI scan to detect the cause of your neck or shoulder pain and each a precise diagnosis.

An MRI scan is a non-invasive, radiation-free imaging tool providing doctors with concrete evidence about a suspected condition. Using powerful magnets, radio waves, and computer programs, detailed images of bones, organs, muscles, ligaments, and tendons are produced to diagnose a disease (or to see how well a patient is responding to the treatment process). MRI scans can help detect minute tensions, strains, or sprains that are often missed in X-rays or CT Scans.

When a doctor suspects Text Neck Syndrome and recommends an MRI, check with your insurance provider to see if the procedure is covered. In many cases, the procedure is covered, but the disorder might be under a different name or terminology.

Advanced MRI Technology to Detect Text Neck Syndrome – Upright MRI

The Upright MRI system is a state-of-the-art MRI technology that scans patients in multi-positional and symptom-specific positions. It is also called ‘weight-bearing,’ ‘positional’ or ‘Stand-Up MRI.’

The technology and design of the Upright MRI system allows for us to scan patients in diverse positions, including the exact position where a patient is experiencing the pain. An Upright or Stand-Up MRI is used to measure the precise weight displacement on the craniocervical junction, or any other joint within the body.

An Upright MRI system is recommended to patients suffering from Text Neck Syndrome or general neck pain. It not only provides high-field MRI scans, but also takes images in different postures to show where the actual problem exists.

Expert MRI also provides combination Front Open & Stand-Up MRI scans for patients. This is a perfect option for patients who have claustrophobia or anxiety. Our advanced machines can accommodate patients of larger size, children, senior citizens, or patients with disabilities.

People suspected of suffering from Text Neck Syndrome can receive a Front Open/Stand-Up MRI from your local Expert MRI location. A scan will allow patients to see exactly where their neck pain originates from, and also have subspecialty radiologists provide a complete diagnostic report about any injury or stress to the craniocervical junction.

Preventing Text Neck Syndrome

Preventing any disease is always advisable. While it is not possible for most of us to entirely stop using smartphones or handheld devices, there are ways to prevent the syndrome from progressing. Some tips for preventing Text Neck Syndrome include:

• Avoid prolonged static positions
• Avoid excess use of smartphones (and take frequent breaks)
• Position your device at eye level (rather than chest level) to reduce stress on the head and neck
• Avoid repetitive movements like continuous typing or swiping
• Avoid holding a bulky device in one hand for long durations
• Try practicing yoga to prevent neck pain resulting from mobile phone use – exercises like the exaggerated nod, cat-cow, or bow-pose can help reduce stress on the head and neck.

If you do experience prolonged pain, it is best to receive a thorough examination by a qualified Expert MRI physician.

Think You Might Have Text Neck Syndrome?

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Published by Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles

MRI OF THE CRANIO-VERTEBRAL JUNCTION: A VALUABLE TOOL TO EVALUATE “WHIPLASH”

Presenters

Sana U. Khan, M.D., Ph.D. is a radiologist and neurophysiologist affiliated with Expert MRI. Expert MRI has diagnostic imaging offices throughout Southern California. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of UC Irvine and received his medical training at UCLA Medical School.

Technical Requirements

Click here to download the Advocate Article.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive and radiation-free medical test conducted by physicians to look inside the human body. MRIs use powerful magnetic fields and radio signals to produce an image of the targeted body part. With review by a specially trained radiologist, images produced by an MRI can provide clear indicators of why the patient was having certain symptoms and lead to proper treatment.

The initial design of MRIs was tunnel-like where patients would lay down in a circular, enclosed tube.  Due to a large number of patients experiencing claustrophobia and a “sensation of being buried,” MRI manufacturers produced machines designed with magnets placed above and below with the sides open.  These machines are commonly known as “open MRIs.”  However, patients are still lying down with a very heavy magnet inches from their face and even though these machines do decrease the “buried” effect, many patients continued to complain of claustrophobia.

It is a simple, yet fundamental observation that many human musculoskeletal conditions are impacted by gravity, and that many patients experience signs and symptoms in weight bearing positions even when they do not in the recumbent one.  Conventional magnetic resonance imaging systems are limited to acquiring scans with patients in the recumbent position. Thus, recumbent imaging alone may not demonstrate the full degree of pathology, due to muscle and ligament relaxation and in the case of the spine, disc retraction.  Smith et al. (2006) performed a study on 25 patients with low back pain and sciatica.  These patients were referred for lumbar spine MRIs following at least one prior “normal” recumbent MRI within 6 months of referral. In this study, 13 patients demonstrated abnormalities in one or more of the seated postures that was not evident in the supine positioned MRI.  That’s a 52% missed rate.  Would you send a loved one to do mammography on a machine that missed pathology 52% of the time?

Positional MRI is a continued evolution in the design of this technology.  The magnets are vertically placed on the sides which results in a front open design virtually eliminating any claustrophobia as patients can watch television while the MRI exam is being performed.  From a medical perspective, a major advantage emerged from this front and top open design.  Patients can actually be placed in varying positions rather than “supine only” which is the limitation with other MRIs.  Unlike the traditional MRIs where the patient only had their injury imaged in a relaxed state while lying down, the Positional MRI system allows upright, angled (slanted) and recumbent imaging, replicating partial or full weight bearing conditions.  It also allows kinetic maneuvers of the patient’s whole body or any body part which results in images acquired in position of normal everyday stress, across the limits of normal range of motion. Most importantly, imaging is performed in the specific position of the patient’s clinical symptomatology.

Thirty-one million Americans report suffering from back pain. Many of us try to minimize persistent symptoms as simply minor bouts of aches and pains that a single visit to the chiropractor can resolve. However, lower back pain is actually the leading cause of spine conditions and disabilities in the world. Ignoring the early signs of lumbar backache can cause severe spinal issues, some of which are irreversible.

Can a Minor Backache Cause Major Spinal Issues?

More often than not, back pain is linked to conditions such as reduced ligament or muscle tenacity. Repetitive enforcement of pressure on the lumbar spine, or snubbing the symptoms of lumbar affliction, can often lead to a variety of issues. Some common ailments can include:

• Spinal ligament sprain
• Osteoporosis
• Ruptured discs
• Spinal irregularities

What Can a Lumbar Spine MRI Diagnose or Detect?

Your physician, chiropractor, or general healthcare provider will recommend a spine MRI to detect the critical source of your back pain or discomfort. An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan is an advanced, noninvasive diagnostic tool and imaging technique.

The functionality of an MRI system involves the use of a magnetic field and radio waves for the production of detailed anatomical images. A back MRI or spine MRI will allow your healthcare provider to evaluate the lumbar region (lower spine), as well as the tissue surrounding the area. The procedure is necessary for diagnosing the initial symptoms and determining the cause of your pain or condition.

What Parts of the Spinal Region Does an MRI Scan Display?

Our lumbosacral spine is made of multiple bones, blood vessels, and tendons. The area is comprised of the L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5 vertebral bones, large blood vessels, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, nerves, the coccyx, and sacrum.

An MRI scan produces detailed images of these parts of our lumbosacral spine necessary for accurate findings used to diagnose numerous conditions.

Why is Undergoing a Lumbar Spine MRI Scan Important?

Patients in pain may require a spine MRI or lower back MRI for myriad reasons. Some of these can include:

• Spinal injuries
• Lower backache
• Lower spinal injury
• Spinal congenital disabilities
• Multiple sclerosis
• Constant back pain
• Spinal cancer
• Bladder conditions
• Numbness in the legs

Lumbar Spine MRI: Must-Know Details for Patients

There Are Two Types Of Lumbar Spine MRIs:

• Lumbar spine MRI with contrast
• Lumbar spine MRI without contrast

An MRI scan with contrast involves the use of a special dye. The dye is injected intravenously, either via the arm or hand, before the procedure. The dye (or contrast) allows the radiologist to view specific areas with a higher level of clarity.

The contrast also aids in the identification of moving fluids within the bloodstream.

An MRI without contrast causes the appearance of our arteries and veins to display throughout the resonated image as “flow voids” or, in layman’s terms, “plain black.”

How Long Does a Spine MRI Scan Procedure Typically Last?

An MRI lumbar spine procedure can last anywhere between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the gravity of the spine issue.

Spine MRI Scan: Before The Procedure

There are a few pre-procedure steps that a patient will need to take before undergoing a lower back MRI or spine MRI. One step is to complete the preliminary questionnaire that the staff member from your chosen diagnostic center will provide. The short form will include your personal information, such as name, contact number, etc., along with your health history.

You will be given a robe or hospital gown to change into, and will be asked to remove any metal elements or accessories from your body. In the case of implemented metal components, such as aneurysm clips, heart valves, and similar medical parts, you need to inform the radiologist before preparing for the MRI scan.

We also advise that you alert the radiologist if you are pregnant, claustrophobic, or suffering from anxiety. For patients with claustrophobia or anxiety disorders, a sedative may be administered to help with relaxation.

We have all suffered sprains or ankle cramps at some point in our lives. It’s a condition that, although painful, is also easily treatable. However, we often ignore the first and most important stage of treatment, which can actually be the key to long-term recovery. For most of us, this is because we are unaware or uninformed about sprains, their treatment, and the proper recovery process.

• What is a sprain?
• How should you treat a sprain?
• What causes an ankle or wrist sprain?

So many questions, so little time. No worries, however. We have everything you need to know about sprains covered below. Read on to find out about what we refer to as the “sprained truth.”

What is a Sprain?

A Sprain occurs due to a direct or sudden injury to our joints. It usually causes ligament stretches or tears. Ligaments are tight tissues that connect bones. They help us to lift, move, or rotate our arms and legs. A sprain injury may involve more than one ligament tear or strain at the same time.

Which Areas Are of The Body Are Most At-Risk For Sprains?

Sprains occur in both the lower and upper parts of our body. However, the three most common at-risk areas are:

• Ankle: An ankle sprain occurs when the foot turns inward during a run, jump, or similar activity.
• Sprained Knee or MCL Sprain: This type of sprain happens when you sustain a blow to your knee due to a direct impact or fall.
• Sprained Wrist: Such a sprain takes place when you sustain a fall or impact that has an immediate effect on your wrist.

How Do Sprains Occur?

Sprains can occur due to a direct injury through playing sports, an accidental fall, or even a car accident.

The Following May Also Cause Sprains:

• Muscle fatigue or overuse of a particular muscle
• A sudden increase in the intensity of training
• Wearing a pair of ill-fitting shoes
• Obesity
• Incorrect use of sports or gym equipment

What Are Common Symptoms or Signs of a Sprain?

A sprain is often followed by intense pain and discomfort. Extreme conditions can also lead to the inability of one’s leg or arm to achieve movement. Apart from this, you can also experience the following symptoms during a sprain:

• Joint swelling or inflammation
• Bruising
• Joint numbness
• Joint instability
• Decreased range of motion

If you have a mild sprain, you might experience stiffness while walking, but patients typically recover within a few days. However, in the case of a severe injury, you might experience an altered or failed limb movement for a prolonged period.

Diagnosing Sprains

Whether you sustain a minor sprain or something more severe, you should visit your doctor immediately after the incident. She or he will ask you a few preliminary questions such as:

• What caused the injury?
• When did it happen?
• What were you doing when you sustained the injury?

Your doctor will then proceed with the next step of checking your joint movement and reflexes. If your physician is unsure of the cause, or your case requires further evaluation, she or he will likely recommend you undergo a few standard radiological tests. Such tests can include:

• X-ray, CT Scan, or MRI Scans: These radiological imaging tests can help in determining the cause of your sprain. A contrast scan helps produce a clear and high-quality image of the injured region. However, in the case of an MRI scan with contrast, you should inform your healthcare provider if you have a history of any allergies to dye/contrast, or if you have any metallic devices implanted in your body.
• Arthroscopy: This procedure is used to evaluate joints. A tiny incision to the injured area is part of the process. A scope is then inserted to view the actual ligament and check exactly where the tear or pull occurred.

Treatment for Sprains

Treatment for a sprain depends on the condition and severity of the injured ligament. Part of your recovery process might involve the following:

• Support Devices: You might be advised to wear elastic bandages, splints, braces, casts, or use crutches to keep weight off of the injured part of your body
• Pain Medication: Consumption of such medicine may be prescribed by your physician.
• NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal anti-Inflammatory drugs like oxaprozin, aspirin, and ibuprofen can aid in the reduction of joint inflammation. These are all over-the-counter medicines, but require supervised consumption.
• Physical Therapy: Physical therapy helps in improving muscle movement and strength, while decreasing pain.
• Surgery: Surgery is typically used only as a last resort for treating a sprain. Whether or not surgery is prescribed is based on the severity of your conditions.

Sprains can be assigned grades according to severity:

How Long Does a Sprained Knee or MCL Sprain Take to Heal?

Similar to a sprained ankle, a sprained knee or MCL sprain may take anywhere between two weeks to one year to heal.

Depending on the specific ligament torn, there are four types of knee sprains:

• 1.ACL Sprain
• 2.PCL Sprain
• 3.MCL Sprain
• 4.LCL Sprain

Additionally, there are three associated grades of injuries that might occur:

• Grade I (mild) – the injury stretches the ligament, causing microscopic tears. These tears do not affect the ability of the joint to bear weight.
• Grade II (moderate) – the ligament is partially torn and there is some mild instability when it comes to standing or walking
• Grade III (severe) – the ligament is torn entirely or separated at the end of the bone.

An MCL or LCL sprain in Grade I or II can heal within 2-4 weeks, while any other type of knee sprain can take anywhere between 4-12 months.

How Long Does a Sprained Wrist Take to Heal?

Wrist sprains are divided into three grades:

• Grade I – Pain in the joint with minor damage to the ligament
• Grade II – Pain, a feeling of looseness in the joint, loss of hand movement, more severe ligament damage
• Grade III – Pain, severe looseness of the joint, loss of function, a completely torn ligament

The healing period for wrist sprains varies from patient-to-patient. The average time required to recover will depend on the grade of the sprain.

Grade I can take 2-4 weeks, while Grade III can take as long as 3-6 months to heal.

What NOT To Do When You Have A Sprain

Whether it’s a sprained ankle, knee, or wrist, taking proper steps to make sure that the healing process is actively progressing is one of the most important things you can do to help speed up your recovery time. During your recovery, there are a few activities you should avoid:

Avoid Sudden Movement:

Athletes, parents, and children alike often try to ‘shake off’ or ‘toughen up’ when an injury occurs. However, this is never a good idea following a sprain. Failing to rest the joint, or adding more pressure, can not only prolong the injury but also increase the tear of the ligament.

Avoid Overconsumption Of Medicine:

Many of us tend to consume painkillers after a fall or injury for instant pain relief. Taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug like aspirin or ibuprofen may help reduce swelling and pain from a sprain, but NSAIDs can also cause side effects. Overmedicating can also dull the pain, potentially masking the injury and aggravating the situation.

Continue The Observation After The Recovery:

In most cases, a sprained joint is a one-time event. However, after sustaining an initial injury, you may be a higher risk for re-injury if proper precautions are not taken. This is especially true for athletes or active people who exercise regularly and push their bodies to the limit.

How to Avoid Getting Sprains

• Run on flat surfaces
• Wear protective gear while playing sports
• Eat healthy food to keep muscles strong
• Maintain a healthy weight according to your physician
• Exercise daily
• Make sure you have the right physical condition for the sport you are playing
• Wear proper-fitting shoes
• Take measures to prevent falls
• Always warm-up or stretch before taking part in any sports or activities

Injuring your ankle or wrist can be a painful and inconvenient experience to endure. Accessing the best information and resources for an accurate diagnosis through Expert MRI will help in the recovery process.