What can an MRI reveal?

Question

I have insurance that covers an MRI, and I only need a referral from my doctor.

I have had constant pain in my feet, right knee and sometimes back, for years. X-Rays show nothing and physical therapy has not worked, so I hope that an MRI can lend some help as to what might be going on.

There are also some non-related things I have no explanation for with my body.

So, I would like to know what a full body MRI could possibly show and if I can breathe easier if everything comes back normal? Basically, is it good at diagnosing a wide-range of possible ailments?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Mri will show soft tissue, ligaments, muscles, things like that. It should what is giving you pain,

Answer 2

MRI is a very expensive procedure.  You do not go on a fishing expedition with MRI.  Also if you have some body ache you do not go and run a full body X-ray!

Take a regular route.  Go to your doctor or another general practitioner.  Tell him every thing in detail and ask him for a specialist.  He will decide whether you should see an orthopedic, rheumatologist or somebody else.

Good Luck !

Answer 3

MRI does not typically cover the whole body...each major body part takes about 1 hour to complete.  As mentioned above, it will show most soft tissue anomalies...tendon tears, disc herniations etc as well as boney abormalities.  However, MRIs are noctorious for showing up things that are really of no significance...so just because something "abnormal" shows up on an MRI does not automatically mean this is the source of your problems. It requires a good diagnostician to tie all the pieces together.  

MRI is a great tool, but is also one of the worst things in terms of trying to "sort through" what is signficant and what is not.