West Tennessee Bone & Joint Clinic, P.C.
Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, & Interventional Pain Management located conveniently across west TennesseeNow offering Telehealth appointments
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) generates 3D images of your body’s soft tissues. For the most accurate images of your ligaments, nerves, muscles, cartilage, and other tissues, you need an advanced MRI machine. West Tennessee Bone & Joint Clinic, P.C. has the state-of-the-art 1.5 Tesla Philips MRI Unit, and is accredited by the esteemed American College of Radiology. The practice offers MRI services at their Jackson Main and Dyersburg, Tennessee, locations. For comfortable MRI scans from experts, call the office nearest you or click online scheduling now.
MRI Q & A
What is an MRI?
An MRI is an imaging procedure in which a magnetic field and radiofrequency energy combine to produce highly accurate 3D images of your soft tissues. MRI is completely harmless and doesn't use radiation.
At West Tennessee Bone & Joint Clinic, P.C., the accredited team uses the cutting-edge 1.5 Tesla Philips MRI Unit to assess the tissues that X-ray doesn't show. Often, MRI technology is a key part of diagnostics if you have a disease, deformity, or injury.
When do I need an MRI?
The West Tennessee Bone & Joint Clinic, P.C. team often uses an MRI if they suspect musculoskeletal damage within soft tissues, including:
- Nerves
- Ligaments
- Discs
- Muscles
- Cartilage
- Tendons
An MRI can show cartilage erosion from osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tears, tumors, meniscal tears in the knee, and many other issues in great detail so your doctor can make the most accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
How do I prepare for an MRI?
You can continue eating normally, and you don’t need to adjust your medication before an MRI.
Because the MRI machine contains a very strong magnet, any metals move toward it. That means that if you have a pacemaker, cochlear implant, cerebral aneurysm clip, some types of heart valves, or metal slivers in your eye, you can’t have an MRI.
Your safety is important to the West Tennessee Bone & Joint Clinic, P.C. team, so your technician screens you carefully before the MRI exam to make sure you don’t have any internal metal.
Wear loose clothes without metal (no zippers, metal buttons, or underwire bras) and don’t wear any jewelry. Avoid nail polish, as some polishes have tiny metallic particles.
What happens during an MRI?
A highly trained technician conducts your MRI on-site at West Tennessee Bone & Joint Clinic, P.C. To start, your technician asks you to lie down on the table. They make any necessary adjustments to your position before the MRI starts.
During the MRI, the table moves slowly into the tunnel. Your technician communicates with you the entire time through built-in speakers.
The machine makes a slight noise as it takes images, but it's not intrusive. Stay as still as you can during the MRI, as shifting around can blur the images. The scan takes only 15-30 minutes and is completely painless.
After the exam, the table moves back out of the tube, and your technician helps you down from the table.
The West Tennessee Bone & Joint Clinic, P.C. team makes MRIs comfortable and easy. Call the office nearest you or book your appointment online now.