Should I bring my MRI to the chiropractor?
MRIs show something quite different to x-rays. They show different densities within the body, so apart from bone, they can show the discs between the vertebrae, the nerves, and atrophy in some muscles. This is particularly useful if your chiropractor suspects a disc protrusion, but most cases do not need MRIs. If you have unrelenting pain, numbness, pins and needles, or weakness in your arm or leg, especially if it does not respond to treatment, an MRI may be helpful to examine the spine for disc protrusions.
In some cases, chronic, recurrent episodes of low back pain can indicate that the Multifidus muscle of the lower back has stopped working properly. If this has been going on for years the Multifidus muscle can atrophy, turn to fat, and can be seen on an MRI. This is quite new knowledge, but if your chiropractor is up to date with the latest research, MRIs may prove useful for these people.
What is more useful to a chiropractor, MRI or x-ray?
X-rays are designed to examine the shape of bones, and often show a better picture of the vertebrae. They can highlight any degeneration in the joints. Spinal degeneration can cause rough, irregular bone, and if it is in the sliding joints of the spine, it can affect spinal movement. Sometimes bony spurs can grow into the space where the nerve exits the spine and cause nerve irritation that results in sciatica and arm pain. A small percentage of people have congenital variations in the shape of the vertebrae too. X-rays can also show stability in certain joints (by comparing two separate x-rays with the patient bent in different directions) which is important in some cases. So overall, x-rays are often more helpful than an MRI.
Do you need x-rays if you see a chiropractor?
Stefan Becker
Chiropractor Barcelona