If you want to know about something, Complete Guide to Leg MRI Scan an MRI of your leg, or magnetic resonance imaging, is a safe and painless scan that uses very strong magnets and radio waves to make detailed images of the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels in your leg. Unlike X-rays or CT scans, an MRI does not use radiation, and it is particularly good at imaging soft tissues.
What Is A Leg MRI Scan
Leg magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive imaging test that provides detailed images of the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and blood vessels of your leg. A leg MRI is extremely useful to evaluate, and to diagnose fractures, tumors, infections, joint related problems, and ligament related injuries due to the extensive resolution to evaluate the bones and soft tissues. In some situations, contrast dye will be injected to provide improved imaging quality, and leg MRIs will typically take 30-60 minutes to complete.
How the Test is Conducted
You will be required to change into a hospital gown or non-metallic zipped clothes and snaps (like sweatpants and a tee shirt). Ensure you remove your watch, jewelry and wallet. MRI Scan can pull on any metallic objects. Certain tests require a special dye (contrast). Usually, you will receive the dye by injection through a vein in your arm or hand prior to the test. Occasionally, the dye is injected into a joint.
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How to Get Ready for the Test
You will be given medication to make you feel drowsy and less nervous. Your doctor may recommend an “open” MRI, in which the machine is further away from the body.
- Brain aneurysm clips
- Some types of artificial heart valves
Kidney disease or dialysis (you might not be able to have contrast)
Recently had artificial joints put in or surgery with metal plates and screws
Some types of vascular stents
What to Expect During your Exam
Getting an MRI exam is not painful. You will need to be still. Too much motion can blur the MRI pictures and mess up the exam. The examination table may be hard and cold, but you may ask for a blanket or pillow. The machine will make loud thumping and humming noises once it turns on. You may wear ear plugs to block the noise.
Purpose of the Test
This test gives images of parts of the leg that are difficult to see well on CT scans.
Your specialist may recommend a leg MRI if you have:
- A mass that you can feel on physical exam
- Bone pain, and fever
- Broken bone
- Decreased motion of the ankle joint
- Pain, swelling, or redness in a leg
- Redness or swelling of the ankle joint
- Leg pain and a history of cancer
- Leg, foot or ankle pain that hasn’t improved with treatment
- Instability of your ankle and foot
Conclusion
Leg MRI is a safe and effective way to diagnose injuries that creates high-quality images of the osseous and soft tissue structures. Complete Guide to Leg MRI Scan This means your physician should be able to accurately demonstrate damage, infection or other pathology that cannot be identified accurately with either ultrasound or x-ray studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How to prepare for an MRI of the leg?
For your leg MRI, you will want to make sure there is no metal on your person and notify staff of any type of internal medical device.
Q. How is an MRI scan of the leg done?
You will hear some tapping and thumping sounds, therefore earplugs or headphones are given, and it is important to stay as still as possible for 30-60 minutes to produce a clear image.
Q. How long does an MRI scan take for legs?
A single leg MRI takes approximately 20-60 minutes, but in general averages 30-60 minutes. The two legs combined will generally take 30-45 minutes.
Q. Why can’t I drink water before an MRI?
You should avoid drinking any water before some MRI scans, especially abdominal or pelvic scans, because food and water in your digestive tract can cause your stomach to contract and appear “artifacts” (blurring) in the pictures.
Q. Does MRI show nerve damage in legs?
An MRI can reveal nerve damage by displaying its morphology (abnormalities such as swelling or atrophy), showing compressive conditions such as herniated discs, and presenting changes in signal intensity of the nerves where the nerve appears brighter or darker.
