Is an MRI scan best for seeing muscle deterioration or inflammation or is there a better way?

Question

Trying to determine why I have so much back pain and inflammation, that flares up and radiates through to my chest. Want to know what's happening to know the best way to treat it!!!

Answer 1

A MRI scan will give one of most accurate,in depth picture of the soft tissue but is very expensive and most insurance companies and doctors will start with a X-Ray,talk abouit your lifestyle like do you sit at computer all day and so on. Depending on the outcome of the X-Ray the doctor determines if physical therapy ,medication etc should be used to alleviate your pain.Usually its a combination treatment plan and then if no relief there may be a MRI used to detemine esp if something obvious is not to be found to cause your pain. the doctor you should see is a Orthopedic MD- Specialist--NOT A CHIROPRACTOR.See if there are any Spine Centers in your area like/similar to the Emory Spine Center-all Specialists.

Answer 2

An MRI won't show you anything other than a picture. If you want to know why you are having you symptoms then listen up. It is called Somosomatic reflex arc. Here is how it works: problem in a muscle, ligament, or tendon sends a signal into the spinal chord. That signal goes to a muscle and tells it to tighten up. That corresponds to another signal being sent into the chord which relays on another nerve which goes out to other parts of the body. If you can interrupt this reflex and stop the circuit then the symptoms will go away. Either a DO or a Chiropractor can help you out with this no problem. Typically within a week you problem will be gone.

oracle, why are you downing Chiropractors? He has all the classic symptoms of a muscluo-skeltal issue. DCs are recognized as being one of the best methods to short circuit this reflex arc and treat this type of pain symptoms. An orthopedist will prescribe muscle relaxers and pain killers. Anyone with any experience in this arena can call that from a mile away. It may help but it won't fix what caused the problem to begin with. The pain and inflamation will reoccur down the road.

Answer 3

Inflammation does not show up on an MRI scan.

Chronic inflammation is defined as inflammation that can last for weeks,months or even indefinately. Chronic inflammation can develop as a progression from acute inflammation ( that lasts only days) , from repeated episodes of accute inflammation, or from the subversion of the immune response by viruses or other unknown stimuli.
Usually there is an identifiable cause for chronic inflammation, such as infectious agents that can avoid or resist host defences and thus persist in tissue for a prolonged time.
Auto-immune disease where the immune response is directed against host tissue as if it were foreign tissue, is a major cause of chronic inflammation.

Fact; The immune system is almost completely microscopic with thousands of different classes and billions of components.

Inflammation occurs when tissues are injured by bacteria, trauma,toxins,heat or any other cause.Sweling helps isolate the foreign substance from further contact with body tissues.

The immune system's enzymes and inflammatory chemicals are potent enough to destroy foreign invaders and even bone.

For more information on defending your immune system check out http://www.mangosteen101.co.uk

Answer 4

Casey- i have the same issues as this guy and i went to a chiropractor for a year or two and went to a massage therapist, NEITHER WORKED to get rid of my targeted, chronic pain!!!!! Not everyone gets relief from a chiropractor. You act like that is the only answer and people are wrong!

Answer 5

The best way to image it and then to treat it is the one decided by your doctors.

Answer 6

MRI would do it