Finding the right tests…
Emergency services available 24 x 7
Emergency services available 24 x 7
Finding the right tests…
MRI
Lower back pain that runs down your leg, along with numbness, weakness, or pain that hasn't improved with treatment, is the most common reason this scan gets ordered. The lumbosacral spine MRI is the most frequently requested spine scan, because disc herniation and spinal stenosis in the lower back are so common. Without any injection, it already shows disc bulges, nerve root compression, and canal narrowing clearly enough for most routine workups, which is why it's usually the first imaging step your doctor reaches for before considering anything more involved. No radiation is used, only magnets and radio waves, unlike an X-ray or CT scan of the same region.
This scan covers the lumbar vertebrae, discs, spinal canal, and nerve roots down to the sacrum. It shows disc herniation, spinal stenosis, and nerve root compression - the usual causes of sciatica and lower back pain that radiates into the leg.
The lumbosacral spine MRI images the five lumbar vertebrae (L1-L5), their discs, the spinal canal, and the nerve roots down to the sacrum - the region behind your lower back and hips.
Lower back pain that runs down one leg, with numbness, tingling, or weakness, points to nerve involvement - commonly sciatica from a herniated disc, or spinal stenosis narrowing the space around the nerves. Because these two conditions are so common, this is the spine MRI ordered most often, and it's usually the first imaging step tried before anything more involved.
- Disc herniation or bulging pressing on a nerve root - Spinal canal narrowing (stenosis) - Degenerative disc and joint changes - Nerve root compression consistent with sciatica
This plain scan, without an injection, is the standard first study. Ask your doctor whether your symptoms need contrast added, or whether this is enough on its own.
Lower back pain, sciatica, and spinal stenosis are common conditions, and this scan is usually the first imaging step doctors reach for to investigate them.
Yes, it's commonly used to check for disc herniation or nerve root compression, which are frequent causes of sciatica.
No, MRI uses magnets and radio waves, not X-rays.
No, this is the plain version. Contrast is only added if your doctor specifically requests it for a different reason.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
It typically takes 30 to 60 minutes, though the exact time can vary. Check with the centre when you book.
It can also show spinal stenosis, degenerative changes in the discs and joints, and other causes of nerve root compression.
Ask your doctor first, since they'll want to correlate the scan with your symptoms and decide if imaging is the right next step.