Joint MRI

Consider a joint MRI if you have persistent knee, shoulder, or elbow pain. At Montclair Open MRI in Montclair, California, the team of board-certified radiologists regularly performs joint MRIs with an open MRI machine. A joint MRI can identify the source of your discomfort and help improve your mobility. Call Montclair Open MRI today to schedule a joint MRI appointment, or book your visit online.

What is a joint MRI?

A joint MRI is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnets, radio waves, and a computer to take detailed photos of your joints and surrounding tissues. 

The human body has 360 joints. These areas where two or more bones meet play an essential role in movement. Everyone has joint pain occasionally, but if your symptoms continue or worsen, a joint MRI can determine the cause. 

Who should consider a joint MRI?

Schedule a joint MRI at Montclair Open MRI if you have severe joint pain lasting more than a week. That’s especially true if the pain occurs alongside other symptoms like swelling, warmth, or difficulty putting weight on the affected joint.

Montclair Open MRI performs magnetic resonance imaging using an open machine. Open MRI machines provide the same high-quality photos as closed MRI machines but aren’t as confined. This makes them ideal for people with claustrophobia (the intense fear of enclosed spaces).

What are the risks of a joint MRI?

Joint MRIs are safe and usually well-tolerated. Magnetic resonance imaging doesn’t use radiation, like X-rays, so the procedure presents few risks. Even so, tell your provider if you’re pregnant. It’s best to avoid magnetic resonance imaging during the first trimester.

How do I prepare for a joint MRI?

A joint MRI usually doesn’t require any special preparation. If needed, your Montclair Open MRI technician will instruct you on tips and tricks to make your MRI experience better. 

What does an open joint MRI involve?

An open joint MRI takes 60-90 minutes on average.

When you arrive at Montclair Open MRI, you change into a hospital gown and lie on your back on a moving exam table. Once you’re in position, your provider slides the table into the open MRI machine. The machine has a large magnet on the top and bottom (similar to a closed MRI) but is completely open on the sides.

Your provider carefully positions the magnets and asks you to lie in a specific position. They give you headphones or earplugs to muffle the sound and then leave the room, using a computer console to take a series of MRIs.

Lie very still during your MRI scans. Even small movements can affect the clarity of the images and negatively impact your results. 

Call Montclair Open MRI to schedule a joint MRI appointment today, or book online.