Our Services / MRI

What is an MRI?

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, a machine used to create detailed images of the organs and tissues in your body using a magnetic field and computer-generated radio waves. 

When you receive an MRI, you lie inside the machine, attempting to move as little as possible. While you lie there, the magnetic field of the MRI temporarily realigns the water molecules in your body while your radio waves cause your aligned atoms to create signals that form the detailed pictures of your internal body structure.

These images allow the team at Coastal Ortho to examine your body and detect potential diseases thoroughly. It’s important to note that in contrast to X-rays, MRI does not use radiation to complete its process.

Why do I need an MRI?

If you have a condition that is difficult to diagnose through physical evaluation, you may need an MRI to complete a more thorough analysis of potential issues taking place in your body. This analysis can evaluate your chest and abdomen organs, your pelvic organs, including your bladder, uterus and ovaries, and your blood vessels and lymph nodes. 

With the ability to evaluate these parts of your body, the team at Coastal Ortho uses an MRI to help diagnose or monitor treatment for conditions like:

• Arthritis 
• Tumors of infections
• Bone marrow issues 
• Spine degeneration
• Torn ligaments and tendons
• Herniated or bulging disk
• Inflammation of the musculoskeletal system 

In addition to diagnosing conditions, MRI can also track the effectiveness of a given treatment, the progression of a disease, or the healing process of an injury.  

What should I expect when receiving an MRI?

To prepare for your MRI exam, you should make sure not to wear things that could affect magnetic imagining. This could be jewelry, hairpins, watches, wigs, hearing aids, underwire bras, and glasses.

The team at Coastal Ortho will have you lie down on a movable table that slides into the MRI machine, which looks like a long narrow tube. You should try to move as little as possible during the procedure to ensure effective results. 

The machine surrounds you in a strong magnetic field during the MRI scan, directing radio waves at your body. You cannot feel the magnetic field, resulting in a painless procedure. This could last anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour. 

Once they finish the test, you may carry on with your day, awaiting results from Coastal Ortho. 

To find out if you need an MRI to analyze potential health conditions, call Coastal Ortho located in El Segundo and Torrance, California, or use the online booking tool to schedule an appointment at the location nearest you.