- Diagnostic Services
The Power of MRI in Finding Auto Accident Injuries
If you have been in a car accident, an MRI can show injuries that other tests might miss. An MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the human body. These images help an experienced Atlanta car accident doctor see hidden injuries and treat them quickly. Without an MRI, injuries like whiplash or spinal cord injuries can stay hidden, causing pain later.
In this blog, we explain how MRI scans work, why they are crucial after a car accident, and how an experienced Atlanta car accident doctor can use MRI images to identify and treat serious injuries.
How an MRI Works: The Science Behind the Magnetic Field
An MRI helps medical professionals see inside the human body without surgery. It uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of soft tissues and other structures.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging and the Magnetic Field
The MRI machine uses a strong magnetic field to line up the hydrogen atoms in your body. These atoms respond to the magnetic field by producing signals that an MRI scanner can detect. These signals create detailed images that show car accident injuries like spinal cord injuries and soft tissue damage.
Role of Radio Waves and Contrast Agents
During an MRI exam, radio waves pass through the body. These waves cause the aligned atoms to produce signals. A contrast agent may be used to help create even clearer images. MRI contrast helps doctors see blood vessels and blood flow, which can reveal injuries that x-ray imaging or CT scanning might miss.
Producing Quality Images for Accurate Diagnosis
The images from an MRI are very detailed. These images show injuries such as neck injuries, head injuries, and whiplash injuries. An experienced Atlanta car accident doctor can review these images to diagnose injuries and start treatment. MRI scans also help detect more severe injuries and hidden injuries that may require surgical correction.
Safe and Non-Invasive Imaging
MRI exams do not use ionizing radiation, making them safer than x-ray imaging and CT scanning for frequent imaging. This makes MRI an important imaging test after a motor vehicle accident when you have serious injuries or chronic pain.
Why an MRI Scan is Crucial After a Car Accident
An MRI scan can help detect serious injuries after a car accident that might not be visible on x-ray imaging or CT scanning.
Detecting Hidden and Severe Injuries
An MRI exam can find hidden injuries that might be missed with other imaging tests. These include whiplash injuries, spinal cord injuries, and soft tissue damage. MRI images show the human body’s soft tissues clearly, helping an experienced Atlanta car accident doctor see injuries early.
Identifying Injuries Requiring Surgical Correction
MRI scans are helpful in finding injuries that may need surgical correction. Examples include spinal cord conditions, crush injuries, and severe burns. MRI scanners create detailed images, showing if the injury is more severe and if surgery might be needed.
Monitoring Chronic Pain and Ongoing Symptoms
Chronic pain is common after car accidents. MRI scans can show why you feel pain in your neck, back, or shoulder. This helps your Atlanta car accident doctor plan the right treatment for you. Without MRI images, injuries might be missed, leading to more pain over time.
Safe and Precise Imaging for Medical Professionals
MRI scans use magnetic properties and radio waves to create quality images of the body. Unlike x-ray imaging, MRI does not use ionizing radiation. This makes it a safer choice for frequent imaging when you have ongoing pain or need regular checks for your injuries.
What Is the Most Common Type of MRI Done at Our Atlanta Treatment Center?
Whenever someone comes into our Atlanta treatment center for auto accident injuries, we often suggest an MRI. The most common types of MRIs that our doctors order are brain and spinal cord MRIs.
These tests are able to show your doctor if you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury. This injury is common in certain types of accidents, such as head-on collisions, drunk driving accidents, and rollover accidents.
It’s also important for your doctor to look at the results of your MRI for any spinal cord injuries. If left untreated, these spinal cord injuries can cause total or partial paralysis. Given the seriousness of this kind of injury, it’s critical that you undergo an MRI immediately.
We Also Conduct Bone and Joint MRIs at Our Atlanta Treatment Center
In addition to brain and spinal cord MRIs, our Atlanta treatment center also conducts bone and joint MRIs. These can help diagnose more common auto accident injuries such as broken bones and fractures.
This MRI test can also help diagnose any muscle or soft tissue injuries. If you’ve suffered organ damage or similar auto accident injuries, they must be diagnosed and treated at once. Otherwise, they can cause serious medical issues down the road.
How Long Does an MRI Scan Take for Your Auto Accident Injuries?
Most people have seen an MRI conducted on TV or in the movies. Many of the patients at our Atlanta treatment center are afraid of the test before we even order it. We believe, therefore, that it’s important that you talk to your doctor honestly about how the procedure works.
One of the reasons this test is so hard to endure is that it can last as long as two hours. Thankfully, most people suffering from auto accident injuries have done their test in about forty-five minutes.
How Long Will It Take for Your Atlanta Treatment Center to Have the Results?
Once the test is completed, the doctors at our Atlanta treatment center will have the results in about a day. Of course, it depends on the day of the week and the time that you come in for an MRI.
Once the results come in, your doctor will have a much better idea of your treatment plan. They will sit down and discuss this with you.
Call Our Atlanta Treatment Center Today to Schedule Your Initial Assessment
If you have been in a car accident and are experiencing pain, don’t wait. An MRI scan can reveal injuries that x-rays and CT scans might miss. Contact our team at Hurt 911® to schedule an appointment with an experienced Atlanta car accident doctor. We are ready to help you get the care and answers you need.
Schedule an appointment with us at 404-687-9000 today!
