What is a shoulder MRI scan?

An MRI scan uses magnets and radio waves to capture images of your body’s internal structures. It doesn’t involve a surgical incision. The scan allows your doctor to see your bones as well as soft tissues of your body, including muscles, ligaments, tendons, and even nerves and blood vessels.

While an MRI scan can be performed on any part of your body, a shoulder MRI scan specifically helps your doctor see the bones, blood vessels, and tissues in your shoulder region.

A shoulder MRI helps your doctor diagnose potential problems found in other imaging tests, such as X-rays. It also helps your doctor diagnose unexplained pain in the area or better understand the condition causing your shoulder symptoms.

An MRI scan works by generating a magnetic field that temporarily aligns the water molecules in your body. Radio waves use these aligned particles to produce faint signals, which are recorded as images by the machine.

Unlike X-rays and CT scans, an MRI scan uses no radiation and is considered a safer alternative, especially for pregnant women and children.

The shoulder is a large and complicated joint that we use on a daily basis. It’s made up of three major bones. This makes it the most mobile joint in the body. As a result, numerous problems can affect our shoulders.

Pain or an injury are the main reasons your doctor might order an MRI scan. The injury could be the result of an impact, or simply the effect of long-term wear and tear on the joint. Specific problems that could require a shoulder MRI scan include:

In some cases, an MRI scan can help your doctor track the effect of surgeries, medications, or physical therapy on your shoulder.

MRI scans carry few risks, as they don’t use radiation. To date, there have been no documented side effects from the radio waves and magnets used in the scan. Still, people with certain conditions do face some risks.

Metal implants

If you have implants containing metal, it can cause problems with an MRI scan. The magnets used can interfere with pacemakers or cause implanted screws or pins to shift in your body. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the following implants:

  • artificial joints
  • artificial heart valves
  • metal clips from aneurysm surgery
  • bullet or other metal fragments
  • a pacemaker
  • cochlear implant

If you have a pacemaker, your doctor may suggest another method for inspecting your shoulder area, such as a CT scan. This depends on your type of pacemaker. Some pacemaker models can be reprogrammed before an MRI scan so that they aren’t disrupted during the examination.

Dye allergy

Some people can have an allergic reaction to the contrast dye. Contrast dye helps provide a clearer image of the blood vessels. The most common type of contrast dye is gadolinium. According to the Radiological Society of North America, these allergic reactions are often mild and easily controlled with medication. Be sure to tell your doctor about any allergies or if you’ve had an allergic reaction to contrast dye in the past.

Breastfeeding

Women shouldn’t breastfeed 24 to 48 hours after they’ve been given contrast dye. They need to wait for the dye to leave their bodies.

Tell your doctor if you have any metal in your body from previous procedures or injuries. You’ll need to remove any metal from your body, including jewelry and body piercings before the test. You’ll change into a hospital gown so that metal on your clothing doesn’t affect the test.

If you’re claustrophobic or have a hard time in enclosed spaces, you may feel uncomfortable while in the MRI machine. Your doctor may prescribe antianxiety medication to help with your discomfort. In some cases, you may also be sedated during the test.

If your test requires the use of contrast dye, a nurse or doctor injects it into your bloodstream through an intravenous line. You may need to wait for the dye to circulate through your body before beginning the test.

An MRI machine is a giant white tube with a sliding bench attached to it. You lie on your back on the table and slide into the machine. A technician places small coils around your shoulder to improve the quality of the scan images.

The technician controls the movement of the bench using a remote control from another room. They can communicate with you via a microphone.

The machine makes loud whirring and thumping noises as the images are being recorded. Many hospitals offer earplugs. Others have televisions or headphones to help you pass the time.

As the pictures are being taken, the technician will ask you to hold your breath for a few seconds. You won’t feel anything during the test.

A typical shoulder MRI scan takes 45 minutes to an hour to complete.

After your shoulder MRI scan, you’re free to leave the hospital unless your doctor tells you otherwise. If you were given a sedative, you need to wait until the medication has fully worn off before driving. Or you can arrange for a ride home after the test.

If your MRI images were projected onto film, it might take a few hours for the film to develop. It will also take some time for your doctor to review the images and interpret the results. More modern machines display images on a computer, so your doctor can view them quickly.

The initial results from an MRI scan may arrive within a few days, but comprehensive results can take up to a week or more.

When the results are available, your doctor will call you in to review and explain them. More tests may be necessary to make a diagnosis.