Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine
Lumbar Spine MRI in Casablanca
Lumbar spine MRI examines the lower back: the five lumbar vertebrae, the discs, the spinal canal and the nerve roots that run to the legs, down to the junction with the sacrum. It helps look for a herniated disc, narrowing of the lumbar canal or another cause of pain. It can be extended upward (thoracolumbar MRI) to include the junction between the mid-back and the lower back and the lower end of the spinal cord.
Duration, report and equipment
Duration
The exam usually takes 15 minutes.
Report turnaround
Report within 48 hours. In an emergency, during opening hours, the report is handed over immediately.
Equipment
GE SIGNA Prime 1.5 T
When is this exam needed?
- Sciatica or femoral nerve pain (cruralgia), meaning pain that runs down the leg, persisting despite proper treatment.
- Leg pain when walking that forces you to stop, suggesting lumbar spinal stenosis.
- Loss of strength in a leg or a foot.
- Long-lasting low back pain with unusual signs: fever, weight loss, history of cancer.
- Assessment before an injection or back surgery.
- Pain that returns after surgery, to distinguish scar tissue from a recurrent herniated disc.
How the exam is done
You lie on your back, with a cushion under your knees to slightly round your lower back and ease the pain. The coil is built into the table, under your lower back. If lying down triggers sciatica, say so: the team will look with you for the most tolerable position, because pain makes you move and blurs the images.
The side-view sequences, then cross-sectional slices centered on the discs, follow one another with their characteristic noise, and you breathe normally. After back surgery, an injection is often given at the end of the exam to tell scar tissue apart from a new herniated disc. For a thoracolumbar MRI, the area examined extends higher. To get up, roll onto your side and rise slowly.
Preparation
- Take your usual pain medication a few hours before if lying down is painful.
- Remove your belt, jewelry and clothing with metal zippers or rivets.
- A lumbar support belt often contains metal stays: remove it before entering the room.
- If the pain is severe, arrange for someone to accompany you home.
- Remove necklaces, earrings, hair clips and hearing aids before entering the room.
Fasting
No fasting is needed, even if an injection is planned.
Contrast injection
For a herniated disc or a narrow canal, the exam is most often done without contrast agent. Gadolinium, injected through a vein in the arm, is mainly used after back surgery or if an infection or tumor is suspected.
Contraindications and precautions
- Spinal cord stimulator implanted for pain: compatibility and settings to be checked before the exam.
- Pacemaker or defibrillator: the exam is possible only with a system designed for MRI.
- Screws, rods or artificial lumbar disc: usually compatible; tell us and bring the surgical report.
- Implanted pump (for example a morphine pump), old vascular clip or metal fragment.
- Insulin pump or glucose sensor (such as FreeStyle Libre): to be removed before the exam. Bring what you need to replace it or put it back afterwards.
- Current or possible pregnancy: please tell us. MRI is performed only if it is necessary, preferably after the first trimester, and without gadolinium unless absolutely necessary.
- Breastfeeding: please tell us. It is generally not necessary to stop breastfeeding after a gadolinium injection.
- Severe kidney failure, if an injection is planned.
- Tattoos on the lower back and claustrophobia.
Documents to bring
- Prescription
- Previous lumbar X-rays, CT scans or MRIs
- Surgical report if you have had back surgery
- Electromyogram, if one has been done
- List of your medications
- Insurance or mutual insurance fund card
Price and insurance coverage
The price of a lumbar spine MRI depends on the area covered (lumbar only or thoracolumbar) and on a gadolinium injection, mainly useful after back surgery.
The center accepts coverage from insurance companies and the main mutual insurance funds. You submit the coverage request to your insurer or fund yourself. For AtlantaSanad and Sanlam, the center takes care of it.
No prices are shown on this site: Kenza gives you the exact price on WhatsApp, along with the coverage procedure for your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an MRI as soon as low back pain starts?
Most often, no. Simple low back pain or sciatica usually improves within a few weeks with appropriate treatment. MRI is requested if the pain persists, if an injection or surgery is being considered, or if there are unusual signs.
Which signs require urgent medical attention?
Rapid loss of strength in a leg, difficulty urinating or having a bowel movement, or loss of feeling between the thighs and around the anus require immediate care at the emergency department. These signs may indicate nerve compression that must not wait for a scheduled appointment.
What is a thoracolumbar MRI?
It is an MRI that covers both the lower part of the thoracic spine and the lumbar spine. It is useful when symptoms may come from the junction between these two regions, or when the doctor wants to see the lower end of the spinal cord, called the conus medullaris.
My MRI shows a herniated disc: will I need surgery?
Not necessarily. Many herniated discs shrink on their own and most patients do not have surgery. The decision depends on your symptoms, how long they have lasted and the clinical examination, not on the image alone. Talk to your doctor or surgeon about it.
Lumbar Spine MRI in Casablanca: how much does it cost?
The price of a lumbar spine MRI depends on the area covered (lumbar only or thoracolumbar) and on a gadolinium injection, mainly useful after back surgery. The center accepts coverage from insurance companies and the main mutual insurance funds. No prices are shown on this site: Kenza gives you the exact price on WhatsApp, along with the coverage procedure for your situation.