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Our women's imaging center offers shoulder MRIs at five locations throughout Colorado. Click to learn about what to expect during an MRI of your shoulder.

MRI for Shoulder in Colorado | The Women's Imaging Center

Frequently Asked Questions About Shoulder MRIs

Shoulder MRIs provide detailed visuals of the complex shoulder joint and tissues to help doctors diagnose the cause of your pain.

Shoulder MRI in Denver

The Women’s Imaging Center performs all MRIs at our Denver/Cherry Creek location. Reach out to schedule a shoulder MRI and improve your discomfort.

Schedule an MRI for the Shoulder

Shoulder pain is a common complaint for the active Colorado population. Symptoms often occur from trauma or damage from overuse. The shoulder is a very complex joint, and understanding the cause of pain is critical for proper treatment. While an X-ray is useful for seeing broken bones, a shoulder MRI provides a detailed look at the joint and soft tissues between the bones.
MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging, an imaging technology that uses magnets and radio waves to produce detailed 3D imaging of the shoulder and joint. These signals are then converted to images for the radiologists to interpret. MRI is commonly performed to distinguish normal tissues from injured or pathologic tissues.
An MRI can be used:
<ul>
<li>As a diagnostic scan to find the reason for a complaint or symptom</li>
<li>To diagnose certain conditions, such as tumors or lesions</li>
<li>To get a better look at a finding discovered by an X-ray</li>
<li>To evaluate injuries to tissues</li>
</ul>

Assess Shoulder Injuries With an MRI

Claustrophobia describes a fear of being in closed or narrow spaces. It is a common fear that leads many patients to inquire about the experience of having an MRI. The MRI machine we use at The Women's Imaging Center has an especially wide bore (opening), so much so that you can touch the sides with your outstretched arms. Our machine is also shorter than most MRI machines at hospitals since we perform dedicated MRIs of many organs, such as the joints, breasts, pelvis, and abdomen. We use an Espirit MRI, also called an "open MRI" by the manufacturer Siemens. Your head will be near the end of the magnet so you can see out. The MRI technologist will talk to you during the entire exam and can make any adjustments needed to make you more comfortable.

In the majority of cases, no premedication is necessary. However, if you feel you cannot perform the MRI without sedation, our [Colorado radiologists](/about/team) or yours can write oral anxiety medication. You will have to pick it up and coordinate consumption with the timing of your MRI exam under our advice. You will also need a designated driver, a Lyft, or an Uber to drop you off and pick you up, as you are not allowed to drive after taking the medication.

What If I Am Claustrophobic?

You will need to provide a complete medical history listing any medical conditions. Please tell the scheduler and the technologist if you have any of the following, which may make an MRI not possible:

- Metal in your body, such as metal fragments from trauma or surgery that may be an issue for the "magnetic pull" of the MRI.
- Any surgery anywhere on your body including your limbs, abdomen, brain, or heart.
- Pacemakers
- Defibrillators
- Aneurysm clips
- Auditory hearing implants
- Neurotransmitters
- Internal wires or electrodes
- Implanted pumps or ports
- Surgical mesh
- Any coils, stents, or filters
- Some external body modifications, such as:
  - Body or face/makeup tattooing
  - Permanent piercings
Some newer pacemakers or defibrillators may be compatible with MRI — check with your doctor. Current or prior metal workers may have small fragments in their eyes as an occupational hazard. You may need to have an x-ray before performing the MRI. Jewelry and piercings must not be present on your body for your safety in the magnet.

Please see our [MRI Safety Form](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EMSDmovtNhLOVtH9B_KJc437XFLt9R_FmtbBtRKXnyQ/edit) for more information.

Before the MRI

You will lie on your back on a comfortable table that moves in and out of the MRI machine. The magnet of the MRI machine makes a loud, clunking sound. The technologists will fit you with comfortable headphones. You may choose to listen to music through headphones, making the magnet sound indistinct. Many patients find the exam soothing because of the music and may fall asleep. It is important not to move quickly or jerk during the exam. Jerking may cause irregularities in the images from signals of the magnets moving. An MRI of the shoulder is usually performed without the need for intravenous (IV) contrast dye. If your clinician is looking for a tumor, they may order a "contrast MRI," which involves the technician injecting a dye into your arm vein. Tumors tend to be vascular, and the dye enhances (highlights or outlines) the tumor.

During the MRI

Since an MRI produces hundreds of images, it will take time for the radiologist to interpret your results. Therefore, they will not be available right away. You will receive a call once your results are ready. We’ll also notify your ordering physician, who will discuss next steps, if necessary.

After the MRI

Shoulder MRI Near You

The MRI imaging may take 25 to 35 minutes, depending on whether special imaging sequences are needed. The complexity of shoulder or joint imaging may affect the time required to perform the imaging scan.

What to Expect With a Shoulder MRI

Shoulder MRI

The Women’s Imaging Center