Shoulder MRI in Denver
Assess Shoulder Injuries With an MRI
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:
- As a diagnostic scan to find the reason for a complaint or symptom
- To diagnose certain conditions, such as tumors or lesions
- To get a better look at a finding discovered by an X-ray
- To evaluate injuries to tissues
When Do You Need a Shoulder MRI?
Your doctor may recommend a shoulder MRI to evaluate subtle injuries to the labrum, which provides cushioning between the bones of the shoulder, the ligaments, or fibrous bands that hold the joints together, or the tendons, which connect the bones to muscles — providing a detailed map to use for future therapy or surgery. Shoulder MRIs are helpful in examining:
Rotator cuff injuries
Ligament injuries
Tendon injuries
Labral tears or injuries
Tissue swelling or tears
Injury after trauma
The shoulder is a complex joint referred to as a "ball and socket," which allows for great rotation. The shoulder's strength comes from the muscles that make up the shoulder and allow movement in all directions. Approximately twenty muscles comprise and support the shoulder joint. Some of these muscles make up the cuff around the joint known as the rotator cuff.
MRI is useful to diagnose whether an acute (sudden) or long-standing (chronic) labrum tear or a rotator cuff tear may be the cause of pain or loss of function. An MRI can also provide details on the severity of the tear, such as whether it is partial or complete. Sometimes an MRI only shows swelling of these soft tissue structures and not a tear. MRI images are helpful for a physical therapist or orthopedic surgeon because they provide a detailed map to use for future physical therapy or surgery.
Arthritis is usually best evaluated with X-rays. If the degree of shoulder pain or dysfunction does not agree with the x-ray findings, an MRI may be useful.
What If I Am Claustrophobic?
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 to Expect With a Shoulder MRI
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Shoulder MRIs
A Shoulder MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is an imaging technology that uses magnets and radio waves to produce detailed 3-D 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. MRI is also used as a diagnostic scan to find the reason for a complaint or symptom. It is sometimes used to diagnose tumors.
You will be lying on your back on a comfortable table that moves into and out of the MRI machine. The magnet (within the MRI machine) makes a loud clunky sound. The technologists will fit you with comfortable headphones. You may choose to listen to music through headphones. 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, he or she may order a “contrast MRI." This means that the technologist will inject a dye into the vein in your arm. Tumors tend to be vascular, and the dye enhances (highlights or outlines) the tumor.
A shoulder MRI may be done to diagnose or monitor various shoulder conditions, including rotator cuff tears, labral tears, shoulder impingement syndrome, and arthritis.
A shoulder MRI is generally considered safe. However, it is important to inform your healthcare provider if you have any metal implants or devices in your body, as they can interfere with the imaging process.
There are generally no risks associated with a shoulder MRI, although some patients may experience claustrophobia or anxiety during the test. Additionally, the contrast material used in some MRIs may cause an allergic reaction in some patients.
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