MRI for Joint Pain: Diagnosing Knee, Shoulder, and Hip Issues

Joint pain can derail your daily routine. Climbing stairs, rising from sitting, or reaching up can become difficult or impossible. If you’re frustrated with these limitations, an MRI for joint pain can be the first step toward relief.

Around 53 million Americans have arthritis, the leading cause of joint pain today. At LA MRI Center Inc., in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, our talented team helps our patients uncover the cause of their joint pain so they can find a treatment path for lasting relief.

We offer comfortable, convenient, and affordable joint magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) services in our office. Our team uses the latest state-of-the-art MRI technology to make your imaging appointment as comfortable as possible.

The Hitachi Airis II™ open MRI machine creates ultra-precise images without requiring a fully enclosed MRI. An open MRI can help diagnose knee, shoulder, and hip problems that cause joint pain. Here’s what you should know.

Why an MRI is important for joint pain diagnosis

An MRI is a powerful tool that allows us to see beyond the surface and into complex joint structures. While X-rays mainly show bones, an MRI provides a clear image of the tissues on and around your bones: cartilage, muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

An MRI gives us highly detailed information about your condition that X-rays often can’t produce.

Problems an MRI can diagnose

An MRI can identify arthritis early on, before it’s seen on X-rays. It can also monitor joint deterioration from arthritis to help guide treatment planning.

An MRI can detect other specific problems that cause joint pain, such as:

Meniscus tears
Ligament injuries
Cartilage damage
Rotator cuff tears
Tendinitis
Bursitis
Labral tears

All of these problems can contribute to joint pain. An MRI can provide definitive answers about your pain.

How doctors use MRI results in treating joint pain

Radiologists interpret MRI results to find the underlying problems causing your joint pain. With this information, your doctor can identify the most effective treatment path for you.

Treatment approaches can vary widely based on the reason for your joint pain, with some common nonsurgical options including:

Lifestyle changes
Weight loss to reduce joint strain
Physical therapy
Injections (corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, platelet-rich plasma, or others)

Sometimes, more aggressive approaches, such as joint replacement surgery, may be the best approach. If that’s the case, your doctor may require an additional MRI immediately before your scheduled surgery as part of your treatment plan. The information from a pre-surgery MRI can help your surgeon place your new joint in the most optimal place.

The MRI experience

MRIs take only about 30 minutes in our state-of-the-art facility. We lead you through every step. The main thing you need to do during an MRI is nothing. Staying still is important in gathering the best images.

We understand that medical testing can be scary, but our team prioritizes your comfort and peace of mind.

You’ll never have to worry about MRI claustrophobia since we use open MRI machines. Our empathetic team also listens to what you have to say. So, if you need a break during your test, don’t hesitate to speak up.

Schedule your MRI

Don’t let joint pain keep you from enjoying life. If you have knee, shoulder, or hip pain, and your doctor requested an MRI, call our office or request your appointment online today.