Lumbar vertebrae MRI scan
Magnetic resonance imaging is the most accurate and reliable method for examining the health of the lumbar region. Lumbar MRI can detect lumbar spinal stenosis, disc prolapses and changes in the structures of the vertebrae and nervous system. Sciatica symptoms such as numbness of the buttock or leg associated with lower back pain and back pain associated with lumbar spinal stenosis are typical conditions diagnosed with the aid of MRI.
Not surprisingly, lower back pain and numbness in the buttock/leg are the most common reasons for seeking lumbar MRI.
Ankylosing spondylitis also appears years earlier on an MRI scan than on an X-ray.
An MRI scan is often performed before surgical procedures.