Clinical Conditions

Advanced Diagnostic
Specialist Pain International Clinic is dedicated to providing you with the highest level of MRI examinations using the latest state-of-the-art MRI Systems. The precision and the accuracy of your scans will help improve diagnosis to and better optimise your treatment.

Revolutionary MRI approach increases diagnostic accuracy and confidence for all musculoskeletal applications.

Weight-Bearing MRI
Specialist Pain International Clinic maximizes the use of the new G-Scan Brio weight-bearing MRI scanner. Most people experience pain and other symptoms while they are standing as the weight of the body compresses anatomic structures. The weight-bearing MRI allows study of all joints and the spine in the standing or sitting position, gaining important additional information compared to traditional MRI since the force of gravity generates bio-mechanical changes in anatomy in the upright position.

“This is in fact one of the most recent advances in the field of MR imaging, called stress MRI or weight-bearing MRI. A stress MRI takes place in positions or when the spine or a joint is under a load or stress. This technique emerged in recognition of the fact that pain typically arises and affects joints during loaded positions or in positions dependent upon stress conditions. Several scientific studies have confirmed that lying down and unloaded positions are not representative of standing or loaded positions. Therefore, evaluating a patient in the lying down position alone may sometimes result in imaging information which may not be clinically relevant or helpful to your treatment.”

Claustrophobic (fear of enclosed spaces) patients
Another group of patients which may benefit from using the advanced scanner are patients who are fearful of closed spaces or claustrophobic patients. The open scanner allows detailed imaging of such patients which would not have been possible with conventional “tunnel” MRI scanners.

Artifact Reduction
Metal implants affect the quality of scan on conventional MRI machines. This often limits the usefulness of MRIs after surgery with implants. The artifact reduction protocol in Novena MRI Diagnostics allow accurate visualisation in spite of the presence of these implants.

The weight-bearing scans are often compared with the lying-down scans done on highly reliable GE 1.5T MRI scanner. This will allow the problem areas to show up and allow for a more accurate diagnosis to be made. These comparative scans are done in the same day and at the same setting.

Your pain treatment is only as good as what has been correctly diagnosed to the cause. Specialist Pain International Clinic is able to provide advanced MRI diagnostic capabilities and your immediate review on the same day.