A cervical spine MRI uses a strong magnetic field, not X-rays, to make three-dimensional images of your neck. If you have persistent neck pain, numbness, or tingling, it can show the discs, nerves, and spinal cord in detail an X-ray can’t. Here’s what to expect when you come in for yours at Sunset Hills Imaging in St. Louis.
Why Do I Need a Cervical Spine MRI?
An X-ray shows bones. A cervical spine MRI can also show the soft tissue — the discs, nerves, and spinal cord — that X-ray can’t. Your doctor might order one if you have:
- Chronic, severe neck pain
- Pain, tingling, or numbness that starts in your neck and runs down your arm into your hand
- Suspected bulging or herniated discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Nerve compression or pinched nerves
What Does a Cervical Spine MRI Show?
A cervical spine MRI images the seven vertebrae in your neck (C1-C7) and the surrounding structures. Your radiologist reads the images for problems including:
- Herniated discs: discs that slip out of place and press on nearby nerves
- Degenerative disc disease: wear and tear on the spinal discs
- Bone spurs: bony growths along the edges of the vertebrae
- Spinal cord problems: conditions affecting the cord itself, including inflammation, injury, or compression
Preparing and What to Expect
The routine is the same for every MRI we run: bring your doctor’s order, wear clothes without metal, and lie still while the machine does its work. The full walkthrough, including how to prepare and what happens during the scan, is in our guide to what to expect during an MRI. A few things are specific to a cervical study:
- Your head and neck go inside the scanner, with a coil placed around them. The scan itself takes about 25 minutes.
- Skip hairspray, gel, and dry shampoo the day of your scan — some contain metallic particles.
- Plan for up to an hour in the department total, including check-in and positioning.
Request Your Cervical MRI in St. Louis
A neck MRI is painless. The scan itself takes about 25 minutes, and the whole visit runs about an hour. If you have a doctor’s order, book directly and skip the hospital wait. Sunset Hills Imaging in St. Louis performs cervical spine MRIs for a flat $399, with a board-certified radiologist’s report to your provider within 24–48 hours.
Ready to book? Schedule your cervical spine MRI.
Call (314) 834-7226 to schedule yours.