Lumbar Spine MRI in St. Louis — $399, No Referral Games
Lumbar spine MRI is the most common study we run, and it is usually the right first imaging step for low back pain that radiates into the hip, buttock, or leg. It can show the discs, nerve roots, and spinal canal in detail that an X-ray cannot.
A doctor's order is required — your provider can fax it to (314) 804-7226.
A Doctor's Order Is Required
We require a doctor's order before we can perform an MRI, and so do Medicare and most insurance plans. No order yet? We can help you get one — most patients arrange it in a day or two.
What the Radiologist Looks For
- Disc herniation and disc bulge, including which nerve root is being compressed
- Spinal stenosis — narrowing of the central canal or the lateral recesses
- Degenerative disc disease and endplate changes
- Spondylolisthesis and pars defects
- Facet joint arthropathy and synovial cysts
- Vertebral compression fractures, including age of the fracture
- Cauda equina compression
- Post-surgical scar tissue versus recurrent disc material
Who Orders This
Ordered most often for sciatica, low back pain lasting more than six weeks, numbness or weakness in a leg, or pre-surgical planning by a spine surgeon.
How to Prepare
- Eat and drink normally. No fasting.
- Wear clothing with no metal — no zippers, snaps, or underwire. We provide a gown if needed.
- Take your usual medications, including pain medication, on your normal schedule.
- Bring a photo ID and any prior spine imaging you have on disc.
Common Questions
Not continuously. The scan runs in sequences of two to four minutes with short breaks between. The tech will tell you when each sequence starts and how long it runs.
Often, if the cause is a common one. Sciatica usually comes from compression of the L4, L5, or S1 nerve root, and a lumbar study covers all three. What the report shows depends on what the radiologist finds. If your symptoms suggest the problem is higher up, a thoracic or full-spine study may be more appropriate.
No. You go in feet first and your head remains outside the opening for the majority of the exam. This is the study most patients with claustrophobia tolerate best.
New to MRIs? Read our complete guide to what to expect · More questions? See all FAQs · Read patient reviews
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Request Your Lumbar spine MRI
Flat rate $399. No insurance required. Same-day appointments by phone.