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</ iframe > </noscript> <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) --><div id="header"> <div id="CClogo"><a href="https://www.cookchildrens.org"><span class="srText">Cook Children's</span></a></div> <div id="CCsearch"> <form id="searchform" name="searchform" method="GET" onsubmit="return (this.q.value == '') ? false : true;" action="/CookChildrens/en/parents/"> <input type="hidden" name="search" value="y"/> <input type="hidden" name="getfields" value="description"/> <input type="search" class="search" name="q" id="q" maxlength="256" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" placeholder="Search"/> <input type="hidden" name="datasource" value="cookchildrens"> <input type="hidden" name="start" value="0"> <input type="hidden" name="rows" value="10"> <input type="hidden" name="lang" value="english"> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="parents_teens_kids"> <input type="submit" value="" id="searchButton" class="buttonImage"/> </form> </div> </div> <!-- If we have main navigation separated then it will reside here --> <div id="thelou" tabindex="-1"> </div> <div id="mainContentContainer" class="kh-article-page"> <div id="rsSearchBrowse"> <div id="rsBrowse" role="navigation"> </div> <div id="rsSearch"> <div id="rsSectionLabel">parents</div> </div> </div> <div id="khContentHeading" class="ar licH"> <h1>Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Lumbar Spine</h1> </div> <div class="clearBox"> </div> <div id="khcontent"> <div id="xp1"> </div><br clear="all" style="width: 0; height: 0; line-height: 0; font-size: 0;"><div id="khcontent_article" lang="en-us"> <div id="NavigatePage1"> <div id="whichRead_1"><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!-- The following article is brought to you by CookChildrens. --></span><div class="rs_skip rs_skip_en rsbtn_kidshealth rs_preserve" id="readspeaker_button1"><script> var theRSURL = (escape(document.location.href)); var rsAudioTitle = document.title.replace(/ |\'|\?/g,"_"); var whichReadPage = 1; var doesItGotFlash = ''; makeTheRSLinkEN(); var readSpeakerDownloadLink = "//app-na.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=5202&lang=en_us&voice=Kate&speed=100&readid=khcontent_article&url="+theRSURL+"&audiofilename=KidsHealth_"+rsAudioTitle+""; </script></div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="languagePairLink" class="rs_skip"><a href="/CookChildrens/es/parents/mri-lumbar.html"><span class="pairedURLHead" lang="es">en español<img src="/images/n00/icons/langPairArrow.svg" alt=""></span><span class="pairedURLBody" lang="es">Resonancia magnética (RM): Columna lumbar</span></a></div> <!--googleon:all--><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><h3>What's an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)?</h3><p><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/mri.html">An MRI</a> (magnetic resonance imaging) is a safe and painless test that uses magnets and radio waves to make detailed pictures of the body's organs, muscles, soft tissues, and structures. Unlike a CAT scan, an MRI doesn’t use radiation.</p><p>MRIs <a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/getting-mri.html">are done</a> in hospitals and at radiology centers.</p><h3>What Is a Lumbar Spine MRI?</h3><p>An MRI of the lumbar spine produces detailed pictures of the lumbar spine (the bones, disks, spinal cord, and other structures in the lower back).</p><h3>Why Are Lumbar Spine MRIs Done?</h3><p>A lumbar spine MRI can detect a variety of conditions in the lower back, including problems with the bones (vertebrae), soft tissues (such as the spinal cord), nerves, and disks.</p></div><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><p class="center_this"><img src="/content/dam/patientinstructions/en/images/lumbar-400x575-rd1-enIL.gif" alt="" /></p></div><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><p>Sometimes, doctors order an MRI to check the anatomy of the lumbar spine or to look for injuries in the area. For example, the scan can find areas of <a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/spinal-cord-injuries.html">the spine</a> where the spinal canal (which contains the spinal cord) is too narrow and might require surgery. It can assess the disks to see if they’re bulging, ruptured, or pressing on the spinal cord or nerves.</p><p>The MRI also can help doctors:</p><ul class="kh_longline_list"><li>Evaluate symptoms such as lower back pain, leg pain, numbness, tingling or weakness.</li><li>Look into problems with <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/enuresis.html">bladder</a> and <a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/encopresis.html">bowel control</a>.</li><li>Diagnose tumors, bleeding, swelling, and infections or <a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/inflammation.html">inflammatory</a> conditions in the vertebrae or surrounding tissues.</li></ul><h3>What if I Have Questions?</h3><p>If you have questions about the lumbar spine MRI or the results of the test, speak with your doctor. You can also talk to the MRI technician before the exam.</p></div><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><p class="center_this"><img src="/content/dam/patientinstructions/en/images/mri-400x400-rd1-enIL.gif" alt="" /></p></div> <div id="reviewerBox"> <div id="reviewedBy">Medically reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD</div> <div id="reviewedDate">Date reviewed: February 2022</div> </div><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!--Thank you for listening to this KidsHealth audio cast. The information you heard, is for educational purposes only. If you need medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, consult your doctor. This audio cast is Copyrighted by KidsHealth. All rights are reserved.--></span></div> </div> </div> </div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="relatedBoxParents" class="t1 "> <div id="navTabs"> <ul id="navTabsPKT" role="tablist" aria-labelledby="moreOnThisTopicHeader"> <li role="presentation" class="wascurrent" id="PKTtabTeens"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="teens_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListTeens" aria-selected="false" tabindex="-1"><span>for Teens</span></button></li> <li role="presentation" class="wascurrent" id="PKTtabKids"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="kids_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListKids" aria-selected="false" tabindex="-1"><span>for Kids</span></button></li> <li role="presentation" class="current" id="PKTtabParents"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="parents_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListParents" aria-selected="true" tabindex="0"><span>for Parents</span></button></li> </ul> </div> <div id="mainBar"> </div> <div id="mrLinks"> <h2 id="moreOnThisTopicHeader">MORE ON THIS TOPIC</h2> <ul id="relatedArticlesListParents" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="parents_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/mri.html">Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/getting-mri.html">Getting an MRI</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/test-mri-spine.html">Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Cervical Spine</a></li> </ul> <ul id="relatedArticlesListKids" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="kids_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/video-mri.html">Getting an MRI (Video)</a></li> </ul> <ul id="relatedArticlesListTeens" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="teens_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/video-mri.html">MRI (Video)</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="boxBreaker"> </div> <div id="zeroTester"> </div> <div id="relatedButtonsHolder"> <div id="relatedButtonsBoth"> <ul> <li id="relatedPrinterButton"><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/mri-lumbar.html?view=ptr" rel="nofollow" onclick="printWindow(this.href); return false;" title="This link will open in a new window.">Print<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> <li id="relatedEmailFriendButton"><a rel="nofollow" href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/mri-lumbar.html?view=emailto" target="_blank" title="This link will open in a new window.">Send to a Friend<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div><br clear="all"></div><br clear="all"><script>window.onload=setVars('');PKTChoose(3,1,1,0);</script><div id="kh_lic_footer"> <nav aria-label="Content info"> <ul id="kh_lic_footer_links"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/editorial-policy-licensee.html">Editorial Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/policy-licensees.html">KidsHealth Privacy Policy & Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/copyright.html">Copyright</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div id="kh_lic_footer_legalease"> <p><img lang="en" alt="A KidsHealth Education Partner" src="/images/n00/logos/eduPartner3.svg"> Note: All information is for educational purposes only. 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