Spine MRI
An MRI of the spine is the main test when your neck or back hurts, your hands or feet go numb, or pain shoots into your buttock. It shows more than the vertebrae. You see the discs between them, the spinal cord, the nerve roots, the ligaments and the muscles around. There is no radiation. At Oberig Clinic spine MRI is done in the Diagnostic Department on a Siemens Magnetom Sempra 1.5 Tesla scanner. Radiologists report it to the American College of Radiology protocol.
What a spine MRI shows
The most common finding is disc change: bulges, herniations, sequestration (a fragment that has broken off), plus wear and tear of the spinal joints. Your report will name each level, such as L4-L5. The radiologist measures a herniation in millimetres, notes its direction and checks if it presses on a nerve root or the cord. The scan also shows a narrowed spinal canal (stenosis), a slipped vertebra (spondylolisthesis), bone marrow swelling in a fresh compression fracture, and haemangiomas in the vertebral bodies.
A separate group is change in the spinal cord itself: lesions of multiple sclerosis, myelopathy from long-term pressure, syringomyelia (a fluid cavity in the cord), tumours and metastases. Here MRI has no rival. CT and X-ray cannot show these changes.
Which part of the spine to scan
The spine is scanned section by section. That gives thinner slices and a more precise report. Your doctor picks the section from your symptoms. Pain in one place often starts somewhere else.
Neck (cervical spine)
Your neck has seven vertebrae. Arteries to the brain and nerves to the arms pass through them. The scan is ordered for neck pain that spreads to the shoulder blade or arm, numb fingers, a weak grip, headache from the back of the head. MRI shows disc herniations between C4 and C7 (the most common spot), pinched nerve roots, a narrow canal, signs of cervical myelopathy. Dizziness alone is rarely a neck problem. The vessels usually need checking instead. After whiplash in a car crash, MRI shows ligament and disc injuries an X-ray misses.
Upper back (thoracic spine)
The thoracic spine is the most stable part. The ribs hold it, so disc herniations here are rare. MRI is ordered for pain between the shoulder blades that will not go away, band-like pain around the chest, after an injury, for a suspected compression fracture in osteoporosis, when cancer is a concern, or for scoliosis before correction. The heart comes first, though. Chest pain needs a GP or cardiologist check before a spine scan.
Lower back (lumbar spine): the most common scan
The lower back carries the most load. Sharp pain after lifting, pain running down the leg (sciatica), a numb foot, weakness when you walk on your heels or toes. These are the typical reasons. Most herniations sit at L4-L5 and L5-S1. A separate scan of the sacrum and tailbone helps with tailbone pain after a fall, pain when sitting, or a suspected cyst. Young adults with morning stiffness in the lower back may also need the sacroiliac joints checked for sacroiliitis.
Two sections or the whole spine
Pain in both the neck and the lower back? Your doctor orders two sections, and each gets its own scan program. We scan the whole spine in two ways. One option is all three sections one after another. The other is a screening protocol for cancer patients, used to find metastases along the full length of the spine fast.
When you need an MRI and when you can wait
Most acute low back pain settles in 4-6 weeks, on its own or with treatment. An MRI in the first days changes nothing. Your doctor will order it sooner if the pain does not ease with treatment, spreads below the knee or elbow, or comes with numbness and muscle weakness. Another reason is planning a nerve block, a minimally invasive procedure or surgery. The surgeon needs an exact map of the discs and nerve roots.
Some signs mean you should not wait. Numbness in the groin or between the legs. Trouble passing urine or controlling your bowels. Weakness in both legs that gets worse. Back pain with a fever. Sudden weight loss or a history of cancer. Pain after a fall when you have osteoporosis. In these cases you need a scan as soon as possible. If needed, call the clinic's emergency line 3003.
MRI or CT of the spine: which is better?
Patients ask this a lot. The answer depends on the goal. MRI sees soft tissue better: discs, herniations, nerves, the spinal cord, bone swelling. CT sees bone better: complex fractures, small fragments, bone spurs, metal hardware after surgery. CT is faster and works for people with a pacemaker, but it uses radiation. Back pain running down the leg calls for MRI. A car crash or a fall from height calls for a spine CT. Sometimes you need both, for example before surgery.
How to prepare
No special preparation is needed. Check a few things before your visit:
- when you book, tell us about a pacemaker (it rules MRI out), metal hardware in the spine, clips on blood vessels or hearing implants, and bring the device card,
- bring a referral with the clinical question and all earlier spine MRI, CT and X-ray images, on disc or as reports,
- wear comfortable clothes with no metal buttons, and leave jewellery and your watch at home or in a locker,
- if the pain is bad, take the painkiller your doctor prescribed an hour before,
- children under 6 may need sedation, so book a visit with a paediatric anaesthetist first.
What happens during the scan
You lie on your back on the table. A coil goes under your back and a cushion under your knees to ease your lower back. The table slides into the tunnel. Keep still and breathe normally. No breath-holding. The scanner is loud, but Quiet Suite cuts noise by up to 97%, and you get headphones. One section takes 15-25 minutes, two take about 40-50 minutes.
Does it hurt too much to lie on your back? The radiographer will add cushions under your knees and lower back. You can press the call button at any time. There are no limits afterwards, and you can drive home. Afraid of tight spaces? Say so in advance. The radiographer will talk you through each step, and you stay in touch through an intercom.
Herniation, bulge, wear: reading your report
The terms sound alarming. Not all of them mean disease. A rough guide:
| Term in the report | What it means |
|---|---|
| Bulge (protrusion) | The disc pushes 1-3 mm beyond the vertebra with no tear in its outer layer. Often causes no pain at all |
| Herniation (extrusion) | Disc material has escaped through a tear, usually over 5-6 mm, and may press on a nerve root |
| Sequestration | A piece of the herniation has broken off into the canal. Often needs a neurosurgeon's review |
| Canal stenosis | Less room for the spinal cord or nerves, measured in millimetres |
| Modic changes | Bone marrow reaction next to a disc. Type 1 is often linked to pain |
| Degenerative disc disease | Age-related wear of the discs. Most people over 40 have it |
The size of a herniation and the strength of the pain often do not match. A large one may cause no trouble. A small one pressing on a nerve root can hurt a lot. That is why a neurologist or neurosurgeon decides on treatment after examining you, not from a number in the report.
Common questions
Is there anything I should avoid before the scan?
No special rules. Eat, drink and take your medicines as usual. Just do not bring metal, bank cards or your phone into the scan room.
How often can I have a spine MRI?
As often as needed. There is no radiation. A repeat scan makes sense when your symptoms change or your doctor wants to check the effect of treatment, usually after 3-6 months at the earliest.
How much is one section?
UAH 3,485 on the 1.5 Tesla scanner. Every section costs the same. Contrast, if needed, adds UAH 2,745.
Do I need contrast?
Not for herniations or wear. Contrast is added for a suspected tumour, metastases, infection, multiple sclerosis and after spine surgery.
Can I have an MRI with metal in my spine?
Modern titanium hardware is mostly safe at 1.5 Tesla. It does blur the image near the metal. Show the device card or your discharge summary. If the MRI is not useful, your doctor will suggest CT.
Can pregnant women and children have it?
Pregnant women, after a gynaecologist's review and for a clear reason, without contrast. Children, with a doctor's referral. Under-6s sometimes need sedation.
Spine MRI prices by section
The price depends on how many sections you need. Each costs UAH 3,485. Two sections come to UAH 6,970, three to UAH 10,455. Contrast is paid separately. The lumbar and lumbosacral scan is the same protocol and the same price. The cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine all cost the same, for a first scan or a follow-up.
A note on "neck MRI": most people mean the cervical spine. An MRI of the neck's soft tissues is a different test. An ENT doctor or endocrinologist orders it.
| Scan (1.5 Tesla) | Price |
|---|---|
| Cervical spine | UAH 3,485 |
| Thoracic spine | UAH 3,485 |
| Lumbar (lumbosacral) spine | UAH 3,485 |
| Sacrum and tailbone | UAH 3,465 |
| Sacroiliac joint | UAH 4,260 |
| Whole-spine cancer screening (metastases) | UAH 6,975 |
| Contrast | UAH 2,745 |
Prices are taken from the clinic price list as of 01.10.2026 and may change. Please check the current cost with our call centre.
Why choose Oberig Clinic for a spine MRI
Price is not the only thing to compare. Who does the scan and on what matters too:
- A Siemens scanner. Magnetom Sempra 1.5 Tesla with Neuro and Ortho Suite packages, Quiet Suite and AI-assisted positioning. The clinic is a Siemens reference centre.
- A second read of every scan. Reports follow the American College of Radiology protocol. The team is led by Taras Matsiievskyi, head of the department, with Iryna Mykytenko and Oleksandr Lysenko, both of the highest qualification category.
- Results in 24 hours. You get the report and disc within a day, except weekends and public holidays.
- Spine care in one place. Neurologists, neurosurgeons, minimally invasive disc procedures, CT-guided nerve blocks and rehab, all at one address.
Address: 3 Zoolohichna St, buildings "G" and "V", Kyiv. Book a spine MRI online at https://my.oberig.ua/ua/appointment/ or call +38 044 521 30 03.
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