When you injure your foot or ankle, it can be devastating. Not only are you in a lot of pain, but it affects your ability to properly perform day to day activities. When you aren’t able to be in tip-top shape, it can affect your work, home, and family life.  A trip to the podiatrist is definitely in order. A podiatrist will examine your foot and ankle and make a diagnosis. Sometimes it is easy to see clearly what is wrong with the foot or ankle. In other instances, it is not as easy or clear. Sometimes special technology is used to get better imaging to aid a podiatrist in making a diagnosis. One such technology is called an MRI.

Most of the time, an MRI takes place in a hospital or clinical setting. These MRI images highlight the internal structure of the body and allow a podiatrist to view them better. These images can be used to determine where an injury is and how it may have occurred.  Open MRI’s allow a patient to have imaging done without radiation and allow for a less claustrophobic feel.

There are quite a few different reasons why a podiatrist may order an MRI. Here are some of the most common occurrences:

Swollen Tendons – If you have pain in any area that has a tendon, a podiatrist may order an MRI. This is because tendon pain can be a sign of an underlying problem such as infection or disease. An MRI can pinpoint the inflammation and tell the podiatrist if there is any damage.

Weakened Joints – Sometimes if a ligament is inflamed or damaged it can cause the weakening of joints in the foot and ankle. A podiatrist will order an MRI to confirm the damage to ligaments.

Arthritis – if you have pain in the foot and no memory of trauma, a podiatrist may order an MRI to see if you have damage caused by arthritis.

Although the three mentioned problems are common, there are many other problems such as fractures, infection, cartilage injuries and more than can be diagnosed with the use of an MRI. An MRI is a useful medical tool that a podiatrist may use to help best identify and treat your injury. Call Dr. Alan J. Discont and Dr. Krahn of Family Foot & Ankle Care, PC located in Chandler, Arizona at 480-732-0033 or make an appointment online today. An MRI can get you on track to a proper diagnosis.