MRI

A practical guide to MRI for sports injuries — what it shows, when ultrasound is better, and how imaging informs return-to-sport decisions.

A practical guide to preparing for an MRI scan in the UK. What to wear, what to bring, eating and drinking, safety questions and how to make the scan easier.

How to manage claustrophobia for an MRI scan. Open MRI options, sedation, breathing techniques, and what to ask before booking.

A plain-English guide to MRI with contrast (gadolinium). When it's needed, side effects, kidney function considerations, and what to expect.

When chronic headaches and migraines warrant an MRI, the red flag symptoms that change everything, and how to think about the result.

A plain-English comparison of CT and MRI scans. What each shows, when to use which, what they cost privately in the UK, and how to decide.

When a brain MRI is genuinely needed, what it shows for headaches, dizziness and other symptoms, and what it costs privately in the UK.

When shoulder pain needs an MRI, when ultrasound is better, what each scan shows for rotator cuff and labral problems, and what it costs privately.

When knee pain needs an MRI, what the scan actually shows for meniscus tears, cruciate ligaments and cartilage, and what it costs privately.

When does back pain need an MRI, when doesn't it, what does the scan actually show, and how much does it cost privately? A plain-English guide.