Another question.

My ns finally ordered a flexion/extension mri this Friday. Will they be able to diagnose cranial  instability this way?

[selmaS]

  They should...good luck...oh and hold on : )

[Tharris85]

I guess I am just confused on how a cervical mri can diagnose cranial instability. Can you explain Selma?

[selmaS]

It is what happens in those positions...how things shift or cut off CSF flow or even move out of joint....

Is this a MRI or an x ray? Either way they can look at how ur  joint holds up to movement....

Mine was an xray and I was standing...so I had to hold on to this handle as I felt I would fall, plus when looking up or bending back my head would lock in that position....no fun....but u may be laying down which will be easier...

  

[Tharris85]

Ok. It's an MRI. I don't think they will see the csf flow though. Will that matter?

[selmaS]

  No but they can tell if it would obstruct and if it is moving off the joint making it unstable....

[irislita]

ok...i had an xray.i am sure they will detect if u have instability...it shows how ur vertebras are shifting while moving and touching brainstem etc. dont think too much.i am glad ur ns ordered so u get ur answer. if u want google flexion/extension xray pictures...to have an idea about it

[irislita]

http://www.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http://uprightradiologycases.com/mri-images/case2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://uprightradiologycases.com/index.php?pageNum_Recordset1%3D2&h=270&w=510&sz=43&tbnid=7MviTdTfeMOjmM:&tbnh=68&tbnw=128&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dflexion%2Bmri%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=flexion+mri&usg=__PQh1j6lJjsywsWS1PwXJNJuCJ98=&docid=IfBil5Uf56Yw3M&hl=de&sa=X&ei=MfqjUOGEE4mI0AXp_YD4Cg&ved=0CDgQ9QEwBA&dur=744

here an example to have an idea