Q1: What are the first steps to treat back pain at home?
Start with rest, gentle stretching, and over-the-counter pain relief if the pain is mild. Maintaining good posture, avoiding heavy lifting, and using ergonomic seating can reduce strain. However, if pain persists beyond a few days or worsens, it’s important to investigate the underlying cause.

Q2: Can physiotherapy, chiropractic, or acupuncture fix back pain?
These treatments may help relieve symptoms temporarily and improve mobility, but they cannot diagnose the root cause. Without clear imaging, such as MRI, serious conditions like herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or fractures may be missed, delaying effective treatment.

Q3: When should I consider getting an MRI for back pain?
Consider MRI if you have:

• Pain persisting for several weeks despite therapy

• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in legs

• Loss of bladder or bowel control (urgent red flag)

• Pain limiting work, sports, or daily activities

MRI provides high-resolution, radiation-free imaging of discs, nerves, ligaments, and vertebrae, helping to pinpoint the exact cause and guide proper treatment.

Q4: Why not just rely on X-ray, CT, or ultrasound?

• X-rays: Show bone alignment but cannot detect soft tissue problems or nerve compression.

• CT scans: Good for bones but limited for discs and ligaments.

• Ultrasound: Cannot see deep spinal structures.

MRI is superior because it provides comprehensive, clear imaging of all spinal structures without radiation.

Q5: Where can I get a fast and affordable MRI for back pain in Singapore?
The Pain Relief Clinic offers insurance and Medisave claimable MRI scans under $1,000, done within 1 working day. Combined with non-surgical treatments like hot therapy, guided exercises, and physiotherapy, this approach helps you recover safely and return to work, exercise, or daily life without unnecessary delays.

Q1: I injured my ankle or foot during sports, and it still hurts. Should I get an MRI?
Yes. Post-trauma ankle or foot pain may indicate ligament tears (like ATFL, CFL), tendon injuries, cartilage damage, or subtle fractures. X-rays may appear normal, missing soft tissue injuries. MRI provides high-resolution, radiation-free images of all relevant structures for accurate diagnosis.

Q2: Can rest, ice, or physiotherapy treat ankle or foot injuries without MRI?
These measures may temporarily reduce symptoms but cannot detect hidden ligament, tendon, or cartilage injuries. Without MRI, serious structural damage may go undiagnosed, delaying proper treatment and risking chronic pain or instability.

Q3: What are the risks of delaying MRI for ankle or foot pain after trauma?
Delaying MRI may allow ligament, tendon, or cartilage injuries to worsen, causing chronic pain, instability, limited mobility, and early degenerative changes. Early MRI ensures timely diagnosis and non-surgical intervention to prevent long-term complications.

Q4: Why is MRI better than X-ray, CT, or ultrasound for post-trauma ankle or foot injuries?
X-rays detect only bone fractures or alignment issues, CT has limited soft tissue detail, and ultrasound may miss deep tendon or ligament injuries. MRI provides comprehensive, radiation-free imaging of ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and bones, enabling precise diagnosis and treatment planning.

Q5: Where can I get a fast, affordable MRI for ankle or foot pain after trauma?
The Pain Relief Clinic provides insurance and Medisave claimable MRI scans under $1,000, completed within 1 working day, along with non-surgical treatments to safely restore ankle or foot function.

Q1: My ankle or foot hurts for months and doesn’t improve with rest. Should I get an MRI?
Yes. Chronic ankle or foot pain may indicate ligament tears (like ATFL or CFL), tendon injuries, cartilage damage, or early arthritis. X-rays usually detect only fractures or alignment issues, missing soft tissue injuries. MRI provides high-resolution, radiation-free imaging of ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and bones for precise diagnosis.

Q2: Can physiotherapy, braces, or painkillers treat chronic ankle or foot pain without MRI?
These treatments may provide temporary relief but cannot confirm the underlying structural problem. Without MRI, serious ligament, tendon, or cartilage injuries may go undiagnosed, prolonging pain and functional limitations.

Q3: What are the risks of delaying MRI for chronic ankle or foot pain?
Delaying MRI may allow ligament, tendon, or cartilage injuries to worsen, leading to chronic pain, instability, reduced mobility, and early arthritis. Early MRI ensures accurate diagnosis and timely non-surgical treatment.

Q4: Why is MRI better than X-ray, CT, or ultrasound for ankle or foot injuries?
X-rays show only bones, CT has limited soft tissue resolution, and ultrasound may miss deep tendon or ligament injuries. MRI provides comprehensive, radiation-free imaging of ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and bones for precise treatment planning.

Q5: Where can I get a fast, affordable MRI for chronic ankle or foot pain?
The Pain Relief Clinic offers insurance and Medisave claimable MRI scans under $1,000, completed within 1 working day, along with non-surgical treatments to restore function safely.

Q1: My knee locks or catches when I bend it. Should I get an MRI?
Yes. Locking or catching may indicate meniscus tears, cartilage fragments, ligament injuries, or early osteoarthritis. X-rays cannot detect soft tissue injuries causing mechanical symptoms. MRI provides high-resolution, radiation-free images of meniscus, cartilage, ligaments, and bones to identify the exact cause.

Q2: Can physiotherapy or anti-inflammatories fix locking or catching without MRI?
These measures may relieve symptoms temporarily but cannot confirm underlying structural injuries. Without MRI, serious meniscus or ligament damage may go undiagnosed, prolonging pain and mechanical dysfunction.

Q3: What are the risks of delaying MRI for knee locking or catching?
Delaying MRI may allow meniscus or ligament injuries to worsen, leading to chronic pain, repeated locking, instability, and long-term cartilage damage. Early MRI ensures timely, targeted non-surgical management.

Q4: Why is MRI better than X-ray, CT, or ultrasound for these knee symptoms?
X-rays detect only bone changes, CT has limited soft tissue resolution, and ultrasound may miss deep meniscus or ligament injuries. MRI provides comprehensive, radiation-free imaging of all knee structures for precise diagnosis.

Q5: Where can I get a fast, affordable MRI for knee locking or catching?
The Pain Relief Clinic offers insurance and Medisave claimable MRI scans under $1,000, completed within 1 working day, with non-surgical treatments to restore knee function and prevent further damage.

Q1: My knee swells and sometimes feels unstable. Should I get an MRI?
Yes. Swelling and instability may indicate ligament tears (ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL), meniscus injury, cartilage damage, or early osteoarthritis. X-rays cannot detect these soft tissue injuries. MRI provides high-resolution, radiation-free images of ligaments, meniscus, cartilage, and bones to identify the cause accurately.

Q2: Can rest, ice, or physiotherapy fix swelling and instability without MRI?
These treatments may provide temporary relief but cannot confirm the underlying injury. Without MRI, serious ligament, meniscus, or cartilage damage may go undiagnosed, delaying effective treatment and risking chronic knee problems.

Q3: What are the risks of delaying MRI for knee swelling or instability?
Delaying MRI may allow ligament or meniscus injuries to worsen, causing chronic pain, reduced stability, limited mobility, and early osteoarthritis. Early MRI ensures timely, targeted non-surgical management.

Q4: Why is MRI superior to X-ray, CT, or ultrasound for swollen or unstable knees?
X-rays detect only bone changes, CT is limited for soft tissue, and ultrasound may miss deep ligament or cartilage injuries. MRI provides comprehensive, radiation-free imaging of all knee structures, allowing precise diagnosis and treatment planning.

Q5: Where can I get a fast, affordable MRI for knee swelling or instability?
The Pain Relief Clinic offers insurance and Medisave claimable MRI scans under $1,000, completed within 1 working day, with non-surgical treatments to restore knee stability and function safely.