Nerve Pain
Advanced nerve imaging for sciatica, nerve entrapment, and unexplained neuropathic pain.
Why Diagnosis Comes First
Nerve pain is often obvious to feel, harder to localise and requires advanced imaging to confidently diagnose.
Nerve pain can arise from the spine, along a peripheral nerve, or at a site of entrapment or inflammation and the source is not always where the pain is felt. Identifying the correct level and structure requires imaging that goes beyond anatomy alone.
At MBR Health, advanced nerve imaging including NerveVIEW MRI and 3T MRI is used to assess nerve irritation, focal neuritis and structural contributors that may not be visible on routine imaging.
The source matters
Common causes of nerve pain.
- Radicular Pain
Nerve root irritation or compression at the spine can cause pain, numbness, tingling or weakness radiating into the arm or leg.
- Peripheral Nerve Entrapment
A nerve can become compressed or irritated along its peripheral course, producing focal neuropathic pain, altered sensation or weakness.
- Focal Neuritis
Some nerves are painful because they are inflamed, even when the structural cause is subtle or difficult to see on routine imaging.
- Post-surgical or Scar-related Nerve Pain
Nerve pain after surgery may reflect scar tissue, tethering, recurrent compression or altered anatomy rather than a simple return of the original problem.
- Unexplained Neuropathic Pain
Some patients have persistent nerve symptoms despite previous scans or treatment, and need more targeted imaging to identify whether the nerve itself is the relevant structure.
How we investigate
NerveVIEW MRI
NerveVIEW is an advanced MRI technique designed to better demonstrate nerve inflammation, focal neuritis and selected nerve-related pathology that may not be obvious on routine imaging alone.
Best for: nerve irritation, focal neuritis, unexplained neuropathic pain, radicular symptoms and selected post-surgical review.
3T MRI for Nerve Pain
A 3T MRI provides high-resolution imaging of surrounding soft tissues, discs, joints, foramina and other structures that may be contributing to nerve compression or irritation. Anatomical MRI imaging does not show nerve irritation; it shows anatomy that may be causing the nerve pain.
Best for: sciatica, radiculopathy, cervical nerve pain, spinal nerve assessment, and structural correlation of nerve symptoms.
Ultrasound for Superficial Nerve Assessment
Ultrasound can provide real-time assessment of selected superficial peripheral nerves and surrounding soft tissues. It may also be useful for dynamic assessment and image-guided procedures in carefully selected cases.
Best for: superficial nerve entrapment, focal tenderness, dynamic assessment and procedural guidance.
Spectral CT for Bony or
Post-surgical Correlation
Spectral CT can provide detailed assessment of foraminal narrowing, calcification, hardware and complex post-surgical anatomy where bony detail matters or MRI needs additional structural correlation.
Best for: bony nerve compression, foraminal narrowing, post-surgical anatomy and complex structural review.
Treatment Philosophy
Treatment is guided by the location and behaviors of the nerve problem.
At MBR Health, the first step is identifying whether the issue relates to nerve compression, irritation, entrapment, scar-related change or another structural cause. Where appropriate, patients may then explore image-guided options including PRP and other targeted interventions, selected according to the anatomy, imaging findings and clinical context. Precision in treatment begins with precision in diagnosis.
“Our nerve imaging offers the closest thing
medicine has to visualising pain.”
Dr Zane Sherif, Specialist Radiologist
Common Questions from Patients
Frequently Asked Questions
Take the next step
Speak to your healthcare team.
ensure every next step is informed, precise, and designed around you.