Do I need an MRI or other imaging before treatment?

If you do not have a recent MRI, we can schedule one in Tijuana on your arrival day. For IV treatments, imaging is usually not required, although patients with neurological conditions may be asked for recent reports. You can send your images and reports before your consultation, and if you do not have any, the doctor will guide you during the call.

Imaging is one of the first things our team asks about when you request information. It helps the doctor understand your condition before you travel and makes your treatment plan more precise. This guide explains when imaging is needed, which study is usually requested, how recent it should be and how to send it.

Why imaging matters

A good image allows the doctor to:

• Confirm the diagnosis: for example, cartilage wear, a meniscus tear, a rotator cuff problem or a degenerated disc.
• See the level of damage: early wear and advanced degeneration are treated differently.
• Identify the exact target: which joint compartment, tendon or spinal level needs treatment.
• Define the dose: the number of cells depends partly on the size and number of areas involved.
• Rule out other problems: some findings may require a different approach or further evaluation.

In the treatment plans we send, we explain that a recent MRI is required for optimal medical evaluation, because it provides detailed and accurate images of the affected area.

Which treatments need imaging?

The doctor may ask for additional studies depending on your case.

Why an MRI?

Each imaging test shows something different:

• MRI shows soft tissues in detail: cartilage, meniscus, ligaments, tendons, intervertebral discs and nerve roots. For most joint and spine cases, it gives the clearest picture.
• X-ray shows bone. It helps grade arthritis by showing joint space narrowing and bone spurs, but it shows little about soft tissues. An X-ray can be useful, but it usually does not replace an MRI for treatment planning.
• Ultrasound is used during the procedure to guide the injection in joints and soft tissue, in real time. It complements the MRI but does not replace it.
• Fluoroscopy is a real-time X-ray used during spine procedures to reach the right level.

International guidelines, such as the NICE guidelines on osteoarthritis (NG226) and on low back pain and sciatica (NG59), note that diagnosis is often clinical and that imaging should be used when it will change management. For a regenerative procedure that targets a specific structure, imaging does change management: it tells the doctor exactly where to apply the cells.

How recent should my MRI be?

We ask for an MRI no older than three months, because joint and spine conditions can change over time, and the doctor needs an accurate view of the current state of the area to plan your application. Your advisor will tell you if your study is recent enough.

If your MRI is older than three months, the doctor will usually ask for a new one, which can be done in the United States before your trip or in Tijuana on your arrival day.

Why three months?

Degenerative conditions of the joints and the spine can change in a few months: cartilage can wear further, a disc can lose more height, inflammation can increase and new findings can appear. A recent study shows the doctor the current state of the area, which is what matters to choose the exact application sites, the number of cells and whether PRP alone, stem cells or a combination is the best option. It also helps avoid surprises during your in-person evaluation, so your treatment day goes as planned.

How to send your images

You can share your imaging before your consultation:

• Reports: a PDF or photo of the radiologist's written report.
• Images: a file-sharing link, such as a cloud folder, or the link provided by your imaging center. Many centers offer an online viewer.
• By email: reply to your advisor's email with the reports or links attached.

Sharing both the written report and the images is ideal. The report summarizes the findings, and the images allow the doctor to see the details directly. If you have reports from your physician in the United States, such as blood tests, X-rays or consultation notes, send them as well, since they help complete your medical profile.

Tips if you get a new MRI before your trip

If you decide to do your MRI in the United States before traveling, a few simple steps help the doctor use it:

• Ask for the specific area: for example, "right knee" or "lumbar spine," not a general study of the region.
• Request the radiologist's written report together with the images.
• Ask for a digital copy: an online viewer link or a download of the images, so you can share them easily.
• Include both sides if both are affected: if both knees hurt, ask your physician whether both should be studied.
• Send everything at least a few days before your trip, so the doctor has time to review it and confirm your plan.

If you are unsure what to request, your advisor can tell you exactly which study the doctor needs before you book the appointment.

If you do not have imaging

Do not worry. If you do not have any study at the moment of your first call, the doctor will guide you during the consultation. Depending on your case:

• The doctor may give you a preliminary plan based on your symptoms and history, to be confirmed with imaging.
• Your advisor can schedule an MRI at an imaging center in Tijuana on your arrival day, before your in-person evaluation. You go to the imaging center, complete your study, and the doctor reviews the images with you at the clinic.
• The images are usually available the same day, so they can be used for your evaluation.

Patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher may need an open MRI, which costs more. Your advisor will confirm the price and the appointment before your trip.

Bring your studies with you

Even if you already sent your imaging, bring copies of your reports on your arrival day, if you have them. This helps the doctor review everything during your in-person consultation.

Imaging and your treatment day

During the procedure, the doctor uses real-time guidance:

• Ultrasound for joints and soft tissue, to see the needle and the target space.
• Fluoroscopy for the spine, to reach the correct level precisely.

Your MRI is what allows the doctor to plan these applications in advance, so the guidance on treatment day confirms a plan that is already defined.

Common questions

Can I use an MRI from my doctor in the United States? Yes. Studies from any certified imaging center are accepted, as long as they are recent enough.

Is a CT scan enough? A CT scan shows bone well and can be useful for some spine cases. For most joint and disc problems, the doctor prefers an MRI. Send what you have, and the doctor will tell you whether it is enough.

I have metal implants or a pacemaker. Can I have an MRI? Tell your advisor. Some implants are compatible with MRI and others are not. The doctor will decide which study is appropriate.

Do I need imaging for an IV treatment? Usually not. For neurological conditions, recent reports of brain or spine imaging may be requested.

Will a new MRI delay my treatment? No. When scheduled on your arrival day, it fits into the same visit.

Questions to ask your advisor

• Is my current imaging recent and complete enough?
• Do I need an MRI, and of which areas?
• How do I send my images and reports?
• If I need an MRI in Tijuana, when will it be scheduled?

Bottom line

For joint and spine treatments, we ask for a recent MRI of the area, no older than three months, so the doctor can plan the exact application sites and dose. IV treatments usually do not require imaging. If you do not have a recent MRI, it can be scheduled in Tijuana on your arrival day. A medical evaluation can help determine whether this type of regenerative treatment is appropriate for your condition, goals and medical history.