See your spine the way it hurts.

Your back hurts when you stand, but most MRIs are taken lying down. Ours is an open MRI that tilts, so it works as an upright MRI too: it scans your spine sitting, standing or lying down, in the position where it hurts. A self-pay standing MRI is $399, spine or joint, report included, with no facility fee added and no referral needed. Walk-ins are welcome, or book online in about two minutes. Scans are done at our MRI center, 3930 Dutchmans Ln, Louisville, KY 40207. Hablamos español: (502) 362-1780, las 24 horas.

Call (502) 242-6370

$399

Self-pay spine MRI

Positions: sit, stand, lie down

Open

Not a tube

Quiet

Much less banging and clacking than a normal MRI

$399

Self-pay spine MRI

Positions: sit, stand, lie down

Open

Not a tube

5,000+

Spine surgeries by Dr. V

How an open, upright MRI is different from a regular MRI.

Your position

A regular MRI scans you lying flat on your back. Ours can also scan you sitting or standing, the positions where many people feel their pain.

Your spine under load

Lying down takes the weight off your spine. Scanning upright shows your discs, joints and spinal canal while they carry your weight.

The space around you

A regular MRI slides you into a closed tube. Ours is open on the sides, which many people find easier, especially if tight spaces bother them.

A spine that's lying down isn't carrying your weight.

Most MRIs are taken with you flat on your back, when your spine is unloaded. For many problems, that's all we need to see. Some problems only show up under load: a canal that narrows when you stand, a disc that bulges further, a vertebra that slips forward. Lying down, they can look milder than they are. If your pain comes with standing or walking, it makes sense to look at your spine that way too.

How it works.

Sit, stand or lie down

The table tilts, so we scan you in the position that matches your symptoms.

Open, not a tube

You can see the room the whole time. If a closed MRI isn't an option for you, ask us about this one.

Read with you by the surgeon

Dr. Vemuri goes over your images with you. Not a portal message.

Who it can help.

Pain when you stand or walk

Pain that's worse when you stand or walk, and eases when you sit.

A normal MRI, but still hurting

An MRI that came back normal, and pain that didn't go away.

Symptoms that change with position

Leg pain, numbness or tingling that changes when you move. And anyone who can't manage a closed MRI.

5,000+

Spine surgeries

4,000+

Office visits per year

1,000+

Outpatient procedures in five years, in surgery centers since 2014

Dr Venu
Vemuri

Dr. Venu Vemuri, D.O. (Dr. V) is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon and is board-certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery. He opened miiSpine in 2021 as an independent alternative to corporate medicine. He has performed more than 5,000 spine surgeries, has done minimally invasive spine surgery in ambulatory surgery centers since 2014, and he reviews your MRI with you himself.

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Questions about standing MRI.

Is a standing MRI a real MRI?

Yes. It's an MRI scanner. The difference is that the table tilts, so we can scan your spine upright as well as lying down.

How much does it cost?

A self-pay MRI is $399 for one body part, without contrast, and includes the report. No facility fee is added, and no referral is needed. Coverage for positional MRI varies by insurance plan, so ask about yours when you call (502) 242-6370.

Where is the MRI?

At our MRI center, 3930 Dutchmans Ln, Louisville, KY 40207. It's a separate building from the main miiSpine clinic, so check the address on your appointment.

Should I bring my old MRI?

Yes. Bring any prior imaging and reports. Comparing a lying-down scan with a standing one can be useful.

Is it loud?

Most MRI scanners make loud knocking sounds while they run. Ours is quiet enough that many patients fall asleep.

¿Hablan español?

Sí. Llame al (502) 362-1780, las 24 horas, o visite miispine.com/accidentes.

Can I walk in?

Yes. Walk-ins are welcome at the MRI center, and same-week appointments are available. If you'd rather lock in a time, book online in about two minutes using the chat button on this page, or call (502) 242-6370.

How soon will I get my results?

Usually within 24 to 48 hours. Dr. Vemuri goes over the images with you.

Do you scan knees and shoulders?

Yes. Knees, shoulders, hips, ankles, wrists and elbows, at the same $399 self-pay price, report included. You don't need to be a spine patient.

Knee and shoulder MRI ↗

Afraid of closed MRIs?

Ours has no tube. The sides are open, you can see the room the whole time, and you can be scanned sitting or standing instead of lying flat. The scanner is rated to 400 pounds, and a companion can stay in the room.

Open MRI ↗

This content is for general information and isn't a substitute for a medical evaluation. Every spine is different. Talk to a spine specialist about your specific symptoms.

Standing MRI

Book your $399 MRI.

See your spine the way it hurts.

What is a standing MRI?