X-ray
Your doctor will probably tell you that you need an X-ray at some point so most people like to know what it is and what it does to your body. X-rays use a small amount of radiation in order to capture an image. It goes through your body very fast and when it finds something that’s dense (e.g. bone), it will look white in the X-ray. A radiologist will look at the X-ray and make a determination about the area so that he/she can assess its condition. Your doctor might show you the X-ray and explain it to you. The X-ray might not show what is causing a person’s pain. In that case, a doctor might order an MRI scan which shows more detail. That is because it captures the image in a different way.
MRI
MRI means “magnetic resonance imaging.” The MRI uses a strong magnetic field with radio waves and a computer to generate detailed images of a specific area of the body. If you’ve had an MRI, you may remember the attendant asking you to remove anything metal on your body. Also, the attendant might ask you if you are claustrophobic because you have to go into a machine that is similar to a tunnel. It can be spooky but since there is an opening, it’s not that bad. Also, there is a knocking noise that can be annoying but usually, you can listen to music with headphones.
There are several differences between an X-ray and MRI but one of the most important is that an MRI provides a three-dimensional image. If you notice that an X-ray is very fast while an MRI can take 30 minutes to an hour.
X-rays are good for showing bone fractures and an MRI is good for soft tissue injuries. When an X-ray doesn’t show something obvious, an MRI is great for looking closer for something not shown in the X-ray. An MRI is more expensive than an X-ray also.