Free Spinal MRI Review
Free MRI Review in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
If you already have an MRI of your spine, taken here or somewhere else, and nobody has walked you through what it actually shows, Tradewinds Chiropractic & Wellness in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas offers a free review of that imaging with Dr. Bradley Keys. The free review is for spinal MRIs. Medicare patients are not eligible for it.
What a free MRI review is, and is not
This is a review of an MRI you already have, not a new scan performed here. Tradewinds takes digital x-rays on site (see digital x-ray and posture analysis), but an MRI machine is a different piece of equipment, and this clinic does not own one. If you do not yet have an MRI and think you need one, that order comes from a physician, usually after a hands-on exam points to something an x-ray cannot answer.
What this service does offer is a second set of eyes on imaging you already paid for and may not fully understand. Radiology reports are written for other clinicians, full of terms like "disc desiccation" or "facet arthropathy" that mean little without context. Dr. Keys reads the images himself and goes over them with you in person, explaining in plain language what is actually going on at each level of your spine and how it lines up, or does not, with the pain you are having.
It is not a diagnosis performed in place of the radiologist's official report, and it is not a promise of treatment. Some MRIs show findings that are common at any age and unrelated to your symptoms. Part of the value of a second look is telling you which findings probably matter and which do not.
What it helps with
Herniated or bulging disc pain that shows up on imaging and runs into an arm or a leg. See herniated disc.
Degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the spine seen on a report full of unfamiliar terms.
Spinal stenosis, where the images and the symptoms need to be read together.
Sciatica or other nerve-root pain where an MRI has already been done but the next step is unclear. See sciatica.
Deciding whether a course of conservative care is worth trying before considering surgery.
How we do it at Tradewinds
The free review is for spinal MRIs. Bring your MRI disc to the office, along with the radiology report if you have it and any notes from a surgeon or physician who has already seen the images. Dr. Keys reads the images himself and goes over them with you in person. He reads them alongside your history, since a report on its own does not tell him how you actually move or where your pain is coming from that day. Dr. Keys is the Chair of the Virgin Islands Board of Chiropractic Examiners, a member of the Virgin Islands Chiropractic Society, and the International Chiropractors Association representative for the U.S. Virgin Islands.
From there he tells you plainly whether conservative care here, a referral to an orthopedist or neurosurgeon, or simply watching and waiting looks like the right next step.
When it's not the right step
An MRI review is not the place to start if:
You have not had an MRI yet and are not sure you need one. Talk to your physician first about whether imaging is warranted.
You have new or worsening loss of bowel or bladder control, spreading numbness or weakness, or fever with back pain. That needs urgent medical evaluation, not a scheduled review.
You are actively deciding between surgeons and need a formal second surgical opinion. This review can help you understand the images, but it is not a substitute for that consultation.
Visitors, crew and cruise passengers
Plenty of visitors and boat crew arrive with imaging done back home and questions nobody had time to answer before they got on a plane or a flight home. The review happens in person at the office, so bring your MRI disc with you to St. Thomas and call early in your stay.
Getting seen
Call (340) 690-4994 to book. We take walk-ins and same-day appointments. We are at the VI Medical Foundation Building, Suite 202, 9150 Estate Thomas, St. Thomas, USVI 00802, just east of Charlotte Amalie and a short drive from the Havensight cruise port and Yacht Haven Grande. Hours are Mon, Wed, Thu: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Tue, Fri: 7:00 am to 2:00 pm. Closed Sat and Sun. New patient forms are at forms. Tradewinds Chiropractic has more than 180 five-star Google reviews.
Questions patients ask
Is there a free MRI review available in the U.S. Virgin Islands?
Tradewinds Chiropractic & Wellness in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas offers a free review of a spinal MRI you already have. Dr. Bradley Keys reads the images himself and goes over them with you in person. Medicare patients are not eligible for it. Call (340) 690-4994 to book.
Does Tradewinds do MRI scans on site?
No. Tradewinds takes digital x-rays on site but does not have an MRI machine. This service reviews an MRI you already had done elsewhere, or one your physician orders.
What do I need to bring for my MRI to be reviewed?
Bring your MRI disc to the office, along with the radiology report if you have it and any notes from a surgeon or physician who has already seen the images. The free review is for spinal MRIs. Dr. Keys reads the images himself and goes over them with you in person.
Will Dr. Keys tell me if I need surgery?
He will tell you plainly how the images line up with your symptoms and whether conservative care, a referral to a specialist, or watching and waiting looks like the right next step. A formal surgical opinion still comes from the surgeon you are considering.
Can I get an MRI reviewed if I do not live in St. Thomas?
Yes. Visitors and crew bring imaging from home regularly. The review is done in person at the office, so bring your spinal MRI disc with you to St. Thomas.
Medicare patients: because of Medicare rules, we can't offer the free review to patients covered by Medicare. Call us to book a regular in-office consultation instead.
