Your neck and spine are complex and intricate systems, and even though they are quite strong, acute force or chronic stress can lead to pain and other problems. Many neck and back issues respond well to active targeted treatment, but in order to successfully treat the problem, you first need to understand exactly what you’re up against. With that in mind, we wanted to use today’s blog to take a closer look at five tools Dr. Jackman and other spine specialists use to diagnose your spinal issue.
Common Spinal Diagnostic Tools
If you are dealing with back pain or related symptoms, head to Dr. Jackman’s office or a spine specialist in your neighborhood. Odds are they’ll use one or more of these tools to get to the bottom of your pain:
- Physical Exam – The first step in the diagnostic process is typically the physical exam. Your specialist will ask you about your symptoms, including when they first developed and what causes them to worsen or alleviate, and then they’ll likely use their hands and eyes to get a better understanding of what’s going on. This may involve placing gentle pressure on certain areas of your back or watching how you respond to simple movement commands. This helps the doctor get a better idea of what’s going on and where to target with additional testing if necessary.
- X-Ray – You’ve probably undergone an X-ray at some point in your life, and it’s a wonderful tool for looking at issues with your bones. X-rays use small doses of radiation to create a visualization of the space being examined, and it can help doctors diagnose problems like fractures, bone spurs or shifted vertebral segments.
- MRI – An MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and it uses pulses of radio waves to create a picture of the spine. It can create a more detailed picture than an X-ray, and it also provides an image of the soft tissues in your body, like muscles, ligaments and even your spinal discs. It takes longer than an X-ray and is typically used when looking at a specific part of the spine as opposed to a CT scan, which can be more exploratory in nature. For suspected pinched nerves or spinal disc compression issues, an MRI can be the perfect tool.
- CT Scan – As we alluded to above, a CT scan is another diagnostic tool that can be used to assess a spinal injury. It is similar to an X-ray, but these images can be generated from different angles to provide a 3D look at the structures in question. Today’s CT scans are much quicker than an MRI, and oftentimes they are used after a car accident or trauma where time is of the essence to help prevent the need for exploratory surgery. It can help diagnose a number of issues in the spine, including disc degeneration, spinal stenosis, infections and tumors.
- Ultrasonography – Finally, ultrasound technology isn’t just reserved for expecting mothers. Ultrasonography is a painless and non-invasive medical imaging technique that uses sound waves to procedure an image of the structure being examined. It’s not commonly used in adults, but it can be effective in helping newborns and infants with potential spinal disorders. It can help to identify problems like spinal tumors or spinal cord issues in very young children.
If you need help getting to the bottom of your neck or back pain, let Dr. Jackman use one of these techniques to help pinpoint your source of discomfort and develop a personalized treatment routine.
