Your spine specialist will be able to get a pretty good understanding of what’s going on in your neck by talking with you about your symptoms and conducting a physical exam, but because the neck and spine are complex systems, oftentimes an imaging test is required to truly pinpoint an exact diagnosis. Depending on your symptoms, your specialist may order one of a number of different imaging tests to aid in their diagnosis. In today’s blog, we take a look at a few different diagnostic imaging tests and explain what they can help uncover in your neck.
Common Neck Imaging Tests
There are a number of different imaging tests that can help you get to the bottom of your neck discomfort. Here’s a look at some of the most common imaging tests Dr. Jackman and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute use on a regular basis.
- X-ray – An X-ray is the most common imaging technique that is used in medical clinics all over the country, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be the right test for you. X-rays use electromagnetic radiation to produce a flat picture of bones and joints in a certain area. It is a wonderful imaging technique to use if your doctor believes that you may be dealing with a fracture or a shifted vertebrae, but an X-ray isn’t great for viewing soft tissues like ligaments and nerves.
- MRI – An MRI is a more advanced imaging technique that uses radio waves and a magnetic field to produce a series of more detailed images inside the body. It can provide a clear look at soft tissues in the body and pinpoint the exact location of a herniated disc that’s bothering nearby spinal nerves. An MRI can also provide images of bones and the spinal column, but because it is more high-tech, it oftentimes requires insurance preauthorization and is more costly than a simpler X-ray.
- CT Scan – A CT scan, also known as a computerized tomography scan, is a special type of X-ray that provides cross-sectional images inside the neck and spine. This type of scan will allow your specialist to visualize the bones and discs in your neck, and it can highlight bone changes or calcification, which can help if bone spurs are irritating nearby nerves. A CT scan will show both bone and soft tissue, but an MRI is better at highlighting some of the differences between the soft tissues.
- Myelogram – A spinal myelogram is an imaging test that uses a special contrast dye and another visualization technique like an X-ray or CT scan to look for issues within the spinal canal. This contrast dye ensures that specific structures can be visualized on an X-ray or CT scan, and it helps a provider detect issues in the spinal cord or the nerve roots.
- Electromyogram – A final diagnostic test that we’ll highlight in this blog is an electromyogram (EMG). It’s a diagnostic procedure that can help the specialist better understand the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control the muscles in the event that a patient is dealing with muscle weakness, numbness, a tingling sensation or other motor issues. During an EMG, a fine needle is inserted into the muscle to record electrical activity in the area.
If you’re dealing with neck pain or other symptoms that may be caused by an issue in your neck or upper spine, reach out to Dr. Jackman and let him put his diagnostic tools to work for you. For more information, or for assistance with a neck or spine issue, give him a call today at (651) 430-3800.
6 Tips For Protecting Your Neck And Spine On The Ski Slopes
