Can X-Ray Only Diagnose a Back or Spine Problem?
When you cannot move at all, the back specialist may examine the motion ranges as well as the nerve functions and touch the body to find out the area of pain and discomfort. Blood and urine testing can be performed to determine whether the pain indicates a problem or an infection.
In order to identify broken bones or other skeletal defects, X-rays are useful. Sometimes they can help to identify binding tissue problems. CT or MRI scans may be necessary for the analysis of soft-tissue or disc damage. X-rays and imaging trials are usually used to validate your symptoms and test results for pain sources. Scans are also used for direct back trauma, fever back pain, or weakness or addictions. An electromyogram (EMG) may be ordered to identify possible nerve or muscle damage.
X-Ray and MRI Differences
In fact, an x-ray is a form of radiation – in particular, it is an extremely short electromagnetic wave which enables you to pass objects that are impermeable to another form of light. This feature enables us effectively to 'see' the human body by X-rays in the area doctors want to see. In 1895, it was first found as the oldest form of in-house medicine imaging.
In recent years, researchers have developed numerous other ways of taking images of the human body — ways of showing detail with little or no radiation exposure. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which combines magnets and radio waves to create detailed pictures of internal bodies and tissues, is one of the most common types of images.
The combination of several types of images helps us to create a more comprehensive image of the patient.
Myth 1: X-ray data for definitive diagnoses are sufficient.
Reality: An X-ray gives an incomplete photo in modern medicine.
‘X-ray is just a starting point for imaging’ says the Polaris Spine & Neurosurgical Center spinal expert, Dr. Christoph Tomaras M.D. "MRIs are now the gold standard. We have X-rays, but it gives only a general overview of the anatomy of the patient. Soft tissue, discs and nerves are all better represented by an RMN. On X-ray alone, you do not see those. An X-ray alone would only have some pathologies to diagnose.
Why do patients misunderstand that all they need is X-rays? Dr Tomaras says that this is partly due to previously thought of patients, which are often strengthened by other doctors. "Several of our patients have seen doctors making a pretty aggressive X-ray diagnosis alone. And many patients feel that they've answered, if it doesn't actually have.
Finally: X-rays are useful to give an overview of issues, in particular osteoarthritis – although they do not show the whole picture.
Myth 2: MRI is a powerful X-ray alternative.
Truth: MRI reveals things radios can't do, and the opposite.
While soft tissues and organs are more detailed than an X-ray for MRIs, MRI has its limitations especially with regard to patient movements.
Dr. Tomaras says "We are taking an MRI with the patient lying flat so that's a picture of your position. Well, there's instability with some patients, so when they stand or sit, their anatomy changes. So we get "bending" X-rays, standing patients who bend forward and backward. So most of the time we also get "flexion extension" X. These X-rays add to the RIM because only a certain view in one position is provided by the RIM.
Finally: X-rays show the bones quite well, as how the bones are moving together and flexing. MRIs show greater damage to the tissue, but do not show movement discrepancies. The combination of an x-ray with an MRI allows us to get a more complete diagnosis.
See us at Oklahoma Pain Treatment. We do spine and back treatment using the highest and modern facilities in OKC. Consult our back specialist for spine and low back pain to get the right treatment.
**Disclaimer: This blog post does not establish terms of a doctor-patient relationship and is not intended to be taken as a doctor's advice.
