Diagnostic Imaging

When determining the cause of your back pain, diagnostic imaging services are a necessary tool.  By examining the body's internal structures, doctors are able to determine the cause of your back pain.  Without these tools at their disposal, doctors would have a much more difficult time finding, and treating the causes of back pain.  In the Cincinnati area, there are a number of imaging services that can be used to determine the cause of your pain. 

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging is probably the most useful diagnostic imaging service available.  Since the back is made of several different types of soft tissue, the MRI can provide a more accurate diagnostic image that the standard x-ray since it can image soft tissue better.  The majority of diagnostic imaging services were originally designed to examine bone and more solid internal structures.  The MRI was created solely to look a the soft tissues.

The MRI is also much safer than other body imaging services.  While the majority use radiation to create an image, the MRI uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to form digital images.  Various magnets inside the MRI machine align cells, and when radiowaves are bounced off them, the machine can detect the various cellular structures inside the body.

From the patients point of view, the MRI may seem like an intimidating piece of machinery, but the imaging process is completely painless for the vast majority of people.  Some may find a certain amount of discomfort from the small space or the fact they must stay still for an extended period of time, but the procedure itself causes no physical pain.  Most standard scans tend to take less than an hour to perform.  Results are normally available within 24 hours. 

Since MRI machines use very powerful magnets, metal should be kept away from the machines at all times.  When going in for your MRI scan, make sure your remove all metallic objects from your body, including body jewelry, keys, watches, and anything else that is made of metal.  The powerful magnets could rip them off of your body.  You should wear comfortable clothing to ensure you have a pleasant experience.  If you are claustrophobic, you can have a stand-up MRI performed.  Where the traditional MRI machine is an enclosed tube, stand-up MRIs allow you a more open space than the normal, enclosed tube.

In the case of certain spinal MRI scans, contrast material may need to be used.  This allows the diagnostic imaging procedure to target specific tissue in the body, making it stand out from other internal structures better.

Computed Tomography

The CAT Scan is another standard spinal diagnostic imaging procedure.  Like the MRI, computer tomography can be used to detect issues with soft tissue and bone.  Where MRIs are better for imaging large areas, the CAT Scan is best for narrowing the search down to a smaller focal area.  With this diagnostic imaging service, you are placed on a movable table.  The computed tomography machine then rotates, taking several different 2-D x-ray images.  Once enough images have been taken, they are combined by a machine to create an accurate 3-D images of a specific area of the spine.  Since x-ray images are used to create the 3-D image, patients will be exposed to a safe level of radiation.

Computed tomography is a diagnostic imaging technique that is most commonly used to detect the extent of bone damage in the spine, but also to check for infection, arthritis, and certain damaged soft tissue.  In certain cases, depending of the type of matter being tested, a contrast material may be used.  This will help to highlight that specific type of tissue.

The CAT Scan is completely painless for the person being scanned.  Most modern machines do not use the enclosed capsules like other body imaging services, so the claustrophobia associated with the MRI is no longer and issue.  The most discomfort a person will feel is having to lie still for an extended period of time, normally around 30 minutes.  Like magnetic resonance imaging, you should wear comfortable clothing and avoid wearing metal objects.  These object can both cause damage to your during the scan and can interfere with the results of the scan.

X-Ray

Most back pain testing starts with the standard x-ray.  This is the traditional radiation based diagnostic imaging tool that is used to check the bone structure and certain soft tissue structures of the human body.  The name x-ray comes from the type of radiation used to create the image.  Exposure to radiation at this level is perfectly safe, and the patient will not experience any negative effects fr om the exposure.  These are also the fastest way to detect potential injuries to the bones in the spinal column.  While this is typically a gateway  test for back pain, it does provide doctors with the information they need to move forward.

Since injuries to the vertebrae can be very serious, x-rays can quickly and easily confirm if there is damage to the bones or if they will need to perform more diagnostic imaging test to find the cause of back pain.

These tests and many others may be performed to properly diagnose your back pain cause.  Diagnostic imaging is commonly used in the diagnosis of several other conditions.

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