Clearwater chiropractor, chiropractor in Clearwater, FL
Services
X-Ray / MRI
Why are X-Rays Necessary?
X-rays can help determine the necessary course of treatment and reveal
if some underlying conditions might interfere with it. For example, patients
often come to doctors of chiropractic after having suffered an injury. In
many cases, x-rays are necessary to exclude the possibility of more
serious health problems. X-rays are also recommended in older patients-
for example, to help detect the probability of osteoporosis- well as in patients
with a history of certain types of arthritis, tumors, and many other conditions.
What Does the X-Ray Procedure Include? Each type of x-ray procedure has its own specific preparation. Remember just a few basics-and your doctor or x-ray technician will discuss those with you before the examination:
If you are a women, tell your doctor of you might be pregnant. The doctor will also likely ask about your last menstrual period to assure that it is safe to take the radiographs.
Remove any clothing over the part of the body to be x-rayed. If necessary, you will be given a gown and sometimes a protective lead drape to shield the rest of your body.
Remove all jewelry from the body part to be x-rayed. The metal in the jewelry may obscure the image.
Depending on the examined body area, you can be lying, sitting on a table in the radiology suite, or standing near a film-holding device. The doctor or technician will measure the body part and place it into a position that will provide the best radiograph. He or she then will aim the x-ray tube at the proper body region and tell you what position to hold and how to breathe. When the x-ray machine is activated, you may hear some pops, clicks, and beeps, which are normal part of the procedure. Unless instructed otherwise by your doctor, you should remain perfectly still. If your movements distort the image on the x-ray film, the x-ray may need to be retaken.
Usually, at least 2 views of a body part are taken. In some cases, more views may be necessary. Your doctor will perform only the minimum number of views that he or she considers necessary.
In some patients, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan or some other advanced imaging technique may be ordered in addition to regular radiographs. These studies help investigate x-ray findings or create images for conditions that are not easily seen on radiographs, such as spinal disc disorders. MRIs are more expensive than x-rays and are primarily for soft tissue.
Your doctor of chiropractic has the knowledge, training, and expertise to help you understand what your problem is and, in many cases, manage it successfully. Remember, however, that the treatment program can be successfully only with your active participation. If your doctor of chiropractic feels that he or she cannot help you, you will be directed to another health care provider.
