Do I Need an X-Ray?: Indications for Medical Imaging
Did you know that more than 30% of 20 year olds who do not have back pain have been found to have a bulging disc on their MRI? With increased age that number only goes up with more than 80% of 80 year olds without back pain also having bulging discs. And what about other body parts? Did you know that depending on age, as many as 30-40% of people without shoulder pain have a partial or full tear of their rotator cuff when seen on MRI? Sometimes getting these images is expensive and time consuming and may not always be beneficial to you in the long run.
There are plenty of times when a person has a tear, bulge, fracture, or sprain that causes them pain. When this happens, sometimes getting an image of your painful joint or region can be helpful in figuring out what is causing the pain. If you have fallen, been in an accident, or had a significant “pop” or loss of control during an injury, an image might be indicated. This is particularly true if you have new and severe pain, difficulty bearing weight, significant tenderness to where you fell, and difficulty moving your body in the way you are used to.
Other times; however, the image can show a lot of differences from “normal” without really giving you a clear answer about your pain. If you have had an X-ray, MRI, CT or other diagnostic imaging test, it might have even given you more questions than answers which can certainly be frustrating. Talking to your physical therapist might help you determine if you need an image to help figure out further treatment for your pain. What you see on the imaging report may only be a part of the equation and the rest of your story will be essential in helping you to feel better. If you are struggling to understand your injury or if you need further testing, do not hesitate to call (260)739-0300 today to see if ProTailored can help you limit your pain without the additional cost of medical imaging.