While we don't perform these services in our office we have the ability to refer patients for any imaging that may be required to best determine a treatment plan for care at our office.
X-Rays
Many patients are sent for X-Rays to give the doctor an inside look at what is going on with the bone structure of the entire spine and surrounding skeletal structure. From this x-ray, the doctor can tell your current spine angles as well as any potential further issues including the potential for additional information such as an MRI.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI is a diagnostic imaging test done to determine the severity ofcertain inuries. If a patient exhibits certain symptoms, shows the potential from basic X-Ray or does not respond well to conservative chiropractic care they may be sent for further imaging like an MRI.
An MRI machine uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the body.
A strong magnetic field is created by passing an electric current through the wire loops. While this is happening, other coils in the magnet send and receive radio waves. This triggers protons in the body to align themselves. Once aligned, radio waves are absorbed by the protons, which stimulate spinning. Energy is released after "exciting" the molecules, which in turn sends out energy signals that are picked up by the coil. This information is then sent to a computer which processes all the signals and generates it into an image. The test takes 30-45 minutes and does not involve any ioniozing radiation.
Computed Tomography (Cat Scan or CT)
A CT scan stands for Computed Tomography scan. It is also known as a CAT (Computer Axial Tomography) scan. It is a medical imaging method that employs tomography. Tomography is the process of generating a two-dimensional image of a slice or section through a 3-dimensional object (a tomogram).
A CT scanner sends out a series of narrow beams through the human body as it moves through an arc, unlike an X-ray machine which sends just one radiation beam. The final picture is far more detailed than an X-ray. Inside the CT scanner there is an X-ray detector which can see hundreds of different levels of density. It can see tissues inside a solid organ. This data is transmitted to a computer, which builds up a 3-D cross-sectional picture of the part of the body and displays it on the screen.
CT scans are used for a variety of reasons including to get a more detailed image when patients cannot lay down for the period of an MRI.