Do I need to have any tests?

Do I need to have any tests?

The most common test for low back pain is a Physical Exam.  Physical Exams are typically performed by Primary Care Physicians or Physical Therapists to identify the cause of low back pain.

If the Physical Exam results in any findings outside the norm, typically you will be referred for diagnostic imaging.  You may also be referred to an orthopedic surgeon or Neuro surgeon, who are the specialists in spine health.

Common imaging tests include X-Rays, MRI, CT Scan and Bone Scan.  These tests can further determine the cause of back pain.

X-Rays:  Spinal X-Rays are pictures of the spine used to find injuries or diseases that affect the bones or joints in the spine. X-Ray help to diagnose spinal fractures, dislocations, bone spurs, disc disease, osteoarthritis or scoliosis. 

MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a test that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to allow physicians to assess a patient’s spinal anatomy and investigate an anatomical cause of the patient’s back pain.  MRI gives specific detail to determine spinal alignment, disc height and hydration, vertebral body configuration, intervertebral disc space, nerve integrity or abnormalities in the spine that may cause spine pain.  MRI can help diagnose degenerative disc disease, spinal dysfunction, nerve root compression, and degenerative changes in the spinal column.  

CT Scan:  Also known as CAT scan, it combines special x-ray equipment with sophisticated computers to produce multiple images or pictures of the inside of the body. Using CT, the bony structure of the spinal vertebrae is clearly and accurately shown by CT scanning, as are the intervertebral disks and, to some degree, the spinal cord which can help to diagnose cause of back pain.

Bone Scan: A bone scan is a nuclear scanning test that identifies new areas of bone growth or breakdown.  A bone scan can often find a problem days to months earlier than a regular X-Ray test.