Image Diagnostics: Image diagnostic examination.

Sometimes an image diagnostic examination is needed to determine the cause of the pain. MRI, CT, ultrasound, DEXA scanning and X-ray are all imaging examinations.

There are a number of forms of imaging and they all have their strengths and weaknesses. Here you can read more about the most common forms of imaging and their weaknesses and strengths.

- Also read: Low pressure exercises for you with disc injuries (do not do 'bad exercises' if you have a disc disorder)
- Also read: Complete overview of muscular muscle nodules and trigger points

- Did you know: - Cold treatment can give pain relief to sore joints and muscles? Blue. Biofreeze is a popular product!

X-ray examination

This is the most common form of imaging. X-ray examinations are frequently used, as they can rule out some serious conditions, such as fractures and similar injuries. Common forms of X-ray examinations are examination of the cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (thoracic spine), lumbar spine (lumbar spine), sacrum & coccyx (pelvis and coccyx), shoulder, elbow, wrist, jaw, hands, hip, knees, ankles and feet.

Benefits: Excellent for visualizing bone structures and any soft part calcifications.

Disadvantages: X-rays. Cannot visualize soft tissue in a detailed way.

- Click HERE to read more about X-ray examinations and see X-ray images of various anatomical areas.

Example - X-ray of stress fractures in the foot:

X-ray of stress fractures in the foot.

MRI examination

MRI stands for magnetic resonance, as it is magnetic fields and radio waves that are used in this examination to provide images of bone structures and soft tissue. In contrast to X-ray examinations and CT, MRI does not use harmful radiation. Common forms of MRI examination are as with X-rays; cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (thoracic spine), lumbar spine (lumbar spine), sacrum & coccyx (pelvis and tailbone), shoulder, elbow, wrist, hands, jaw, hip, knees, ankles and feet - but with MRI you can also take pictures of the head and brain.

Example: MR Cervical Columna (MRI of the neck):

Benefits: Very good for visualizing bone structures and soft tissue. Also used to visualize intervertebral discs in the back and neck. No X-rays.

Disadvantages: Kan not used if you have metal in the body, hearing aid or pacemakers, as magnetism can stop the latter or pull on the metal in the body. Stories have it that due to the use of lead in old, old tattoos, this lead was pulled out of the tattoo and against the large magnet in an MRI machine - this must have been unbearably painful, and not least devastating for MRI machine.

Another disadvantage is the price of an MRI examination - one chiropractor or GP can both refer to imaging and will also see if needed. But such a referral you only pay a minimal deductible. The price for publicly referred MR can be between 200 - 400 kroner. For comparison lies one private MR of between 3000 - 5000 kroner.

- Click HERE to read more about MRI examination and see MRI images of various anatomical areas.

Example - MRI image of cervical spine (neck):

MR image of neck - Wikimedia Commons

CT examination

CT stands for computed tomography, uses many X-rays taken from different angles and directions to collectively provide a detailed cross-sectional image. In other words, you take a high number of 2D X-rays and put them together into a 3D image of the area. Common forms of CT examination are as in MRI; cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (thoracic spine), lumbar spine (lumbar spine), sacrum & coccyx (pelvis and coccyx), shoulder, elbow, wrist, hands, jaw, hip, knees, ankles and feet - but with CT you can also take pictures of the head and brain, then with or without contrast fluid.

Benefits: Like MRI, CT is a very good method for visualizing bone structures and soft tissue. Also used to visualize intervertebral discs in the back and neck. Can be used if you have metal in the body, hearing aid or pacemakers, since unlike MR, there is no magnetism involved in such a study.

Disadvantages: High dose of X-rays. This is because in a single CT examination you receive radiation equivalent to 100 - 1000 times more than traditional X-rays (Redberg, 2014). A CT examination of a child of 1 year increases the chance of cancer by 0.1%, these shocking results were published in the British Medical Journal in 2013 (Mathews et al).

- Click HERE to read more about CT examinations and see CT images of various anatomical areas.

Diagnostic ultrasound

Regular examinations: 3D Ultrasound, 4D Ultrasound for Pregnancy, Diagnostics, Simple Ultrasound, Health Check with Ultrasound, Health Services, Ultrasound, Ultrasound of the Abdomen and Pelvis, Ultrasound of Arteries of the Lower Extremity, Ultrasound of the Chest and Armpit, Ultrasound of pregnant women with questions about the age and sex of the fetus, Ultrasound of the carotid artery, Ultrasound of the carotid artery, Ultrasound of the lymph nodes, Ultrasound of the parathyroid gland, Ultrasound of the testicles, Ultrasound of the veins in the lower extremity for blood clots.

- This page is under construction… will be updated soon.

Recommended Literature:

- Pain: The Science of Suffering (Maps of the Mind) - Learn to understand the pain.

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Source:

1) Redberg, Rita F., and Smith-Bindman, Rebecca. "We Are Giving Ourselves Cancer", New York Times, Jan. 30, 2014

2) Mathews, JD; Forsythe, AV; Brady, Z .; Butler, MW; Goergen, SK; Byrnes, GB; Giles, GG; Wallace, AB; Anderson, PR; Guiver, TA; McGale, P.; Cain, TM; Dowty, JG; Bickerstaffe, AC; Darby, SC (2013). "Cancer risk in 680 people exposed to computed tomography scans in childhood or adolescence: data linkage study of 000 million Australians". BMJ