Why you shouldn’t put all of your eggs in a basket with diagnostic imaging!
Diagnostic imaging such as X-Rays, MRI’s, and CT scans can help determine what issues are causing your pain. These images give healthcare providers insight in order to determine the proper diagnosis and plan of care. However, when it comes to movement based injuries, diagnostic imaging will only show a small piece of the bigger picture. Sometimes, imaging might not show any adverse structures or disorders.
A great example of this is with low back pain. Many of our patients come in with back issues, but are perplexed as to why their MRI’s show no dysfunction. There are a couple of things to consider:
- 1You are immoble when you undergo imaging, your dysfunction can stem from movement that is not being performed during the procedure
- 2Imaging usually focuses on a specific body part; however, the injury can originate from another area of the body
Remember, you are more than just an image. Assess your daily activities and see what makes your symptoms feel better or worse. Seek a health professional that will assess everything, and not just your MRI.
Disclaimer: If you continue to experience unbearable, reoccurring pain, be sure to schedule an appointment with your physician or join our physical therapy family and allow us to help you regain function.
Iron Health is located in Briarcliff Manor and the greater Westchester NY area; our neighboring towns include Chappaqua, Mount Kisco, Tarrytown, Irvington and Pleasantville. If you have any questions, fill out a Discovery Session form and we will contact you as soon as possible. OR If you have any questions, fill out a short form by clicking the button below and we will contact you as soon as possible.
Jade Somboonthum, PT, DPT
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