Whether you’ve just learned that your chiropractor recommends that you get an X-ray or you’re headed for your first appointment, you may be wondering about how chiropractors use this diagnostic tool. Not every chiropractic patient will need an X-ray before beginning treatment. However, there are a few reasons that a chiropractor might order one.
While chiropractors will carry out physical examinations, not every condition can be identified in this way. We may need to do chiropractic X-rays to diagnose certain conditions in order to determine the best course of treatment as well. For example, if you have osteoporosis, certain treatments are not appropriate.
If you have scoliosis or kyphosis, we can get a better idea of what’s going on in your spine with an X-ray. If we suspect that you have spondyloarthritis, which can cause your spine to degenerate, we’ll need to do an X-ray to confirm it. Finally, we’ll do an X-ray if there’s a likelihood that you’ve had a recent fracture. Chiropractic X-rays can alert us to any issues that require consideration as we move forward with your treatment. They also help ensure that we are addressing the root cause of your symptoms so that we can offer treatment that will help you over the long term.
If you’re told you need an X-ray, what happens next will depend on whether the chiropractor you’re seeing has an X-ray machine at the office or if you need a referral to a radiology facility. If you’re getting the chiropractic X-rays on-site, you might have them done at the initial appointment. Otherwise, the X-rays might happen on another day, depending on your schedule and that of the radiology facility. When you get your chiropractic X-rays, safety precautions will be taken, including ensuring that you are shielded from radiation as much as possible.
What Are Chiropractic X-Rays?
A chiropractic X-ray is one that is done with a specific focus on your spine and other bones and joints. It helps determine whether you have the types of problems discussed above, such as fractures or misalignments, and helps us determine how best to proceed with your treatment.
In terms of the technology that they use and how they are done, chiropractic X-rays are not different from hospital X-rays. However, they are different in how we use them. Medical professionals in a hospital setting are generally looking at more parts of the body and for different things. They may be looking for something very specific, such as a tumor or signs of an infection. As chiropractors, we are specifically concerned with your musculoskeletal health.
The vast majority of chiropractic X-rays are digital. These provide clearer images and faster results than traditional film X-rays, and they also use less radiation. However, some facilities still use film X-rays, and these are still effective for chiropractic diagnoses.
Once we have an X-ray, we can identify arthritis and similar degenerative diseases. We can also see fractures and other injuries caused by trauma as well as congenital disorders, such as scoliosis.
Why Do Chiropractors in [ City/State] Use X-Rays?
X-rays help a chiropractor make a diagnosis because not every condition can be identified with just a physical exam and your description of the pain you’re experiencing. For example, chiropractic X-rays can help us determine if the pain is caused by bone spurs, a misalignment, a fracture or something else entirely.
In fact, hairline fractures are one example of a problem that can only be clearly identified on an X-ray. Chiropractic X-rays may also be necessary to diagnose scoliosis and similar spinal conditions. Some misalignments can be more easily identified with an X-ray rather than just a physical exam.
It is not necessary to use an X-ray on every patient. While chiropractic X-rays contain a very low dose of radiation, we still try not to expose patients to them unnecessarily. When we suspect issues such as fractures or degenerative conditions or when we need more information to correctly identify a misalignment, we may order an X-ray. However, many of the problems that patients come to see a chiropractor about are straightforward and don’t require X-rays.
There are benefits to doing chiropractic X-rays instead of just a physical exam since they can help us determine whether you have such issues as a fracture. They can also help us identify the degree of spinal degeneration or other problems. With chiropractic X-rays, we can be certain that we are treating the right root cause of your pain. This keeps you safe and helps us ensure accuracy in our approach.
Another big benefit of chiropractic X-rays is that they can help you better understand what’s causing your pain or other symptoms. This in turn helps you make informed decisions about how you’d like to proceed with your treatment.
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What is a Subluxation, and How Can X-Rays Detect It?
You’ve probably heard of a dislocation, such as someone having a dislocated shoulder. Essentially, it means that a joint has been pushed out of its usual position. A subluxation is a partial dislocation. It may show up on an X-ray as a misalignment or as a disc being out of place. It could also look like your spine is lacking its normal curves or that a vertebra is rotated out of its normal position. An even easier way to understand subluxation is to simply remember that it’s a situation in which the bone is not where it’s supposed to be.
There are a few reasons that chiropractors need to be able to visually confirm a subluxation with X-rays. First, it allows for the necessary precision in identifying exactly where the subluxation is. With this information, a chiropractor can move forward with a treatment plan that’s specifically designed for the patient. In addition, the X-ray can reveal whether there are additional issues that the chiropractor needs to take into account.
If you have a subluxation, chiropractic X-rays won’t show the severity in terms of how much pain it may be causing you. However, it can show the phase, which can include details such as whether there are bone spurs or if vertebrae have fused.
What Other Issues Can Chiropractic X-Rays Reveal?
We can see a number of structural problems on chiropractic X-rays that you may not be experiencing any symptoms from yet. This might include scoliosis and other birth defects in the spine, misalignments and some loss of bone density. In addition, it’s also possible to detect bone spurs, the narrowing of space between discs in your back and signs of arthritis.
We have a few tools for assessing spinal curves and posture using chiropractic X-rays:
- We can measure specific angles on the X-ray to identify issues.
- There is specialized software to examine images for signs of problems.
- X-ray images may clearly show some obvious deviations that we’re trained to identify.
In addition, we can see old and new injuries, fractures or trauma on an X-ray. For example, the shape or density of a bone may have changed even after a long-ago fracture has healed. Past trauma can also cause subluxations and bone spurs while old injuries can exacerbate degenerative disc disease.
What Should Patients Expect After X-Rays?
A chiropractor will review X-rays alongside their own observations during the physical examination and the patient history. Once they have completed this assessment, they will sit down with you and discuss the findings. This may be part of a separate appointment in order to give them time for a thorough review.
The “report of findings” should pull all of this information together. This will include basic information about you as well as medical history, any symptoms you’ve reported and what the chiropractor found in both the physical exam and the X-rays. The chiropractor will also add any recommendations for further assessments and a treatment plan.
Chiropractic X-rays have a substantial effect on how treatment is approached because they can provide so much more information than is available simply from a physical exam. The chiropractor may create a treatment plan based on fractures, spinal issues or other diagnoses that are the source of your pain but that only became apparent with the X-ray findings. Of course, chiropractic X-rays can also reveal spinal abnormalities and other issues that aren’t causing you any problems. It’s important that chiropractors correlate symptoms with what they see on the X-ray. We want to avoid unnecessary treatment.
Who Should Consider Getting Chiropractic X-Rays?
There are several types of patients who can benefit from chiropractic X-rays. X-rays may be necessary to diagnose a condition such as scoliosis. For patients with recent trauma or for those who are still in pain after several weeks of treatment, chiropractic X-rays can identify fractures or other issues. Older adults, particularly those over 70, can benefit from X-rays because they can help identify whether osteoporosis is a factor. Chiropractors will generally recommend X-rays in these types of situations. On the other hand, because children may be more sensitive to the effects of radiation, chiropractors will be much more sparing in considering X-rays for this age group.
A chiropractor might also order X-rays for you if your condition is not improving. Most issues that people visit chiropractors about can be dealt with in a few sessions with no X-rays. However, if several sessions pass and you aren’t getting better, chiropractic X-rays can shed some light on what’s causing your symptoms that wasn’t apparent in a physical exam.
In general, chiropractic X-rays are not recommended for people who don’t have any symptoms suggesting the types of complex conditions that X-rays can identify. They are not a good tool to be used in an exploratory fashion. One reason is because people can have spinal abnormalities without symptoms. Diagnosing these abnormalities when the person isn’t experiencing any ill effects can then have a negative effect on the person’s overall well-being. Furthermore, although the dose of radiation from X-rays is small, it’s still not a good idea to expose people to radiation at any time without a good reason.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are chiropractic X-rays safe?
Yes. The amount of radiation that you receive is low, and X-rays are administered with shielding to protect you further. However, there are situations in which you should not undergo X-rays. We’ll determine if that’s the case. For example, if you are pregnant, you usually should not have X-rays.
Will I need X-rays at my first appointment?
It depends upon the practice. If the chiropractor has an X-ray machine on site, they might do X-rays at your first appointment if they are deemed necessary. However, a chiropractor might also have you go off site to a radiology facility, in which case you would probably have an X-ray appointment on a different day. You might also get X-rays later in your treatment if you’re not showing any improvement after several appointments.
Do I need a referral for X-rays?
You don’t need a referral to see a chiropractor. This means that if they can do X-rays at their office, you won’t need a referral for that either. If the chiropractor doesn’t have an X-ray machine and you need to go to a radiology facility, the chiropractor can give you a referral. You should make sure that if you are using insurance or workers’ compensation to cover your costs that you get any referrals that are necessary since this can change the situation somewhat. You must follow whatever their rules are to ensure you keep your eligibility for coverage.
How long does it take to get results from X-rays?
This depends on several factors, including whether the X-ray is done at the chiropractor’s office and the urgency of your case. It could be a few hours or a few days. Unlike film X-rays, digital X-rays provide instant images. However, your chiropractor will still want a sufficient amount of time to examine your X-rays and come to some conclusions about your condition and your course of treatment.
Can X-rays help if I’ve had previous injuries or surgery?
Yes. In fact, X-rays can be particularly important if you have any hardware in your body from earlier surgeries or injuries so that the chiropractor can identify that vulnerable area. X-rays can also help them identify the site of old trauma. Your chiropractor will make the call as to whether X-rays are appropriate to identify these previous injuries or surgeries based on the medical history that you share.
What if the X-rays show something serious?
Chiropractors can identify serious problems that may show up on an X-ray such serious fractures that are beyond their scope of treatment. If this happens, they will refer you to the appropriate medical professional.
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