“Will a CT scan of my spine show how to treat my injury?”
I injured my back on the football field, and the pain has only gotten worse. Doctor wants to take scan of my spine. Will a CT scan help with my treatment?
8 Answers
The CT is diagnostic only, it will not treat the problem. It will help to determine what to do
You need an evaluation by an orthopedic MD. May need a CT and MRI.
There are several causes of back pain. When it does not get better with rest and simple treatments advanced testing can be helpful in making the diagnosis. Each test focuses on different things so each may be better in certain circumstances. A CT scan is particularly good at looking at bones while MRI scans are more commonly used to target soft tissues. They can complement each other in some patients.
CT or MRI can be helpful depending on whether you are looking for a bone problem or soft tissue problem.
A CT scan of the spine will show excellent detail of the bone which is helpful as a diagnostic tool. Further treatment of the cause can be specifically tailored.
Good luck in your recovery!
Good luck in your recovery!
It depends on what is bothering you and what information you and your doctor need. A CT scan is very effective for looking for fracture and dislocations. An MRI is more effective if one is looking for nerve or disc injuries
A CT scan will only help if you have a fracture. If it’s more of a soft tissue injury like a disc herniation you will need an MRI scan.
The doctor is looking for a fracture or bone defect called a pars interarticularis defect that would explain or be the reason for your pain. These things don't always show up on a regular X-ray. Once they know the cause of your pain, the *proper* treatment can be started. Trust your doctor, he's doing the right thing.
Hope it helps!
Dr. Bose
Hope it helps!
Dr. Bose
