For patient safety, patients exceeding the weight limit of 325 lbs. will not be done at London X-Ray Associates.
- Overview
Passing small, highly controlled amounts of radiation through the body and capturing the resulting shadows on a digital screen creates an x-ray image. Doctors commonly order plain x-rays of the spine. This examination takes 10-15 minutes to complete.
- Common Reasons for Plain X-rays of the Spine
Some of the more common reasons why your doctor would order plain x-rays of the spine include:
- Neck, mid-back, low-back or buttock pain
- Muscle spasm
- Pain, numbness or weakness in the arms, trunk or legs
- Decreased flexibility (range of motion) of the spine
- Poor posture/suspected curvature of the spine
- Spinal injury (trauma)
- Difficulties with bowel or bladder control
- Further investigation of an abnormality on bone scan
- Suspicion of spread of cancer
- Who should not have Spine X-rays?
Spine x-rays, and indeed all x-ray examinations, should not be performed on pregnant women except when the information provided by the test is vital to treatment of the patient and there are no suitable alternatives.
- How do I prepare for the test?
No preparation is required.
- Who performs the examination?
An x-ray technologist (someone trained to take x-ray images) performs the examination.
- What happens during the examination?
After registering with the receptionist, you may be asked to change into a gown. You will be taken to an x-ray room where several x-ray pictures will be taken. You may be asked to hold your breath for some of the pictures. If you are having x-rays of the neck, 5-7 pictures will be taken. It is customary to take 3 pictures of your mid-back. Two to six pictures of the low back are usually taken. Tailbone (sacrum and coccyx) x-rays usually require 2-3 pictures. You will have to wait while the pictures are checked. A repeat picture is occasionally required.
- What are the risks of the procedure?
All x-rays involve receiving a controlled amount of radiation. The risk associated with the radiation received during a single x-ray examination is very small. While the exact likelihood is controversial, there is a very small chance of the radiation contributing to the development of a malignancy many years in the future. The risks involved in everyday activities such as driving a car are far higher. Generally, the risk of not doing the x-ray far outweighs the risk of the small amount of radiation involved.
- Who interprets the results and how do I get them?
The results are interpreted by one of our radiologists (a doctor who specializes in reading x-ray and other images and doing procedures requiring imaging). The results are sent to the doctor who ordered the spine x-ray by courier or fax.
Arrangements to discuss the results of the spine x-ray can be made with the doctor who ordered it.
