Diagnostic Tests

For decades, diagnostic images have been created by passing small, highly controlled amounts of radiation through the human body, capturing the resulting shadows and reflections on a photographic plate.

The MRI is a large machine that has a circular tunnel built through it, like a donut with a hole.

CT imaging is particularly useful because it can show soft tissues in addition to bones, and is now the principle imaging technique for demonstrating the lungs and abdominal organs.

Myelograms are special X-ray studies of the spinal canal, spinal cord and nerve roots.

Discography is a procedure used to determine if the intervertebral discs are the source of a patient’s pain. The test is usually done for patients with chronic back or neck pain when diagnosis by X-ray, myelogram, CT or MRI alone has not been achieved.

Initially you will be given medication to help you relax. The radiologist will then inject a local anaesthetic to numb the target area. Fluor…

An electromyogram tests the functions of the nerve roots and the way that the nerves affect muscle function. It does this by looking at how well the electrical currents in the nerves are being transmitted to the muscles. Pressure on the nerves or damage to the nerves changes the way they transmit electrical current. This shows up in the muscles as they react to the information being sent to the…