No X-Ray Today? Here’s Why We’re Holding Off

While X-rays are a marvel of modern technology and physical care, they aren’t appropriate for every situation. Yet, care providers of all varieties use them as diagnostic tools when other avenues may work perfectly fine, especially when treating back pain. Unfortunately, back pain is a fact of life for many adults in the United States.

The reasons behind back pain vary from patient to patient. At REACH Rehab + Chiropractic, we believe in taking a patient-centric approach to helping our clients solve and self-manage their back pain. We discuss why we might say, “no x-ray today,” when helping you find the source and solution for your muscle, nerve, or joint symptoms. Learn more about our approach below.

Chiropractors typically use X-rays to diagnose spinal misalignments. X-rays tell you what your structures inside look like, but they don’t tell you how you move. If I text you a picture of my door hinge, does that tell you how it moves? Or do we really just need to move it to see how it moves? So that’s where the main focus should be. We should start with movement testing rather than see how your structures look.

Many chiropractors prefer testing non-invasive treatments first. When you visit a rehab-based chiropractor for treatment, you may have seemingly simple issues of muscle weakness, soft tissue dysfunction, or mechanical obstruction (blocked movement). Your chiropractor may craft a conservative care plan to restore balance, build strength, and improve flexibility, which can effectively mitigate and heal the area of the body causing you trouble.

They can adjust your care plan based on tangible results without introducing invasive or expensive diagnostic services. This saves you time and money while resolving your issues without unnecessary procedures.

An experienced rehab chiropractor often diagnoses you in the office without sending you for tests. However, some circumstances require additional diagnostic tools to confirm injury severity for:

• Broken bones: You need medical care before chiropractic for broken bones or fractures. If there’s trauma in the past and you potentially broke a bone or there’s suspicion of fracture, you likely need an X-ray. We assess this by dissecting your injury history.
• Dislocations: Dislocation happens when a traumatic force moves a bone from its original position.
• Severe sprains/tears: Soft tissues can rupture and tear from excessive or repeated force.

These musculoskeletal concerns accompany other noticeable symptoms. A knowledgeable rehab chiropractor investigates these concerns and will order an X-ray or other diagnostic imaging when needed.

Why else might your chiropractor say, “No X-ray today?” X-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans put out a form of electromagnetic radiation that may cause hair loss, stomach troubles, and other side effects. While they only expose you to small amounts of radiation, your body can only handle so much of it within your lifetime.

Your chiropractor may choose alternative diagnostic and treatment methods to limit your exposure. An X-ray-free plan looks a little like this:

1. Your chiropractor performs a manual, in-office exam, a movement exam such as the Mckenzie Method.
2. A thorough history-taking to understand the behavior of your symptoms and condition(s).
3. A treatment plan. Effective diagnosis and targeted treatment will improve your pain and movement, preventing the need for an X-ray.

Few, if any, non-invasive treatment plans offer instant results. Reaching your comfort and health goals takes time. Therefore, receiving an X-ray or another imaging service won’t help you recover faster unless you have severely injured bones or soft tissues.

So, what can help you recover faster when working with a chiropractor?

• Prioritizing safe, non-invasive options first: Rehab + Chiropractic care and recommended lifestyle changes can significantly improve your quality of life within days to weeks.
• Communication: Discuss your pain points and how each treatment approach affects your comfort and mobility.
• Consistency: Stick with the program and don’t give up when your chiropractor recommends a habit or lifestyle change.
• Realistic expectations: Give your treatment time to work. Be patient with your body while it heals.

“No X-ray today!” Are you surprised at your chiropractor’s approach? Don’t be alarmed when seeking treatment with REACH Rehab + Chiropractic. Your Plymouth, MI chiropractor has a reason for not subjecting you to unnecessary X-rays, procedures, or sales ploys to buy a long-term care plan.

We only use specific testing and procedures to identify and locate a specific injury when deemed appropriate. Our team combines lifestyle changes and strength-building exercises with holistic chiropractic and massage therapies focusing on the patient, not just the injury. Contact us at 734-335-0212 to schedule a consultation.