Lumbar Herniated Disc-Exams and Tests
Lumbar Herniated Disc-Exams and Tests
Your doctor will do a medical history and physical exam. If this suggests that you have a herniated disc, you probably won't need other tests.
If your doctor needs more information, or if treatment hasn't worked after 4 weeks, you may have an MRI or a CT scan.
Emotional Aspects of Low Back Pain
You can eat a healthy diet, exercise religiously, and follow every single one of your doctor's recommendations -- but no matter how healthy or well-conditioned your body may be, at some point, your lower back is almost destined to cause you problems.For most people, low back pain is just a minor annoyance that emerges once in awhile, sticks around for a couple of days, then goes away. For other people, there's no break from the pain.When pain becomes chronic, it goes far beyond a physical sensation...
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X-rays typically aren't useful or needed. But if your medical history and physical exam suggest a more serious condition (such as a tumor, infection, fracture, or severe nerve damage), or if your leg pain and other symptoms don't get better after 4 weeks of nonsurgical treatment, your doctor may order X-rays.
Other tests, such as blood tests, may be done to rule out other conditions.
The following tests aren't used as often as an MRI or a CT scan, but they may give your doctor more information:
If your doctor needs more information, or if treatment hasn't worked after 4 weeks, you may have an MRI or a CT scan.
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Emotional Aspects of Low Back Pain
You can eat a healthy diet, exercise religiously, and follow every single one of your doctor's recommendations -- but no matter how healthy or well-conditioned your body may be, at some point, your lower back is almost destined to cause you problems.For most people, low back pain is just a minor annoyance that emerges once in awhile, sticks around for a couple of days, then goes away. For other people, there's no break from the pain.When pain becomes chronic, it goes far beyond a physical sensation...
Read the Emotional Aspects of Low Back Pain article > >
X-rays typically aren't useful or needed. But if your medical history and physical exam suggest a more serious condition (such as a tumor, infection, fracture, or severe nerve damage), or if your leg pain and other symptoms don't get better after 4 weeks of nonsurgical treatment, your doctor may order X-rays.
Other tests
Other tests, such as blood tests, may be done to rule out other conditions.
The following tests aren't used as often as an MRI or a CT scan, but they may give your doctor more information:
- An electromyogram and nerve conduction test may be done in some cases for people who have signs of prolonged pressure on a nerve root.
- A myelogram may be done if you can't have an MRI (for example, if you have a pacemaker) or if the results of an MRI aren't clear.
- Discography can help diagnose disc problems but is rarely used.
- A nerve block may show which nerve is causing a problem.