Making the Diagnosis
Your doctor will do one of the following tests for underlying medical problems
only if your back pain does not improve with rest and painkillers:
- a back X-ray
- bone scans
- computed tomography (CT) scan, in which computers combine many pictures
to show a very detailed view of any area of the back
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a type of scan that uses electromagnetic
waves to visualize soft tissue
X-rays can show problems with the vertebrae, but not with the soft tissues
such as discs, ligaments, or muscles. Bone scans can help your doctor screen
for abnormal areas, which are further investigated with other tests.
CT scans can diagnose arthritis and spinal stenosis and other bone changes,
but not always a herniated disc. MRI is the most useful test and can show soft
tissue, including discs, nerves, the spinal cord, and tumors.