Your Medical Evaluation
Before your doctor can design a treatment plan, your spine problem needs to be carefully evaluated. The more precise the diagnosis, the more targeted and successful your treatment can be. Your evaluation may include a medical history, physical exam, and diagnostic tests.
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, when you feel them, and what parts of your body are affected. To help assess how your neck problem is affecting your life, you may be asked about work and other activities. You may also be asked about any past and current medical problems.
The physical exam allows the doctor to be sure that other problems aren't causing your symptoms. Your doctor will examine your neck to find out how well you can move it and to see which movements cause symptoms. To find out if the cervical nerves are involved, your doctor will check the feeling and strength in your arms and hands. He or she will also test your reflexes.
You may have one or more tests to confirm the diagnosis and pinpoint the location of your spine problem:
- X-rays show the general condition of the vertebrae.
- MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) produce images of disks, the spinal cord, and other soft tissue.
- CT scans show the bony vertebrae.
- Myelograms are special x-rays that use a contrast fluid to outline the nerves and spinal cord.
- EMGs (electromyograms) measure nerve function in your arm.
Your doctor may do other tests as well?blood tests to screen for arthritis, bone scans to check for cancer, and diskography, an x-ray test that may help find which disks are damaged.
Based on your exam and test results, your doctor may first prescribe nonsurgical care. If this type of care doesn't help, your doctor may suggest surgery. But the decision whether or not to have surgery is yours. Read on to learn more about the treatment choices.
This content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Only your doctor can diagnose and treat a medical problem. © 1990, 1995, 1998, 2000 The StayWell Company, 1100 Grundy Lane, San Bruno, CA 94066-3030. www.krames.com 800-333-3032. All right reserved.