Pain in the hip, knee, and lower back can seem to appear out of nowhere. Sometimes, the pain can begin gradually and slowly progress. Some symptoms may remain constant, whereas others may occur only at certain times or may start to get worse as time goes on. When the pain becomes too much, or the injury becomes debilitating, a trip to the doctor or physical therapist may be what you need.
What Do They Show?
An MRI can provide your doctor with information about your injury, but what some may not be aware of is that an MRI alone cannot detect everything that may be wrong and be able to provide an accurate treatment plan solely based on the MRI.
An MRI can detect if there is a broken bone, a tumor, a tear, or the condition of the tissues in the body and with that provide the doctor with an idea of the problem. The MRI helps to rule out severe injury or detect issues and alert the doctor that something needs attention.
Although diagnostic testing can provide helpful information, it does not offer a solution to the problem but instead supplies the doctors with all facts.
For those conditions that seem to arise out of nowhere, diagnosing solely off an MRI may prove to be complicated.
The Clinical Consult
When your orthopedic injury requires physical therapy, your physical therapist will not only look at your scans from diagnostic testing but perform a clinical exam before beginning any therapy routine. In this consult, the therapist will evaluate your range of motion, strength, posture, as well as your level of mobility.
During this exam, the therapist can take notes on areas in which they have concerns and, in some cases, suggest further testing in certain regions. When advanced testing is needed or recommended, it is often to help find the root of the cause of the injury as well as to determine if other avenues such as surgery are needed.
Following the exam, the evaluation of scans and conversations between yourself and the therapist, the physical therapist will have the best scenario in mind in regard to a treatment plan for your condition.
Is Testing Required?
Bottom line, if you find yourself dealing with some pain and it has occurred for no reason and is somehow affecting your level of mobility, scans like MRI’s and X-rays are not prerequisites for working with our physical therapy team.
However, if the condition somehow worsens over 4-6 weeks, consulting with your doctor or physical therapist about furthering testing may not be a bad idea as to rule out severe conditions.
Our Atlanta imaging center is fully equipped with the most state of the art equipment, to suit all your needs if an injury occurs. Our team of orthopedics and physical therapists work hand in hand to provide you with the best care and treatment plans to get you on the road to recovery as quickly and safely as possible. Contact us today at (404) 855-2141.
