When people have a severe pain in the back, they decide that there is something terrible. In fact, in most cases, severe back pain is not associated with any serious disease. Pain in the lower back typically takes place by itself or by a simple treatment.
Therefore, if you go to a doctor about back pain, do not expect that you immediately make the tomogram.
Most people do not need to make a tomogram in the next 4 - 6 weeks, because it essentially does not affect the treatment. Unless you do not have the so-called "Red flag". This is a sign or symptom, which is the case with dangerous diseases.
"Red flags":
- Some injury recently. It may be an accident or a fall.
- Less than a serious injury, but if you are older than 50 years.
- Prolonged pain in the back, which is accompanied by fever or weight loss.
- If you are taking corticosteroids or immunosuppressants.
- If you have been treated for cancer. Exclude those cases where the treated skin cancer, which was not melanoma.
- If you have found osteoporosis.
- If you are over 70 years old.
- If you have a weakness in the legs or incontinence.
- If there was a "fallen Stop" when walking is impossible to support the foot.
If all so seriously, why tomogram do all in a row?
Because it's not safe. Plain x-rays are not recommended to do more often once a year, and during the CT radiation dose is much higher.
Highly undesirable once again to do a CT scan to young women. This study can damage the egg. Then there may be problems with the birth of children.
If you do an MRI, the direct harm it is not harmful. Here are just even in healthy people with magnetic resonance imaging often find something unusual. Such people are more likely to make unnecessary operations with various complications. If they once again did not make the tomogram, and then about the operation no one would have remembered.
Try to trust your doctor and do not make unnecessary examinations. They are sometimes more harm than good.
