Urgent Care Services: Why Do I Need Joint X-Rays?

In joint X-rays, a small amount of radiation is used to produce a picture of the joint inside the body. This is a quick way for doctors to diagnose problems in the joints. They pose little risk to the patient and have no side effects. Here are the details if you want to get joint X-rays from an urgent care facility near you.

Why joint X-rays?

There are several reasons why patients may need joint X-rays. This type of X-ray can help doctors diagnose a variety of conditions in the joints. The doctor will study the results and explain the condition to the patient. These conditions include:

• Dislocated joint can result from an injury. It can be difficult to determine whether or not a joint is dislocated, and X-rays can help determine that.
• Cancer is a disease detectable in an urgent care facility. If a doctor suspects there is cancer in the joint, the doctor may recommend an X-ray to take a closer look.
• Fractures can be a result of severe injury. It can be difficult to diagnose a fracture by the symptoms alone, so a doctor may recommend an X-ray of the area to confirm a fracture.
• Trauma is one of the main causes of joint problems. After trauma to the joint, such as a sports injury or a car accident, a doctor may recommend a joint X-ray to make sure there is no permanent damage.
• Other problems can receive diagnoses and treatments from an urgent care center. X-rays in the joints can help diagnose other unexplained problems, too, such as swelling, pain, or tenderness. Arthritis may be diagnosed in this way.

What to expect

A joint X-ray is a painless procedure. Depending on where the X-ray is located, a patient may be asked to wear a gown. The patient will most likely need to remove any metal objects, such as jewelry or eyeglasses, from the body. Pregnant women should inform their doctors before joint X-rays because the radiation can harm the developing baby.

X-rays work by sending radiation through the patient. The radiation waves pass through the softer parts of the body, such as the muscles and organs. However, denser parts of the body, such as the bones, absorb the radiation waves. This means these parts will show up whiter on an X-ray. The radiation records an image on a detector, which can be stored digitally on a computer.

A patient will usually lie down on an X-ray table under the equipment. If the X-ray is being taken in the knee, the patient may stand up. The X-ray technologist will place the recording device under the table or behind the joint. The patient must lie very still while the technologist goes to another room to activate the radiation.

For joint X-rays, the technologist will often take two or three images from different angles. This will allow the doctor to diagnose the individual. In some cases, the technologist will also take images of the healthy joint to compare the X-rays with. After the X-ray, the radiation will not remain in the patient’s body.

The purpose of joint X-rays

An urgent care doctor would explain that a joint X-ray is also called an arthrogram. The doctor will use this X-ray to see what is causing the symptoms, such as swelling. Each scan can help pinpoint the source of the pain. The doctor can use an arthrogram to determine if the patient is a good candidate for surgery. An arthrogram can also do the following:

• Locate fluid cysts
• Determine problems in the cartilage, joint capsule, or ligaments

Preparing for a joint X-ray in an urgent care facility

Before the joint X-ray, the doctor will perform tests to see if the patient is allergic to different substances, such as iodine. A pregnancy test might be necessary for female patients. The doctor will test for conditions like kidney problems, diabetes, or asthma. These tests will last for about 30 to 60 minutes.

How it will feel

Patients report a sting when the doctor gives the anesthetic. Feeling some pressure, tingling, and pain can happen. The patient may also feel a kind of fullness in the joint as the urgent care doctor injects the dye. The X-ray room may be cool, and the table may feel firm or hard.

The patient may feel some swelling, mild pain, and tenderness. Over-the-counter pain relievers and ice packs can help manage the discomfort during the joint X-ray. The patient may also hear cracking, grating, or clicking whenever the joint moves. This is a normal reaction. It often fades in a day.

Visit an urgent care center today

Joint X-rays from an urgent care are painless, relatively quick procedures that can be used for a variety of reasons. These include diagnosing dislocated or fractured joints and determining if there is cancer in the joint. They can also be used to determine the cause of other joint problems, such as pain or swelling. An urgent care center can help patients quickly get joint X-rays.

Get more information about X-rays at https://tx-urgentcare.com.

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