| A spinal disc starts to break as it becomes less elastic. | | | | A herniated disc can be viewed far more evidently as |
| And when it does, part of the spinal disc pushes | | | | well as the shape and size of the spinal canal, its |
| outside the normal boundary - the case is called a | | | | contents, and adjacent structures with a CT scan. |
| herniated disk. When a disc bulges out from between | | | | MRI scans |
| the vertebrae, the nerves of the spine and spinal cord | | | | Apart from showing identical structures that could be |
| result into being pinched. There is normally some extra | | | | observed on CT scan, MRIs can also show the spinal |
| room around the spinal cord and it's nerves, but if | | | | cord, nerve roots and surrounding structures, |
| enough of the herniated disc is pushed out of place, | | | | specifically the soft tissues. Symptoms of enlargement, |
| then these parts begin to compress. | | | | weakening and tumors are detectable on MRI. |
| Imaging techniques for spinal herniated discs is | | | | Myelogram |
| indispensable in diagnosing this problem and in ruling out | | | | Conditions such as herniated discs, bone spurs, or |
| other symptoms that may lead to identical symptoms, | | | | tumors can be discovered through myelogram by |
| such as disc degeneration, spondylolisthesis, tumors, | | | | injecting a radio-opaque dye substance into the spinal |
| metastases and other space-occupying lesions. The | | | | canal. |
| efficiency of various treatment options may also be | | | | Electromyelogram and Nerve Conduction Studies |
| assessed through it. | | | | (EMG/NCS) |
| When it involves disc herniation, the following are | | | | The occurrence of or magnitude of nerve injury can |
| significant imaging tests utilized: | | | | be assessed or another location of nerve compression |
| Plain X-rays | | | | can be identified by calculating the electrical impulses |
| Numerous problems such as such as fractures, | | | | that pass along the nerve roots, peripheral nerves, and |
| tumors, and infections can be determined or eliminated | | | | muscles. |
| with x-ray though visual images of the disc and | | | | Herniated discs can be seen by any of these imaging |
| surrounding areas is finite. | | | | treatments and aid the doctor during treatment. |
| CT scans | | | | |