If back pain, neck pain or a tingling ache running down your leg has you looking for answers, your doctor may start by ordering an X-ray of your spine. A standard X-ray doesn’t show a herniated disc directly, because X-rays are designed to capture bone and a spinal disc is soft tissue.
What an X-ray does show is the space between your vertebrae, your spinal alignment and other findings that help guide the next step. To see the disc itself and the nerves around it, your doctor will typically order an MRI or CT scan.
In this guide, you’ll learn what a herniated disc is, what each imaging test can reveal about your spinal health and how doctors diagnose a herniated disc.
What Is a Herniated Disc?
Your spine is a stack of small bones called “vertebrae.” Between each vertebra sits a round, cushioned disc that absorbs shock and lets you bend, twist and move comfortably. Every disc has a firm outer ring and a soft, gel-like center.
A herniated disc happens when that outer ring weakens or cracks and some of the inner material pushes through. You may also hear terms like “slipped disc,” “bulging disc” or “ruptured disc.” People often use these terms interchangeably when talking about problems with a spinal disc, although a bulging disc is technically different, since it extends more evenly around the disc’s edge rather than pushing through a crack.
Herniated discs are most common in the lower back and neck. Common causes include:
- Natural wear and tear, since discs lose water content and flexibility with age
- Lifting heavy objects with your back rather than your legs
- Repeated bending or twisting at work or during sports
- A fall or another sudden injury
When the inner material from a herniated disc presses on a nearby nerve root, it can cause sharp pain, numbness, tingling or muscle weakness that travels into an arm or leg. These symptoms often prompt people to see their doctor, who may recommend imaging to help find the cause of the issues.
Can You See a Herniated Disc on an X-Ray?
You cannot see a herniated disc on an X-ray the way you can see a broken bone. X-rays are built to capture dense structures, and a spinal disc is soft tissue, so the disc itself doesn’t appear on the image.
An X-ray still tells your doctor a great deal about your spine health. A spine X-ray can show the following:
- Narrowed space between two vertebrae, which can suggest a disc has lost height
- Bone spurs along the edges of the vertebrae
- Shifts in spinal alignment
- Fractures, arthritis or other conditions that may be contributing to your symptoms
An X-ray is quick, painless and one of the most affordable imaging exams available. Digital X-ray imaging is available at select American Health Imaging centers, using digital X-ray technology, which produces clear images within minutes using less radiation than traditional film X-rays.
Think of an X-ray as a first look at the bones and alignment of your spine. If your doctor needs to see the disc itself or get a closer look at the nearby nerves, they may recommend an MRI or CT scan.
What Imaging Test Shows a Herniated Disc?
Advanced imaging can help your doctor get a clearer picture of what’s causing your symptoms and confirm a herniated disc diagnosis. Your doctor will recommend the imaging test that best fits your symptoms, medical history and the level of detail needed to plan your treatment.
The following tests can help your doctor find a herniated disc and see how it may be affecting your spine and nerves.
MRI
An MRI is the preferred test for evaluating a suspected herniated disc. It uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves instead of radiation to produce highly detailed images of soft tissue, which is exactly what a disc is.
On an MRI, a healthy disc holds plenty of water and appears bright. A worn or damaged disc looks darker. Your radiologist can identify the precise spot where disc material has pushed past its normal border. They can also measure how far the disc material extends and see whether it is touching or compressing a nerve root. That detail helps your doctor decide what treatment may be right for you, such as physical therapy, a steroid injection or a referral to a spine specialist.
American Health Imaging also offers faster scanning MRI technology, which reduces many scan times to as little as 8 minutes. When your back or neck is already sore, a shorter scan means you spend less time lying still in the MRI machine.
CT Scan
A CT scan takes X-ray images from many angles around your body. A computer then combines them into cross-sectional images, or slices. Some exams can also be rendered in 3D, giving your doctor a more complete view of your spine and surrounding structures.
CT is especially useful for showing bone detail. CT imaging can reveal bone spurs, narrowing of the spinal canal and disc material that has hardened over time. A CT scan may also be a useful alternative if you have a pacemaker, spinal stimulator or another implant that isn’t compatible with MRI or could make an MRI less suitable for you.
American Health Imaging uses low-dose CT technology, which helps limit radiation exposure while still producing clear, detailed images.
Myelogram
A myelogram pairs contrast dye with CT imaging for an even closer look inside the spinal canal. Contrast dye is injected into the fluid-filled space around the spinal cord, and CT images are then taken to show how the dye outlines the spinal cord and nerve roots. This can help your doctor pinpoint where a herniated disc is pressing on a nerve. A myelogram is done with a thin needle after the area is numbed, and you’ll rest for a few hours afterward.
If you have metal hardware from a previous spine surgery, a myelogram can be especially helpful because metal may make MRI images harder to interpret. If you need surgery, your surgeon may also use the myelogram images to see exactly where a nerve is being compressed and plan your procedure.
American Health Imaging performs myelograms at select centers in Alabama and Georgia.
Schedule Imaging To Diagnose Your Herniated Disc
When back pain, neck pain or numbness is affecting your daily life, imaging can help your doctor understand what’s causing your symptoms. American Health Imaging makes getting answers simple and affordable. We offer same-day appointments, we’re in-network with 99% of major insurance plans and our imaging services cost up to 60% less than hospital imaging.
A board-certified, subspecialized radiologist reads your exam, and you’ll receive your results through Scanslated®, an easy-to-understand imaging report sent by text within 48 hours after your report is finalized, so you can review them before your follow-up visit with your doctor. With a 97% patient satisfaction rating, your imaging team at AHI supports you from check-in to results.
Talk to your doctor about imaging and schedule your scan with American Health Imaging today.