Diagnosis for compression fractures
To diagnose a compression fracture, your doctor will conduct a physical exam and ask about your symptoms. During the exam, your provider will:
- Check the alignment in your spine and posture.
- Gently push different areas of your back to identify the exact area the pain is.
- Look for signs of nerve damage, which may include numbness, tingling or muscle weakness.
Your provider will also conduct imaging studies to see pictures of the bones, muscles and soft tissues in your back. These imaging studies include:
- CT scan, spine X-ray or MRI to show images of your spine and check if there are fractures or other injuries.
- Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, a special type of X-ray that measures bone loss (bone density test).
- Myelogram [3], a procedure your provider uses along with an imaging study. This involves your provider injecting a contrast material (dye) into your spine before doing a CT scan or X-ray. The dye makes images clearer.
- Three-phase bone scan, an imaging study that takes three sets of pictures during three different visits.