Digital X-ray in Raleigh, NC, Right at Our Glenwood South Office
Digital X-ray in Raleigh, NC, taken in our own office, helps your chiropractor rule out serious injury and plan care with a clear view of your spine. Call (919) 829-5757.
When a Spinal X-ray Makes Sense
An X-ray is not part of every visit. Your chiropractor recommends one when your history or exam suggests that a closer look at the bones and joints would change how you are treated. The aim is to rule out serious injury and confirm a suspected diagnosis before care begins.
- A recent car accident, fall or hard hit in sports
- Back or neck pain that has not improved with time
- Numbness, tingling or weakness in an arm or leg
- A suspected spinal disc problem or degenerative changes
- Severe pain, or pain that keeps getting worse
- Posture changes that have built up over many years
When these signs are present, imaging can show what the exam alone cannot. When they are not, your chiropractor may begin care without an X-ray and recommend one later only if your progress calls for it.
What to Expect During Your X-ray Visit
Imaging happens in the same office where you are examined and treated, so there is no separate appointment across town. The process is quick, and your chiropractor walks you through each step.
Exam First
Dr. Michael Ward or Dr. Chad Chisholm asks about your symptoms and examines you. Imaging is ordered only when the findings show it would help.
Positioning
You stand or lie in a set position while the area of concern is lined up with the machine. You hold still for a moment while each image is taken.
Images on Screen
Digital images appear on a computer screen without film developing. Your chiropractor can zoom in, adjust the contrast and look closely at the joints involved.
Reviewing Results Together
Your chiropractor goes over the images with you on an individual basis, explains what they show and uses them to plan the right course of treatment.
Low Radiation X-ray With Digital Imaging
Digital X-ray systems capture images with an electronic sensor instead of photographic film. Compared with traditional film X-rays, digital systems generally use less radiation to produce a clear image. Traditional X-rays are already considered safe for occasional use, and digital imaging lowers the exposure further.
The images are also easier to work with. Because they are stored on a computer, your chiropractor can enlarge one area, brighten a faint detail or compare two views side by side. There is no wait for film to develop and no need to retake an image because a print came out too light or too dark.
Digital images can be kept on file and compared over time. That helps show how your spine is changing as care goes on, and it makes it simpler to share images with another provider when a referral is needed. A low radiation X-ray gives you useful answers with less exposure.
How Chiropractic X-ray Guides Your Treatment
A chiropractic X-ray shows the bones of the spine and the spaces between them. Your chiropractor uses it to check alignment, look for signs of disc wear or degenerative changes and spot anything that would make certain treatments unsafe, such as a fracture.
The findings shape your care plan. They can help decide whether a hands-on adjustment or the Activator instrument suits you better, whether spinal decompression may help, and which areas need the most attention. An accurate diagnosis is the start of efficient treatment, and it keeps your chiropractor from guessing about what is happening beneath the surface.
X-rays do not show soft tissue such as discs, nerves and muscles in detail. When your exam points to a problem in those structures, your chiropractor can refer you for an MRI. Between the two, you and your chiropractor get a clear picture of what is causing your pain and how to address it. Digital X-ray in Raleigh, NC at our office is the first part of that picture.
What Determines Whether You Need Imaging
Your symptoms and history guide the decision more than anything else. Pain after trauma, such as a car accident or a fall, is more likely to call for imaging than a stiff neck that came on after a long day at a desk.
Your age, your general health and any past injuries or surgeries also play a part. If you already have recent X-rays or an MRI from another provider, mention them at your first visit, since they may mean new images are not needed right away.
Follow-up imaging is not automatic. Your chiropractor may suggest it later if your symptoms change, if progress stalls or if comparing images over time would help show how your spine is responding to care.
Why On-Site X-ray Makes Care Simpler
Having on-site X-ray means you are not sent across town to an imaging center and then asked to wait for results before treatment can begin. In many cases, your chiropractor can examine you, take images and review them with you in the same office.
Raleigh Central Chiropractic & Rehab has served patients on Glenwood Avenue for over 23 years. Both chiropractors, Dr. Michael Ward and Dr. Chad Chisholm, review results with patients one on one and explain what the images mean in plain language, so you understand the reasons behind your care plan.
Imaging is used to treat the underlying cause of your pain, not to add steps. Whether you are dealing with back pain, neck pain, a sports injury, a spinal disc problem or migraines, a clear diagnosis helps put you on a faster path to recovery. Choosing digital X-ray in Raleigh, NC close to downtown keeps that path short.
Digital X-ray in Raleigh, NC, Near Downtown
The office is at 301 Glenwood Ave #200, Raleigh, NC 27603, in Glenwood South on the edge of Downtown Raleigh. Patients from across the city, along with Cary, Garner and Millbrook, come in for digital X-ray in Raleigh, NC as part of their chiropractic care.
Imaging supports nearly all of our chiropractic and rehab services. It often comes before a chiropractic adjustment, and it helps guide care for spinal disc problems and decompression when a disc issue is suspected.
Downtown commuters, desk workers and active adults all benefit from a quick answer close to where they work and live. Getting imaging during the same visit means less time away from your day and a faster start to the care you came in for.
Common Questions About X-rays at Our Office
Does everyone need an X-ray at their first visit?
No. Your chiropractor decides after asking about your symptoms and examining you. Imaging is more likely after a car accident or fall, with severe or worsening pain, with numbness or weakness in a limb, or when a disc problem is suspected. Many patients start care without an X-ray, and imaging is added later only if it would change the treatment plan.
How much radiation does a digital X-ray use?
Digital X-ray systems generally need less radiation than traditional film X-rays to create a clear image. Occasional X-rays of either kind are considered safe, and digital imaging lowers the exposure further. Your chiropractor only orders images that are likely to affect your care, so you are not exposed to radiation without a clear reason for it.
Can an X-ray show a herniated disc?
Not directly. X-rays show bone clearly but do not show soft tissue such as discs and nerves in detail. They can reveal narrowed disc spaces, bone spurs and alignment changes that suggest a disc problem. When your symptoms point to a herniated or bulging disc, your chiropractor can refer you for an MRI to see the disc itself.
Should I tell the office if I might be pregnant?
Yes. Always tell the office before any X-ray if you are pregnant or think you might be. X-rays are generally avoided during pregnancy unless they are truly necessary, and your chiropractor can often plan care without them. Letting the team know ahead of time ensures your care is planned safely for both you and the baby.
Who reviews my X-ray results with me?
Your chiropractor reviews the images with you personally. Dr. Michael Ward or Dr. Chad Chisholm explains what the X-ray shows, points out anything that matters for your care and connects the findings to your symptoms. You leave understanding how the images shaped your treatment plan and what to expect from the visits ahead.
Get Clear Answers About Your Pain
Guessing at the cause of back or neck pain wastes time. Call Raleigh Central Chiropractic & Rehab at (919) 829-5757 to schedule an exam, and if imaging is needed, it can be done right here in the office.