When you’re injured or hurting, radiology can be an important part of your diagnosis. The experienced care team at Sterling Medical Center in Sterling Heights, Michigan, can do full body, joint, back, chest, and other types of X-rays as needed after falls, shortness of breath, or other problems. Use the online scheduler or call the office to book your appointment today.
Radiology Q & A
What is radiology?
Radiology is the area of science and medicine that uses imaging to identify, diagnose, and guide treatment of injury and illness. The most common type of radiology is the X-ray, in which your care provider uses a minimal quantity of radiation to capture images of the inside of your body.
X-rays at Sterling Medical Center are fast, painless, and easy. Through X-rays, your care team can diagnose your problems and design the optimal treatment plan right away.
When do I need an X-ray?
Your care provider will discuss your symptoms and do a visual exam to determine whether you need an X-ray, and if so, exactly what area to X-ray. Some of the most common areas for X-rays include:
- Chest
- Joints
- Extremities (hands, feet, fingers, toes)
- Back
- Full body
X-rays are useful in a variety of situations, not just for suspected injuries. For example, if you’re dealing with shortness of breath and other respiratory symptoms, an X-ray can help the Sterling Medical Center care team diagnose asthma, pneumonia, or other conditions.
If you suffer from repeated falls, X-rays can help isolate the cause and determine the extent of the damage. If you’re dealing with a condition like back pain, X-rays can help the team determine whether a fracture or some other type of damage is causing your pain.
How do I prepare for an X-ray?
X-rays generally require no preparation. At your appointment, the Sterling Medical Center team asks you to remove clothing covering the area being X-rayed, so you may need to wear a hospital gown.
If you’re wearing any jewelry or other metal, you may need to remove it before the X-ray because it can interfere with the imaging. If you have any implanted medical devices, for example, a pacemaker, be sure to let your care provider know about it before the X-ray.
If there’s any possibility that you could be pregnant, inform the team before the X-ray. In some situations, being pregnant may mean that you need an alternative type of imaging, like an ultrasound.
Use the online scheduler or call Sterling Medical Center to make your appointment now.