Scans & Injections

You may have a number of tests and investigations while we are caring for you. Many involve a short appointment with a specialist and you have most of them during an outpatient visit. You may have a range of tests and investigations at the same appointment.

They help us to:

• diagnose your condition
• work out how severe it is
• decide which treatment or type of care programme is best for you
• find out how well your treatment is working.

Blood tests (phlebotomy)

They involve taking samples of your blood which are then checked in a laboratory. It is commonly used to look for signs of swelling or changes in the bones.

Injections

Sometimes as part of your treatment you may be referred for a steroid injection. These injections are used to help reduce inflammation and pain to allow you to move more freely.

CT scan

CT is short for computerised tomography. It is also known as a CAT (computer-axial tomography) scan. It uses x-rays to take a series of detailed pictures of the soft tissues inside of your body. A computer then builds these into a three-dimensional image. These scans look at bones and joints in more detail than an x-ray

MRI scan

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to take very detailed pictures from almost every angle to produce two and three-dimensional images of the inside of your body. An MRI scan is painless and harmless. You may need to prepare for a MRI scan – your appointment letter will explain what to do. These scans look at muscles, tendons and ligaments.

Ultrasound scan

This uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of a part of the inside of your body. You do not need to prepare for an ultrasound scan. These scans look at muscles, tendons and blood vessels.

X-Ray

X-Ray uses a type of radiation that can pass through the body to produce images of the inside of the body.  This scan looks at bones and joints.

DEXA scan

A DEXA scan uses a type of x-ray to measure the density of your bones. It is also know as a bone density or densitometry scan. You do not need to prepare for this type of scan.