We offer a comprehensive range of diagnostic services to detect and evaluate spinal problems to accurately identify the source of your pain or symptoms, including issues with bones, discs, nerves, ligaments, and muscles. Our advanced diagnostic services include: blood tests, X-rays, MRI scans, CT scans, SPECT scans, discograms, EOS scanner, and many more clinical approaches.
Our expert team of spinal consultants collaborate closely with radiologists, neurologists, and other specialists to provide a thorough assessment of your condition. By collaborating closely, we can provide comprehensive and personalised treatment plans that consider all aspects of your spinal health.
This approach allows us to leverage the collective knowledge and skills of our team, ensuring accurate diagnoses, effective treatments, and optimal outcomes.
We also recognise the significance of second opinions in decision-making. If you have previously sought treatment elsewhere and remain unsatisfied from failed treatments, our team is dedicated to thoroughly reviewing your case to provide the best advice and treatment options.
This applies not only to general second opinions but also to patients who have experienced failed back surgery at another clinic.
We take the time to listen, understand your concerns, and reevaluate your previous diagnosis, ensuring that you receive the most accurate and personalised care. Your well-being and satisfaction are our top priorities.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a safe and effective diagnostic tool used to identify spinal health issues. At the London Spine Clinic, our expert spinal consultants use MRI scans to examine all “soft tissues,” including discs, nerves, and joint linings, to diagnose the underlying problem.
It is important to note that MRI scans are not as accurate in looking at bone. Unlike X-rays or CT scans, MRI scans do not involve radiation and are safe for most patients. However, it is not recommended for pregnant women, especially in the early stages of pregnancy.
At our clinic, MRI scans can be taken in either the traditional lying-down position using a tube scanner or in the upright position using one of the newer sitting or even standing scanners.
We offer CT SPECT scans as part of our comprehensive diagnostic services. A SPECT scan, or Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography, shows the blood flow through certain areas, allowing us to identify areas of inflammation which may appear as “hot spots” on the scan. This information is crucial in developing an accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment plan that optimises outcomes and enhances the patient experience. It’s important to note that some patients may require more than one type of scan or other x-ray test to fully diagnose their problem(s) and assess their response to treatment.
Additionally, x-ray-based scans should be avoided during pregnancy, so it’s important to inform your doctor if there is any chance of pregnancy before undergoing any type of scan.
If you’re experiencing back or neck pain and are unsure of the source, a CT SPECT scan may be recommended as part of our diagnostic evaluation. Our team will work closely with you to determine the most appropriate diagnostic tests based on your specific symptoms and medical history.
*Please note this diagnostic option is off-site.
X-rays are a common diagnostic tool used to evaluate spinal health. They provide detailed images of the bones in the spine, making it easy to detect fractures, dislocations, or abnormal curves that may be causing pain.
X-rays are quick and painless, and involve a low dose of radiation, making them a safe and effective tool for diagnosing spinal conditions.
At the London Spine Clinic, our expert spinal consultants use x-rays alongside other diagnostic tests to gain a comprehensive understanding of each patient’s condition, allowing us to develop tailored treatment plans that optimise outcomes and enhance the patient experience.
The EOS scanner is a highly advanced imaging system that produces full body length pictures of a patient standing in a single scan, providing detailed frontal and lateral digital images. This state-of-the-art scanner uses a very fine pair of x-ray beams, which significantly reduces the overall dose of radiation received by the patient compared to traditional x-rays, making it an ideal option for younger patients.
With its cutting-edge technology and precise imaging capabilities, the EOS scanner is a great option for accurately diagnosing a range of spinal conditions, while also reducing radiation exposure and ensuring patient safety.
Our team of expert spinal consultants is highly experienced in using the EOS scanner to develop tailored treatment plans that optimise outcomes and enhance the patient experience.
*Please note this diagnostic option is off-site.
Our team of expert spinal consultants has extensive experience in performing discogram tests, which is used to identify the exact source of pain in patients with spine conditions. By injecting contrast into the discs, we can accurately identify the areas of damage and reproduce the patient’s normal pain. This information is crucial in developing a tailored treatment plan that optimises outcomes and enhances the patient experience.
Our team has performed several hundred discograms, which have often resulted in changes to the planned surgery or other treatments. If you are experiencing back or neck pain and are unsure of the source, a discogram test may be recommended as part of our diagnostic evaluation. Our team will work closely with you to determine the most appropriate diagnostic tests based on your specific symptoms and medical history.
We believe in taking a comprehensive approach to spinal assessments, which includes the use of blood tests.
While diagnostic tests alone may not definitively diagnose spine pain, blood tests can provide valuable information to support the overall assessment process. Blood tests such as a complete blood count (CBC), sedimentation rate (SED rate), and C-reactive protein (CRP) can help detect infections, inflammation, and certain forms of arthritis.
Additionally, we may conduct HLA-B27 testing, a genetic marker that can be associated with conditions like ankylosing spondylitis and reactive arthritis.
These blood tests, along with other diagnostic tools, enable us to gather important insights and tailor our treatment plans to your specific needs.
Our multidisciplinary team at the London Spine Clinic is dedicated to utilising all available resources to ensure a thorough and accurate assessment of your spinal health.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) is a new supplementary type of MRI scan that is used to help clinicians distinguish between painful and non-painful discs in the lumbar spine.
Conventional MRI scans for chronic lower back pain are very good at providing structural information about the discs, but can struggle to identify which discs are actually painful. Up to now, this additional diagnostic information could only be obtained through Provocative Discography, which involves injecting the discs under pressure. This is invasive and requires a separate admission and sedation.
MRS has been available in the USA through the services of Aclarion who own the special software required to process the MRS data. The London Spine Clinic is pioneering the UK-based use of MRS in this category of patients, with the aim of obtaining disc pain related information in a non-invasive, easier way as a simple add-on to a regular MRI scan.
