Diagnosis
Diagnosis
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Msk Ultrasound - 495$ Fee
- Currently No Wait Times
At Kinetix Medicine, our private ultrasound services are performed directly by one of our in house radiologists. Our sonographers have specialized training to perform musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasounds which assess the ligaments and tendons that hold muscles and bones in alignment. The ultrasound evaluates the joint space for inflammation and fluid that may be limiting your joint movement.
MSK ultrasounds are a powerful tool to determining the extent of your injuries and can assist in diagnosing and creating the appropriate treatment plan.
EMG (Electromyography) - MSP covered
- Currently No Wait Times
EMG is a diagnostic service for patients suffering from muscle- and nerve-related disorders such as numbness of the hands or feet, weakness, or nerve related pain. The EMG clinic is operated by a neurologist or physiatrist certified through the Canadian Society of Clinical Neurophysiologists (CSCN). To access this clinic, patients must be referred by a physician or specialist.
Patients will undergo an assessment followed by a Nerve Conduction Study (NCS), which determines how well electricity moves through the nerves. Small, disc-shaped electrodes are taped to the skin and a low level of electricity is then sent through these electrodes. A computer will measure how quickly the signal passes from one electrode to another and assess the nerve and muscle function.
Based on the gathered information from the assessment and the NCS, patients may undergo a needle electromyogram study. This study uses a special needle that is placed into the muscle to measure how much electricity is generated by the muscle at rest and during active contraction. Typically, the needle may be put in several different muscles during the study.
The EMG Clinic physician will provide an interpretation of the study as well as diagnoses and further recommendations to the patient and referring physician.
Nerve blocks - MSP covered
- Currently No Wait Times
Nerve blocks are injections done to decrease inflammation or “turn off” a pain signal along a specific distribution of nerve. X-ray guidance is used to place the needle in the most appropriate location for maximum benefit. A nerve block may allow a damaged nerve time to heal, provide temporary pain relief, but is often used to help identify a more specific cause of pain.”
Discogram
- Currently No Wait Times
Discography is a test used to determine whether the intervertebral disc is the source of pain in patients with predominantly axial back (internal disc disruption syndrome). During the procedure, x-ray contrast (dye) is injected into the disc and the patient’s response to the injection is noted. If the test reproduces your typical, daily back, this suggests that the disc is likely the source of the pain.
A CT scan must be performed immediately after the discogram to better assess the anatomical changes in the disc. For the test to be valid, the CT scan must reveal contrast leaking into tears on the inside of the disc; thus demonstrating internal disc disruption.
Specific indications for discography include the following:
- Persistent, severe symptoms when other diagnostic tests have failed to clearly confirm a suspected disc as a source of the pain.
- Evaluation of recurrent pain from a previously operated disc.
- Assessment of patients in whom spine surgery has failed to provide relief.
- Assessment prior to spinal fusion surgery to identify symptomatic discs. Also, the surgeon may want to know whether the discs adjacent (next to) to the segment can support the stress of fusion.
- Assessment of candidates for minimally invasive procedures such as
Common complications associated with discography include: nausea (2%), headache (10%), and temporary increased pain (81%). Rare complications include spinal headache, meningitis, discitis (disc infection), arachnoiditis (scarring), allergic reaction, seizure and serious bleeding.
