Strike a pose!

*snap*

All done! That’s one for the scrapbook.

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Okay, so maybe you aren’t quite as excited to get your foot or ankle X-rayed as you were about sharing all those vacation photos on Facebook, or going through your old baby photos. But as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. In many cases, a simple X-ray photo may be able to tell us more about what’s hurting you—and what needs to be done about it—than a lengthy chat about your symptoms.

Just like your own cameras, X-ray machines have come a long way in a short time, too. Think about how you take your own pictures. It wasn’t too long ago that you had to buy film for your camera, could only take about 30 pictures, and had no way to check them until after you went to a store to have them developed. Now, everyone has a great camera in their pocket at all times, you can take as many pictures as you want, and see them right away.

So too with our digital X-ray machine. It has all the same advantages as the camera on your cell phone—instant feedback, no need to buy or develop film, no need to worry whether you got your shot or not. But digital X-rays have other advantages, too. For example, the improved image quality and dynamic range compared to film means fewer actual X-rays need to be used to get a clear image. That means less radiation exposure and greater safety for everyone.

You may or may not want a copy of your X-ray for the family album (or the Facebook wall), but either way you’ll be glad that your doctors have a copy! By being able to see the condition of the bone, and precisely where and how extensive the damage is, we can put together an effective treatment plan that addresses your exact needs.

If it’s picture time for the inside of your feet and ankles, give the team at Southern California Foot & Ankle Specialists a call. You can reach our Ladera Ranch office at (949) 364-9255 today.