When you go to the doctor with pain in your chest or torso area, you probably fully expect to get an X-ray. It's a standard practice that is usually the very first go-to diagnostic tool in many hospitals and clinics. If you're advised to get an X-ray, it's important for you to know that you have options. There is an alternative method that might lend even better results: an ultrasound. See why you should always ask for an ultrasound when seeing the doctor for pain-related purposes:

Ultrasounds Capture Refined Images That X-Rays May Miss

The images that are produced by the traditional X-ray machine can sometimes be crude and hard to decipher. If you have had X-rays done in the past, you probably remember the blurry images that you could barely make out. Without a very experienced and trained eye, it's difficult to tell if you're looking at a tumor or some internal mass as opposed to bodily organs that are right where they need to be.

Getting an ultrasound gives you the chance to see what's going on inside of your body with much more refinement and precision. Ultrasound machines are designed to capture images of the softer cell tissue that can frequently be absent in more coarse X-ray pictures. Seeing with your own eyes is believing, and once you're able to look at the ultrasound-generated images you can confidently trust the treatment advice that is given to you by your physician.

Ultrasounds Are the Painless Choice

If you're the type of person who cringes at the very thought of getting a shot or having to endure the prick of a needle when you're getting blood drawn, you might decide to endure the pain you are feeling simply because you don't want to have to face these fears in the doctor's office.

An ultrasound is a painless alternative that can help you gain the bravery needed to find out what's going on with your physical frame. The ultrasound wand glides effortlessly over your skin and delivers the images onto a computer screen. You won't be poked or prodded by needles, and it is a very effective diagnostic tool when administered by a medical professional.

You have the right to make requests that serve your best interests. The next time you go to the doctor because you're in pain, ask for an ultrasound to hopefully find the answers you seek.