X-Rays in Council Bluffs

What are on-site X-rays?

Digital X-ray is a standard diagnostic imaging tool that produces clear images of the bones and joint spaces of your spine using a small, controlled dose of radiation. When those images are available in our Council Bluffs office — rather than at a separate facility — Dr. Schanuth can check them the same day and incorporate what he finds directly into your care plan.

Modern digital X-ray equipment produces significantly less radiation than older film-based systems and delivers faster, sharper images. We follow ALARA principles — keeping exposure As Low As Reasonably Achievable — and we use lead shielding for areas outside the region being imaged. The result is a safe, low-exposure look at spinal structure that takes only a few minutes to capture.

What to expect

X-rays at our office are straightforward. You’ll be positioned standing while a digital sensor captures one or more images of the area in question. Each exposure takes only a second, and the entire imaging appointment is usually complete in five to ten minutes.

The real value comes in what happens next. Dr. Schanuth reviews your images the same day to rule out any red flags, then studies them in detail and goes over the full findings with you at your next visit — pointing out what he sees in plain English, whether that’s a fracture, degenerative joint changes, a curve in your spine, or reassuring normal findings — and explaining how each piece affects your care. You leave with a clear picture of what’s going on, not just a printout to decipher later.

If your images reveal something that calls for more advanced imaging — like an MRI to see discs or nerves — or a specialist referral, Dr. Schanuth will tell you directly and help coordinate that next step.

Who it helps

X-rays are taken for most patients because they let Dr. Schanuth see the position and condition of your spine, build a care plan tailored to you, and rule out any reason he should not adjust. Your images help him see:

• The position and alignment of your spine, including curvatures like scoliosis that need measurement for monitoring or care planning
• The condition of your joints and discs — degenerative changes or reduced disc height that can point to a disc injury and influence adjustment technique
• Fractures or other structural changes behind back pain or neck pain after a fall, blow, or other significant trauma
• Red flags that would change your treatment or require a referral — especially important when your exam shows warning signs such as unexplained weight loss, fever, or progressive neurological changes
• The bony architecture of complex or long-standing spinal issues, which shapes the safest and most effective approach

For patients whose symptoms point to soft-tissue involvement — a herniated disc pressing on a nerve, for example — Dr. Schanuth will explain when MRI is the more appropriate tool and refer accordingly.

Why choose Schanuth Family Chiropractic

Patients across Council Bluffs, Omaha, Carter Lake, Crescent, Underwood, Treynor, Carson, and Glenwood choose us because they get straight answers. X-rays are required for the majority of patients, taken in-office, and reviewed with you in detail at your next visit — no separate facility, no waiting, no guesswork.

Dr. Nathan Schanuth uses every diagnostic tool — including on-site digital X-ray — to build a care plan that’s precise, honest, and specific to you. Ready to get to the bottom of what’s going on? Our New Patient Special makes your first visit easy, and you can book an appointment online in under a minute.