When Should You Visit Urgent Care for an X-Ray?
If you have an unexpected injury or sickness that needs rapid medical attention but isn’t a life-threatening emergency, you should go to urgent care for an X-ray. This covers ailments including sprains, strains, dislocations, deep cuts, and unexpectedly excruciating pain. Dr. Nasser Nasseri, MD, and his dedicated team offer X-rays at Elite Urgent Care to help diagnose these illnesses quickly and effectively, enabling you to get the right treatment right away. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 6100 Dobbin Rd, Suite A, Columbia, MD 21045.


Table of Contents:
What types of injuries or symptoms require an X-ray at urgent care?
How do I know if my injury needs an X-ray or other imaging tests?
Should I go to urgent care for an X-ray after a fall or accident?
Can I get an X-ray at urgent care for suspected fractures or sprains?
We understand that determining whether an injury or symptom requires an X-ray is crucial in administering the proper treatment. Multiple categories of injuries and symptoms exist that warrant an immediate X-ray at our urgent care center.
• Trauma-Related Injuries:
If you’ve encountered an injury resulting in severe pain, swelling, or difficulty in moving a body part, an X-ray would be required to identify potential broken bones. From sports injuries to falls or accidents, our team is ready to assist. Bone deformities, misalignments, and open wounds that may have caused internal damage would also necessitate an X-ray.
• Joint Pain and Fractures:
Persistent joint pain or stiffness, especially post-fall or injury, may indicate a dislocation or fracture. If a joint is visibly out of place or you’re having difficulty moving or bending it, an X-ray is crucial. Suspected broken bones due to pain, swelling, or inability to use the affected area would also require an X-ray.
• Head Injuries:
Severe headaches or migraines, confusion or disorientation, and loss of consciousness, even if brief, are all symptoms of potential head injuries that require urgent care and possibly an X-ray.
• Chest and Lung-Related Symptoms:
Symptoms related to lung conditions often necessitate an X-ray. Persistent, severe coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain could be signs of conditions such as pneumonia or lung cancer, which we can identify and treat.
• Abdominal Injuries:
Severe abdominal pain may also require an X-ray. This could indicate conditions like kidney stones or bowel obstruction. Symptoms like severe abdominal pain or tenderness, nausea or vomiting, and swelling or bruising in the abdomen would require an X-ray for proper identification and treatment planning.
• Other Symptoms:
If you’ve ingested or inhaled a foreign object, an X-ray would be needed to locate the object and determine how to safely remove it. Other symptoms like unusual lumps or bumps, persistent numbness or tingling, and the inability to use or control muscles normally may also necessitate an X-ray.
Injuries resulting from significant trauma, such as falls, car accidents, or sports injuries, often necessitate an X-ray. After such situations, if you’re feeling a lot of discomfort, swelling, or trouble moving, we strongly recommend coming in for a check-up. Signs of a fracture, dislocation, or other structural damage might not be visible externally, but an X-ray can reveal these issues.
We also look out for symptoms such as persistent swelling or bruising, inability to move or use an injured limb or body part, or numbness and tingling in the injured area. These could suggest internal bleeding, nerve damage, or a severe injury that requires immediate attention.
If you’ve been following standard treatment advice for a soft tissue injury, like the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), and your pain persists or worsens after several days, this can indicate a more serious condition. Our team can use imaging tests to help identify issues such as bone fractures or significant ligament injuries.
For older adults, we understand that persistent pain in the back, hips, or joints could signify conditions like osteoarthritis or osteoporosis. Our imaging tests can provide vital information about the progression of these conditions.
We also offer imaging tests for patients with a history of certain diseases like cancer, checking for metastasis or monitoring the effectiveness of treatment.
Falls and accidents are unpredictable and can lead to a range of injuries. It’s crucial to determine whether an X-ray is necessary to assess the extent of the damage. The decision to seek urgent care for an X-ray largely depends on your symptoms and the likelihood of a serious injury, such as a fracture.
If you’re experiencing intense or persistent pain, significant swelling, or difficulty moving the affected area, consider visiting us immediately. These symptoms could signify a fracture or dislocation. Similarly, if you’ve suffered a head injury and are experiencing confusion, dizziness, or loss of consciousness, it could indicate a potential skull fracture needing urgent attention.
Visible deformities, such as swelling, misalignment, or signs of bone displacement in the affected area, are red flags warranting an immediate visit to Elite Urgent Care. Persistent numbness or tingling that worsens after the injury may suggest nerve damage, while the inability to effectively move or use the injured area could imply a loss of function.
If you have a history of osteoporosis or other bone-weakening conditions or are on medications that increase the risk of fractures, you should also consider getting an X-ray after a fall or accident.
We are equipped to perform X-rays and generally have shorter wait times than emergency rooms. However, for severe or life-threatening injuries—for instance, if you’re experiencing chest pain or difficulty breathing after your fall or accident—go to the emergency room immediately.
You can get an X-ray at Elite Urgent Care for suspected fractures or sprains. Our state-of-the-art facility is fully equipped with modern X-ray machines operated by trained staff to address such situations. We offer a faster, more convenient alternative to emergency rooms for these types of injuries.
In the case of a sprain, or an injury to ligaments that connect bones, an X-ray can help rule out the possibility of a fracture. Pain, swelling, bruising, and instability in the joint are some signs of a sprain. On the contrary, fractures are breaks in bones that range from hairline cracks to complete breaks, with symptoms that could include excruciating pain, bruising, swelling, deformity, and trouble moving the injured area.
You must get an X-ray as soon as possible if you encounter any of these symptoms. To confirm the diagnosis, our medical professionals will evaluate your symptoms, conduct a physical examination, and perhaps request an X-ray. In addition to X-ray services, we have other diagnostic tools available, such as ultrasound or MRI scans, which may be necessary for certain types of injuries.
Elite Urgent Care can provide you with the necessary X-ray examination to help accurately diagnose your suspected fracture or sprain. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 6100 Dobbin Rd, Suite A, Columbia, MD 21045. We serve patients from Columbia MD, Ellicott City MD, Laurel MD, Elkridge MD, Clarksville MD, Fulton MD, Jessup MD, and surrounding areas.