My chronic back pain flared up again recently, hurting so much I could barely stand up straight. It felt like my suspected herniated disc was getting worse. After putting it off for a while, I finally decided to go to the hospital for a thorough check-up. Living in Spain, this was my first time getting a scan for this issue, so I’ve documented the entire process to help anyone who might need it.
Booking an Appointment with Your Family Doctor
The first step, of course, is to book an appointment with your family doctor (GP). I used the GVA+Salut app to schedule the earliest available slot. When I saw the doctor, I described my symptoms, such as lower back pain, leg numbness, and difficulty sitting for long periods. After listening and performing a few simple physical checks, like asking me to bend over and lift my legs, he agreed to order a scan. He created the referral directly in the computer system for a lumbar spine X-ray and emphasized that I would need to book another appointment with him to review the results.
Booking with the Radiology Department
With the doctor’s referral in the system, I went directly to the reception of the radiology department at my local hospital. I handed my SIP card to the staff member, who found my request in the system. She gave me a printout with the specific date, time, and location of my appointment. I was quite lucky to get an appointment for the following week. I’ve heard that in some areas, the wait can be much longer, as it really depends on available resources. The staff member specifically reminded me to arrive 15 minutes early on the day of the scan and to wear simple clothing without any metal parts.
The Day of the Scan
On the day of the appointment, I arrived early at the designated waiting area. There was a dedicated waiting room with a screen displaying the patient call system. When it was my turn, the screen showed my name and the number of the room I needed to go to. Inside, the radiographer was a very kind lady. She asked me to remove my outer clothes and pants and change into a gown they provided. Then, I just followed her instructions to get into various positions: lying on my back, on my side, standing up… The whole process was very quick, taking less than 10 minutes. Afterwards, I could get dressed and leave. The technician told me that the report and images would be sent directly to the system for my family doctor to access.
Reviewing the Results and Next Steps
About three or four days after the scan, I used the GVA+Salut app again to book another appointment with my family doctor. This time, he was able to pull up my imaging report on his computer. He pointed to the screen and explained that I indeed have a slight protrusion in the L4-L5 disc. Well, my long-held fear became a reality. The doctor recommended I start with physical therapy and prescribed some anti-inflammatory and pain-relief medication. He also mentioned that if physical therapy doesn’t work, the next step might be a referral to a specialist. The whole procedure for getting medical scans in a Spanish hospital was quite straightforward, though knowing the specific Spanish vocabulary for medical imaging can be very helpful.
| Step | Key Activity | Important Notes |
|---|
| 1. Book a GP Appointment | Describe symptoms to get an imaging referral | Be clear about your symptoms, e.g., pain location, leg numbness, etc. |
| 2. Book with Radiology | Go to reception with your SIP card to schedule | Confirm the time and location, and note any instructions |
| 3. Go for the Scan | Arrive on time and follow the technician’s instructions | Wear metal-free clothing and relax |
| 4. Follow-up for Results | Book another GP appointment to review the report | Book several days in advance to avoid a long wait |
