DISCOGRAM

Overview and Facts

Discogram is also known as discography, an imaging test that helps assess back pain. The dye is injected into a disk then it travels into any damaged part in a disk’s exterior. This is made visible on an X-ray or CT-scan.

However, the discogram may not always show an accurate assessment of identifying the cause of back pain. This is because the procedure itself cannot determine which of the disks causes back pain. Moreover, disks that show wear and tear don’t always cause symptoms.

Why Perform a Discogram?

It’s important to note that the discogram is not used for an initial assessment of back pain. A doctor might ask a patient to undergo a discogram procedure if the back pain persists, despite having undergone physical therapy or medication. The discogram is also useful before spinal fusion surgery. It helps determine which disks need to be removed.

Types and Symptoms

SYMPTOMS

What Are the Risks?

As with any procedure, the discogram may cause not only infection but also worsen back pain. It may also injure the blood vessels and nerves near the spine area. Allergic reaction to the dye can also be anticipated.

Diagnosis & Medications

TREATMENT

What to Expect?

Before the Procedure

You must avoid blood-thinning medication for a certain period. Furthermore, in the morning before your scheduled procedure, eating or drinking must be avoided.

The discogram procedure is done in a hospital room or clinic with the needed imaging equipment. You will remain awake for the duration of the process, which may last for up to three hours. However, the test may last only 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the number of disks that need to be tested.

To help you relax, your doctor might give you a sedative before the procedure and an antibiotic to help prevent infection.

During the Procedure

You will be asked to lie on a table on the side of your abdomen. The doctor will then inject medicine to help decrease the pain that you might feel from the discogram needle. Through fluoroscopy, an imaging technique, the doctor will be able to see the needle enter your body. The dye is injected into a disk and using an X-ray or CT-scan, the doctor will be able to see how the dye spreads.

If the inserted dye stays at the centre of a disk, it means that a disk is normal. However, if the dye spreads, it means that the disk has undergone wear and tear change.

Furthermore, you will feel pain during the injection process if a particular disk causes your back pain. However, if your disk is standard, you will hardly feel any.

During the procedure, you will be asked to describe and rate the level of pain.

After the Procedure

Expect to stay in the room for another 30 minutes to an hour. It’s common to feel some pain for several hours on your lower back or in the area where the needle was injected. Have someone else drive you home. Make sure to apply an ice pack on the affected area for 20 minutes to alleviate the pain and keep your back dry for the whole 24 hours.

Should you feel terrible back pain or develop a fever after a week or two, call your doctor right away.

Interpreting Results

The results of a discogram are combined with other tests like the MRI, CT-scan, and physical examination to help a doctor identify the best treatment plan for your back pain.