Discogram upcoming

**mmarsh** · 10-01-2010, 09:56 PM

Hello all. I've read some threads concerning discograms. I've never heard anything good about the procedure (except the results are helpful). I've asked the doc for this one because there is some question as to which disc is the pain generator. Symptoms are L5-S1, but he MRI shows L2-3 as the problem, EMG says L5-S1. Don't care to have any more surgery until I know for sure which level is causing the problem. I guess I just really need some TLC before going into this one! Thanks in advance...M-

**KBear** · 10-01-2010, 10:41 PM

My first discogram was awful painful, but it did reproduce the pain. My second was awesome, they gave me sedation, put the needles in, then woke me for the dye part and then knocked me back out. We determined the pain was L4/5 and it wasn't bad at all. It really depends on who does it too. I know it's a scary thing, trust me after disco #1, I was less than thrilled about #2. I didn't know I would get sedation until the day of (and still wasn't confident in it). Really though, when you think about having potentially the wrong surgery (which is way more painful than a disco), then it's nothing.

**Jack-of-all-trades** · 10-01-2010, 11:27 PM

Make sure they do some type of conscious sedation before you show up to have it done. Call them ahead of time.

I had it done by the first PM doc I visited. The procedure went OK as I had sedation. My problem was the discogram revealed 3 bad discs which I knew I had by MRI. Only one was the pain generator in my case. I don't know for sure but speculate discograms only check the disc and what it is impinging on and not the other causes of pain. This is where the experience of the surgeon comes in to play. The surgeon I used doesn't do discograms anymore.

They do provide information, though depending on who you talk to i don't know that it would be definitive.

**ajj1001** · 10-02-2010, 04:54 AM

I had sedation and the actual procedure itself was ok, it was just afterwards that was difficult to cope with. I was back to my normal pain levels after 2 -3 weeks.

**rsaylor8326** · 10-02-2010, 10:22 PM

It was barbaric I had sedation but it still hurt thats the hole point but my new PMD don't do them she said there is other ways to find that sorta info out and then if they find the bad disk your in pain for a week after words, But they did find the problem.

**Cindylou** · 10-03-2010, 03:11 AM

I've only had one discogram and I screamed like a mad-man through out each level tested. I had no sedation. It was tortuous in my experience, but it did reveal that all 3 lumbar discs (L3-6) were triggers of pain.

**rsaylor8326** · 10-03-2010, 07:37 AM

See thats bull spit, thats such a pain full test to not give sedation I was givin so much they had to wake me up a few times and then they gave me a bunch of Fentenyal when they were done I was hurting do bad. I here that the FDA is trying to out law that it's so barbaric my new pain doc witch is said tp be one of the best in the area don't do it. My wife is a nurse and she was told by a pain doc to tell me to go to her knoe that say's somthing.

**Justin** · 10-03-2010, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by rsaylor8326

See thats bull spit, thats such a pain full test to not give sedation I was givin so much they had to wake me up a few times and then they gave me a bunch of Fentenyal when they were done I was hurting do bad. I here that the FDA is trying to out law that it's so barbaric my new pain doc witch is said tp be one of the best in the area don't do it. My wife is a nurse and she was told by a pain doc to tell me to go to her knoe that say's somthing.

Although discography can be a painful diagnostic test, it can be extremely useful in determining the next step(s) for many Spine Patients.

**mmarsh** · 10-03-2010, 03:34 PM

I appreciate everybody giving me their input. Even the ones I don't want to hear! I still feel it's the best way to know for sure which disc is causing the problem. I feel like having surgery is a big step (even though I've had a bunch!). I don't want to go through the pain and suffering involved with surgery only to find out it was the wrong level! That would be nuts!

**Keano16** · 10-03-2010, 04:09 PM

My mom had three discograms.

First with "classic" neurosurgeon and it was EXTREMENY painful.
Second with "minimally-invasive" neurosurgeon, and it was acceptable.
Third was intraoperative discogram which is used prior to intradiscal selective endoscopic discectomy and this was completely painless.

Recently I had a short conversation with one of top Wooridul Spine Hospital neurosurgeons (world leading hospital for minimally-invasive spinal surgery) and I am quoting him:

In terms of discography, it has lost its confidence when surgeons decide important surgical strategy. Eugene Carrage already reported many articles about discography.