Overview:
- A discogram is a diagnostic procedure that helps a physician determine the origin or cause of a patient’s back pain.
- A physician may recommend a discogram to patients with moderate to severe pain that does not diminish with conservative treatment.
- In this blog, the pain management specialists explain what a discogram is and what patients can expect during the procedure.
Chronic back pain is one of the most common ailments affecting Americans today, and unfortunately, many individuals impacted by this condition do very little to mitigate it. Back pain can affect people of all ages, but it’s most common in aging adults between the ages of 45 and 64. Having said that, it’s easy to see why back pain goes untreated for many people over the age of 40—it’s often attributed to “old age.”
Spinal degeneration occurs most often from natural wear and tear with age, but it can also develop in younger populations as a chronic condition. Therefore, it’s important patients, regardless of age, seek treatment for their back pain. Degeneration of spinal vertebrae and intervertebral discs doesn’t typically resolve on its own, so treatment may be necessary to slow the condition’s progression.
Before treatment can be sought, a diagnostic test must be administered to identify the cause of location or a patient’s pain. That’s where a discogram comes in; this test is a relatively invasive procedure that can be administered before a spinal fusion or during a patient examination. It helps diagnose the exact source and cause of a patient’s back pain.
What To Expect During A Discogram
A sedative may be administered intravenously to help you relax during the procedure. A local anesthetic may also be injected into the needle insertion sites to help minimize any possible pain or discomfort. You will lie face down on a table that’s attached to an imaging device, which is used to help your physician examine abnormal spinal discs.
Using a fluoroscope (imaging equipment), your physician will insert a needle into the parts of the spine. He or she will begin injecting a contrast dye into spinal discs suspected of causing pain. If the dye spread outside the spinal disc, the disc may have some wear and tear to it that’s causing discomfort. Throughout this process, your physician will ask you to rate your pain. The imaging test and your responses will help your physician determine the source of your pain.
The test may take up to three hours and after the procedure, you will be sent to a room to recover. Because conscious sedation is involved, you will need to be taken home by a family, friend, or loved one. Results from this study may help your physician decide on the best course of treatment. Other tests, like an MRI or CT scan, may influence this decision as well.
Call Tulsa Pain Consultants today if you’re experiencing back pain that lasts more than 6 weeks and does not go away with conservative treatment modalities. We’d be happy to schedule an appointment for you with one of our leading physicians. Call today!
Tulsa Pain Consultants is a multi-location pain management practice in Oklahoma that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain. We are dedicated to helping those who are suffering find the relief they deserve. Our team uses a balanced approach by incorporating minimally invasive, outpatient procedures, complementary and alternative medicine, and medication to help patients take control of their pain. Call 855-918-PAIN or click on our “Request An Appointment” tab to meet with one of our talented pain management specialists today!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.