You are scheduled to undergo discography, x-rays and a CT scan. This is
a diagnostic procedure done to evaluate whether or not surgery is indicated as
part of your treatment. It is not a treatment for your pain. The results of
this test basically reveal whether the structure of your discs is normal or
abnormal and if they contribute to your back pain. From this information, the
type and extent of surgery needed could be determined. These findings will be
discussed with you by the physician referring you for the discogram.
The discography can be performed in the Pain Clinic, the Radiology
Department, or the Ambulatory Surgery Unit (ASU). Be sure to ask where yours
is. You will be given a local anesthetic (numbing medicine) so that you will
not feel the needles going through your skin. We will attempt to reproduce the
pain, which you normally feel by injecting contrast material (dye) into your
discs. You will be awake throughout the procedure so that you can describe the
sensation, and its pattern. The object of this test is to associate abnormal
discs with painful discs.
After the dye has been injected, you will be transported on a stretcher
to the Outpatient X-ray and CT departments. X-ray films of your back will be
taken. This can take an hour or more to complete. You will return on the
stretcher to the Recovery Area and from there you will be discharged home.
There are some risks associated
with this procedure as there are with any procedure.
1.
Infection or Discitis (an inflammation of the disc) 1.3%
2.
Nerve irritation or damage
3.
Spinal puncture
4.
Worsening of your pain
5.
Allergic reactions to contrast material
1.
Do
not eat or drink for at least 6(six) hours before your procedure.
2.
Stop
any aspirin, aspirin-containing medication, or any other blood thinners prior
to the procedure.
3.
Arrange
for a ride home after your procedure. You should plan not to drive until the
following day.
4.
Dress
comfortably in loose fitting clothing.
5.
Leave
your valuables at home.
6.
Arrive
promptly, you must have an IV inserted into your arm before the procedure
begins.
Plan to spend the remainder of the day resting. Some increase in back
pain and possible muscle spasms are to be expected for a few days. Apply ice to
your back intermittently the day of your procedure. The following day use
either ice or heat to help decrease your pain. If your increased back pain has
not resolved in 5-6 days contact the Pain Program. Please ask to speak with a
nurse and explain that you are having problems following a discography. In
certain cases in which there is a tear in the disc, its content may be
displaced outside of the disc, by the injected radiological contrast. Since
this content is extremely irritating to other tissue, it may be necessary to do
an epidural steroid injection to "wash it out" and to treat the
subsequent inflammatory response.