Question 1

how severe is the pain typically after having a discogram?

Accepted Answer

Painful: The pain of the discogram is limited to the test itself and usuall does not linger after completion, the pain is intense as it simulats an acute ruptured disc  but for a breif time if the test is positive surgery usualy will fix the problem.

Question 2

how are discograms typically performed?

Accepted Answer

Paine generator: This is a test used to reproduce your back pain. For example an MRI does not tell us which level causes pain. Only what levels look " bad". In a disco gram a needle is inserted into the disc and pressurized with water. A good disc does not reproduce pain. The bad disc will and the dr. Doing the test will note this. This test adds another piece to the puzzle from where your pain is coming from.

Question 3

how long does a discogram typically take?

Accepted Answer

About an hour: A discogram procedure typically takes up to one hour, depending on the anatomy and the physician performing the test. Sometimes a ct scan is immediately peformed after the injections, which would add to the time expected to complete the whole study.

Question 4

i had a discogram a month ago & am still having severe headaches/nausea that lasts for days. my dr isn't helping me. what should i do?

Accepted Answer

Try fioricet (acetaminophen butalbital and caffeine) : Try Fioricet and phenergan, (promethazine) may need MRI  lapine to look at disc.

Question 5

i am getting an discogram done next week. what should i expect?

Accepted Answer

Disc injection: Lumbar discogram is performed as an outpatient procedure. Individuals are given IV sedation doctor needs input from the patient during procedure. The procedure takes anywhere from 30 to 60 min.For diagnostic purposes to see whether  intervertebral disc is the source of a patient’s low back pain when degenerative disc disease is present. It is not necessarily therapeutic.

Question 6

what is a spinal discogram?

Accepted Answer

Simple test: It is a test that evaluates the discs between the vertebrae.  Performed with minimal if any sedation, under xray guidance, a very thin needle is advanced into the disc.  Generally xray dye is injected into the disc, xray pictures are taken to evaluate the integrity of the disc.

Question 7

what does it meant to have a provocative discogram?

Accepted Answer

Reproduce symptoms: Provocative exam relative to a discogram means they are trying to recreate your pain symptoms to determine which disc is causing your pain.

Question 8

what's the procedure for a discogram for herniated discs?

Accepted Answer

Complicated: Discograms have 1 purpose only, which is to determine which disc is causing back pain. Altho radiologists try to fancy it up by discussing pressure & volume statistics, the only thing that matters is whether injection of fluid in the disc reproduces your spontaneously occurring pain. Sedative drugs should not be given immediately before or during the procedure because they blunt judgement & recall.

Question 9

is it normal to feel the needles go into your back when you had a discogram?

Accepted Answer

Yes: While the needles used are thin, you will feel the needle entering into the skin and pass into the disk.

Question 10

what's the recovery time after a discogram.. what will help with pain after?

Accepted Answer

Generally that day : Occasionally it triggers typical episode of  "exacerbation" of pain which for a small percentage can last 2-5 days.  If pain worsens or changes it could be discogram procedure caused a disc to herniate or herniate further.  This is very rare & even rarer is  risk of disc space infection -under 1%.  There is also a small risk of a spinal headache or nerve root irritation.  Rest & time is treatment.

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How severe is the pain typically after having a discogram

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How severe is the pain typically after having a discogram?

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How are discograms typically performed?

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How long does a discogram typically take?

A member asked:

I had a discogram a month ago & am still having severe headaches/nausea that lasts for days. my dr isn't helping me. what should i do?

A member asked:

I am getting an discogram done next week. what should i expect?

A member asked:

What is a spinal discogram?

A member asked:

What does it meant to have a provocative discogram?

A member asked:

What's the procedure for a discogram for herniated discs?

A member asked:

Is it normal to feel the needles go into your back when you had a discogram?

A member asked:

What's the recovery time after a discogram.. what will help with pain after?

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