How is a discogram performed?

Reproduce Pain: 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.

With you conscious : This is a test that you have to verbally respond to when placed on a table that x-rays pass through & a needle is guided sterilely into the disc under local anesthesia with some light IV sedation & confirmed to be in the right place with contrast injected followed by sterile water to see what response is given as to whether the disc is the cause of pain. A normal disc does not have pain elicited.