If you have hurt your back or neck, your doctor may have told you, that you need a Discogram. I have had a Discogram and in this article, I will discuss exactly what a Discogram is and what you should expect.
What is a Discogram?
A Discogram is a type of x-ray that doctors use to determine if you have bad discs in your back. A dye is injected into a control disc and into discs that the doctors think are bad. The dye that is injected into the discs is visible to the doctors on a special x-ray screen called a fluoroscope. It is from these x-rays that the doctors will be able to determine if you need further treatment.
What Should You Expect?
After your Doctor has told you that you need a Discogram, there will be some steps to take before the outpatient procedure takes place. A few days before the procedure, you will be sent to the lab at the hospital where the Discogram will take place. They will do some blood work, and will take a urine sample, this is all standard procedure. You will also be asked not to take any blood thinners, ibuprofen or Tylenol, 5 days before the Discogram.
What to Expect the day of the Discogram
On the day of the Discogram you will be asked to arrive up to 2 hours before the outpatient procedure. After completing paperwork you will be taken back to the holding area, where you will be prepped for the Discogram. You will have to remove your clothing, and put on a gown, and an IV will be started, so that medicine can be dispensed.
During the Discogram
You will be given a very light local anesthesia and a light numbing agent on your back or neck, depending on where the injured discs are. The surgeon will place several long needles into the Nucleus Pulposus, which is the very center of the discs that will be tested. Once the needles are in the right place, a small amount of dye will be injected, so that the pressure inside the disc rises.
You will be awake for this, and I will not lie, if you do have bad discs, it will hurt, a lot. The idea behind the Discogram is to reproduce the symptoms that you feel on a daily basis. If the surgeon can recreate the symptoms while injecting the dye, then the surgeon will know for sure, if you have bad discs, but you need to be awake to be able to tell them what you are feeling. While you may be in some discomfort for a little while, it will be worth it, especially if you do have problems. As soon as the procedure is done, you will be given strong pain medication that will sedate you for a while. The whole procedure takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Going Home
After the procedure has been completed, you will be wheeled back to the hold area, and the nurses will let the pain medication wear off. You will need to have someone with you to drive home, or you will not be released. After the procedure, you will have increased levels of pain for 7 to 10 days. You should get the results of your Discogram in about 3 days. I hope that this article has helped you understand the role, of the Discogram a little better.
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