The discogram, also known as discography, is a sort of imaging test that requires determining the cause of back discomfort.
- Orthopedics are aware of the relationship between back pain and sensitive discs.
- A discogram test can help a doctor if a ruptured disc in the spine is the source of back discomfort.
- It is a process that involves injecting a dye or coloring agent into the softish center point of one or more disks.
- For a short time, this injection can cause back pain.
- A pigment or coloring agent penetrates any cracks in the disc surface and is visible on an X-ray or CT scan.
- Many spine surgeons and orthopedics believe a discogram is an interventional diagnostic imaging test.
- A discogram is beneficial to determine whether a particular intervertebral disc is the source of back pain.
- Even then, discs that show signs of damage do not always cause symptoms.
- Still, the usage of a discogram is debatable.
What is the purpose of a discogram?
- If your back pain remains even after conventional treatments like medication and physical therapy, your doctor may recommend a discogram.
- Doctors use discograms to rectify removable painful disks before undergoing spinal fusion surgery.
- Discograms aren't always helpful in evaluating which disks are causing back pain.
- At present, many doctors focus on specific tests to diagnose disk problems, such as MRI and CT scanning
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| Discogram |
Who performs the discogram?
A qualified radiologist will perform the test in the local hospital radiology department or an outpatient imaging center.
How should we prepare for the discogram?
- Your doctor may advise you to stay away from solid food after midnight, especially before the test.
- Make plans to be driven to and from the hospital by someone you trust.
- You may prepare yourself in a warm-up suit, sweatpants, or shorts.
How should I prepare for the discogram?
- Your doctor may advise you not to eat anything solid before the discogram test.
- Make plans to be driven to and from the hospital by someone you trust.
- Come prepared in a warm-up suit, sweatpants, or shorts.
How does a discogram work?
Your diagnostic radiologist may ask you to lie down on your stomach or side on a table during the procedure.
- After cleaning your skin, your doctor may administer a numbing medication to ease the pain caused by the discogram needle cannulation.
- Your doctor inserts a hollow needle through your skin into the center of the disk space while viewing an X-ray monitor called a fluoroscope.
- A fluoroscope, also known as a C-arm, is an arc-shaped piece of equipment that provides X-rays from one side and photographs them from the other.
- Doctors inject a dye with the help of a hypodermic needle.
Your doctor uses a fluoroscopy technique that helps to get a more accurate and safe spot. The location is the center of the disk of the examined disk.
- Your doctor uses a contrast agent that appears white on X-rays.
- If the dye remains in the disk core, the experts treat it as a regular disk.
- If the pigment extends past the disk nucleus, it shows that your disk has undergone some damage. If a disk is causing you back pain, you will feel pain during the injection.
- It will be similar to the pain you are experiencing daily.
- If the disk is perfect, the injection is painless.
- Your doctor will ask you to describe and rate your pain during the discogram.
Standard X-rays of the spine only show the bones, such as the vertebrae. Myelograms only provide a detailed image of the spinal column. Discograms allow your doctor to see the disk itself.
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| Discogram |
What happens after the procedure?
Your doctor can complete the treatment in 30 minutes to an hour, and he may ask you to remain under observation during the process. You will require the assistance of a family member or friend to drive.
- It is normal to experience pain at the injection site or in the lower back for several hours following the procedure.
- You can apply an ice pack to the area for 30 minutes with the aid of your family members.
- Even after the test, if you experience severe back pain or a fever one to two weeks later, contact your doctor immediately.
- You need to maintain hygienic conditions to avoid any complications.
What results from a discogram verify?
Your doctor will examine the images and information you provided about the pain you experienced during the procedure to help determine the source of your back pain.
- Your doctor may use this information to guide your treatment and prepare you for surgery.
- Doctors typically do not rely solely on discogram results because a deteriorated disk may not cause pain.
- Furthermore, pain responses during a discogram can vary significantly.
- The results of a discogram are conventionally compared with the results of other tests, such as an MRI or CT scan and a physical examination, when determining a treatment plan for back pain.
- If the contrast dye spreads outside the pivot of the disk, experts say that the disk annulus is torn or ruptured.
- The results of a discogram may confirm the need for surgery and specify the correct cause of your back pain, increasing the possibility of a particular outcome from surgery.
- What are the risks of the discogram test?
A discogram is a relatively safe test but has a few risks. Some people are allergic to the dye or contrast agent injected into the disk. Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to x-ray dye.
If you are allergic to
- If you have medication issues,
- If you are pregnant,
- If you have a history of allergic reactions,
- If you have diabetes,
- If you have asthma,
- If you have a heart condition,
- If you have kidney problems,
- If you have thyroid conditions,
Please inform your doctor. Tell them if you take any blood thinners, such as aspirin.
FAQs
- What is the pain level of a discogram?
If a disk is causing your back pain, you should experience pain during the injection, similar to the pain you experience daily. When a disk is healthy, the injection is relatively painless. Your doctor may ask you to describe and rate your pain during the discogram.
- What is discogram surgery?
Doctors use a discogram to determine the source of your back discomfort. It also guides the treatment of abnormal disks. Discograms can also define disks that need to be treated or removed before surgery.
- How long does it take to get a discogram?
The discogram procedure takes 30 to 45 minutes on average. Your doctor will discover a suspected disk with the help of a CT scan. It helps to determine the disk condition. You will be kept for 30 to 60 minutes for observation before being allowed to return home.
- What is a CT myelogram, and how is it done?
A myelogram is an invasive diagnostic test that examines the spinal canal with x-rays. Doctors use a hollow hypodermic needle to inject a special dye into the spinal canal. Surgeons record the pigment movement images with X-ray fluoroscopy. Myelograms can reveal problems with the spinal cord and the nerves that run through the spinal canal.
Summary
- A discogram is an invasive diagnostic procedure that employs X-rays to examine the intervertebral discs in your spine.
- Radiologists inject a specific dye into the affected disk or set of disks.
- The pigment makes the disk more visible on a fluoroscope display and X-ray film.
- Discograms determine damaged disks and cause back discomfort.