Discography
Overview
This diagnostic procedure, also called discogram, is used to determine whether back pain is caused by one or more spinal discs. The procedure involves pressurizing suspect discs with an injection of sterile liquid to induce pain. Discography helps the specialist plan a course of treatment.
IV Inserted
In preparation for the procedure, the patient lies on the side or stomach on a table equipped with a type of x-ray unit called a fluoroscope. Medication is administered through an intravenous (IV) line to relax the patient. It is important for the patient to be awake enough to tell the physician what he or she is feeling. A local anesthetic is used to numb the skin and all the tissue down to the disc area.
Guide Needles Inserted
A guide needle is inserted through the anesthetized track to the outer edge of the disc. The physician uses the fluoroscope to identify the target disc. A smaller needle is inserted through the guide needle into the center of the disc. This may be repeated for several discs.
Discs Tested
Once all the needles are placed, the discs are pressurized one at a time with injections of contrast dye. With each injection, the patient may feel either pressure or pain. If the patient feels pain, the physician will ask the patient to compare it to the pain the patient has been experiencing. If the pain is the same, this may indicate a diseased disc. After each disc is tested, images are taken with the fluoroscopic unit.
Needles Removed
The needles are removed. The patient may be taken for a CT scan to obtain additional images of the inside of the discs.
End of Procedure
Discography usually takes less than an hour to perform. The procedure may cause soreness for a few days. The patient is usually advised to take acetaminophen or ibuprofen and to ice the affected area for several minutes each day until the soreness subsides.
What Our Patients are Saying
Dr. Muhammad was professional, knowledgeable and seemed to genuinely care about finding a solution to my pain problem.
Dr. Rasheed has been a wonderful doctor so far. He’s very professional and confident. He has had a ton if ideas for us to try, which is completely different from my last pain mgt. doc. So far, he’s been everything I could have asked in a pain mgt. doctor.
I love Dr. Abdelfattah! He is an amazing doctor. He has an excellent beside manner, and her Is very interested and concerned about his patients, and their diagnosis, and he is able to empathize with his patients. He is very skilled at preforming minimally invasive procedures that can really reduce pain. He is NOT a pill mill, but he is NOT scared to prescribe what the patient may need to be comfortable and to reduce pain. As far as I can tell the Pain Management Clinic is in full compliance with the State medical board’s guidelines on Pain Management Clinics. I would send anyone who is seeking relief from their pain to him because he is going to do his very best to find out what is causing the pain, and the best way to treat it. Truly an AWESOME doctor!!! I nominate him as a TOP DOCTOR!!! Being a healthcare professional I know a good physician when I see one and this one is it!!!!
Staff was amazing, tell you what they think and give you options and really wants to know the underlined cause before they do anything. I think that’s awesome and will recommend to anyone!!!
Everyone was so nice. Dr. Zhao explained things to me in a way I could understand everything. She had a smile on her face the whole time. It was like she was happy to see me. I really liked how the appointment turned out.
Dr. Syed listens to me & gives me hope for conquering this constant pain of neuropathy. He is open to new methods of treating my constant pain.
Super place, super doctors. Took the time to explain everything to me.