About The Treatment

Discography, also called a discogram, is a diagnostic injection procedure that helps determine the cause and location of a patient’s lower back, groin, or hip pain. This diagnostic technique is generally used to evaluate whether or not interventional pain therapies or minimally invasive spine surgeries should be used to mitigate the patient’s pain condition. This procedure is especially helpful for patients who have not responded to extensive, conservative pain care regimens for their debilitating pain.

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During a discography, patients are placed on an operating table with a fluoroscopic (x-ray imaging) unit attached. The physician will mark areas of the patient’s back to ensure accurate needle placement throughout the procedure. Once the area has been sterilized, the physician will administer a local anesthesia into tissues surrounding the damaged discs to minimize patient discomfort.

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Small needles are then placed into the center of the affected spinal discs before the physician “pressurizes” each one. After the discs have been pressurized, the physician will require some feedback from the patient regarding their pain levels and general discomfort. During this time, pictures will also be taken of the spinal discs with the fluoroscopic unit. The needles are then removed and the patient is sent to a separate room to recover.

 

After The Treatment

The procedure usually takes less than an hour to perform, and patients are sent home the same day. Mild soreness from the needle punctures is common and should subside within a few days. Your physician may recommend over-the-counter painkillers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce pain and soreness from the procedure.

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Applying an ice pack for several minutes a day may also ease swelling around the injection site(s). As with any other minimally invasive procedure, there is a risk of complication. Patients should report increased pain, fever, and any sign of an infection to their physicians immediately. After the procedure, a physician may recommend follow-up treatments.