Guest guest Posted January 6, 2008 Report Share Posted January 6, 2008 Suzanne wrote: > I was just referred for a discogram for lumbar herniated discs. Has > anyone been through this, what is involved and how painful is it? Suzanne, I have had this and it is quite painful but over with. They inject pressure in your disc to see how much you take and the fluoroscope takes pictures as the injections is being done. You cannot move and it is essential that you tell them. This way they see what your pain level and the discs involved. Ruptured discs sometimes DO NOT show on MRIs and CTs. I had three ruptured discs and the only way they found them was with the discogram. After the exam, you will go to CT and they will do a exam of the areas. I am sorry they waited seven years to do it on me and I found out that it is usual protocol to do this exam for patients that seem to be having more pain that they are seeing on the exams they have. The lumbar discogram validated my pain levels and the doctor I had then was a jerk and didn't believe me. When he had to go over my discogram, he was very embarrassed because they gave me limited drugs and the discogram showed how bad I really was. You can find out technical information about discograms on SPine universe and they show pictures of what it looks like. The doctor writes down the amount of pressure or cc of liquid that is injected. THis shows which discs are causing the amount of pain. L-4 on my exam was OK but when the injected between L5 and S-1 I wanted to come off the table and they couldn't inject much at all. You will be given medicine after but my doctor asked that I do not take my pain medications until after my exam. I know that others in the group have had it done and I have given you the laymans experience but don't worry and try to look at it like you are FINALLY going to know about your disc pain. It was interesting looking at my films (CT) and seeing the areas that were on the exam matched up with what I had been pointing to all along to my doctor. Good Luck and I will be thinking of you and let us know how you do ! Bennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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