Discography
A discogram, unfortunately, has nothing to do with a disco ball or platform shoes. Also called a discography, a discogram is an imaging test designed to look for the cause of back pain. If you’re experiencing chronic back pain – maybe from dancing too hard at the disco back in the day – a discogram may help your pain physician determine if a specific disk in your spine is to blame.
Spinal discs provide a sponge-like cushion between the vertebrae – like shock absorbers for your spine. During a discogram, your doctor will inject dye into the soft center of one or more disks to get a closer look at the disk in question. The injection can reproduce your usual back pain, and the dye will move into any cracks in the disk’s exterior. Any cracks will then be visible on an X-ray or CT scan. However, even if your doctor sees wear and tear on a disk, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is the culprit for your symptoms.
If the damaged disk is the source of your pain, a discogram procedure will temporarily reproduce your symptoms – this is considered a positive discogram. If the disk is not causing the pain, then the procedure will not reproduce the symptoms, resulting in a negative discogram.
At Pain Specialists of Charleston, we offer advanced treatment options, like discograms, to uncover the root cause of your chronic pain. The goal of our board-certified physicians and medical staff is to help you find genuine relief. No referral needed!
No Referral Needed — Same Day Appointments — Accepting New Patients
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WHAT CAN IT TREAT
Patients with Persistent Pain
- Those suffering from chronic back or neck pain that doesn’t improve with other treatments
- Individuals with debilitating pain in the:
- Lower back
- Groin
- Hips
- Legs
Patients with Inconclusive Test Results
- Those who have sought out multiple tests for chronic pain with no clear answers
- Discography may provide more accurate results than other tests or procedures
When Surgery Isn’t the First Option
- Patients looking to identify sources of pain through non-surgical treatments
- Discography results may help some patients avoid surgery
Purpose of a Discogram
- Can help your doctor better understand what’s causing your pain
- Can lead to a more accurate diagnosis, giving you and your doctor better information to determine your treatment plan
RISK FACTORS
A discogram procedure is generally safe. As with any medical procedure, there are risks and complications to be aware of, including:
- Infection
- Worsening back pain
- Headache
- Damage to nerves or blood vessels in and around the spine
- Allergic reaction to the dye used in the procedure
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE PROCEDURE
BEFORE THE PROCEDURE
Medications and Preparation
- Your doctor may prescribe medication to help you feel calm or less anxious during the procedure
- You might also be prescribed an antibiotic to prevent infection
- Your doctor may instruct you to stop taking blood-thinning medicines for a few days before the procedure
- Your healthcare team will provide instructions on which medications are safe to take
Fasting Guidelines
- Do not eat or drink anything the morning of your procedure
Procedure Setting and Timing
- A discogram procedure is performed in a clinic or hospital using imaging equipment
- Prepare to be at the facility for up to three hours
- The discogram itself takes approximately 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how many disks you need to be tested
DURING THE PROCEDURE
Preparation
- For the procedure, you will lie on a table, either on your stomach or on your side
- Your healthcare team will clean and disinfect your skin at the injection site
- Your team may administer a numbing medicine to reduce pain when the needle is inserted
Needle Insertion
- A live X-ray imaging technique known as fluoroscopy will be used to guide the needle
- This placed precisely and safely places the needle into the center of the disk being examined
Injection of Contrast Dye
- Contrast dye is injected into the disk believed to be causing pain
- The dye helps highlight the disk for imaging
- An X-ray or CT scan will capture how the dye spreads within the disk
Interpreting the Dye Spread
- If the dye stays in the center of the disk, then the disk is undamaged.
- If the dye spreads outside the center, then this indicates wear-and-tear changes. These changes may or may not be the root cause of your pain.
Pain Assessment
- If the damaged disk is determined to be the cause of your back pain, the injection will likely trigger pain similar to what you regularly experience.
- If the disk is not the cause, you’ll experience little to no discomfort during the injection.
Communication During the Procedure
- Your healthcare team will ask you to describe and rate your pain during the injection
- This helps your team identify if the disk being tested is the source of your pain
AFTER THE PROCEDURE
Immediate Aftercare
- You’ll remain in the procedure room for observation for approximately 30 to 60 minutes
- After observation, you can go home, but you’ll need someone present to drive you
Managing Post-Procedure Discomfort
- You may experience pain at the injection site or in your lower back for a few hours
- Use an ice pack on the area in 20-minute intervals to reduce any pain or discomfort
- Keep your back dry for 24 hours to avoid any complications
When to Call Your Doctor
- Contact your doctor immediately if you:
- Experience severe back pain
- Develop a fever within one to two weeks of having the procedure
Understanding the Results
- After your procedure, your doctor will analyze the images taken and your pain feedback given during the procedure
- This information helps your healthcare team pinpoint the source of your pain and determine the best course of action for your treatment
Combining Results with Other Tests
- Doctors don’t typically rely on the discogram results alone because:
- Disks showing wear-and-tear changes may not be the cause of your pain
- Pain responses during the test can vary from patient to patient
- Discogram results are typically combined with:
- MRI or CT scan results
- Results from a physical exam
- This ensures a more accurate diagnosis and treatment plan
WHEN SHOULD I SEE A PAIN PHYSICIAN
If you’re experiencing chronic back pain and want to get to the root cause, a board-certified pain physician near you can help. Tests like discograms can help identify the source of your chronic pain and help you discover non-surgical treatment without long-term use of pain medications. Our trusted team at Pain Specialists of Charleston is here to help.
If you’ve recently undergone a discogram, call your healthcare provider if you develop:
- A fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius)
- Discoloration, swelling, warmth, or discharge at the injection site
- New back pain
- Worsening back pain
If you experience any additional severe symptoms, go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
CONDITIONS WE MANAGE
- KNEE PAIN
- CHEST PAIN
- SHOULDER PAIN
- BACK PAIN
- HIP PAIN
- NECK PAIN
- ELBOW PAIN
- FOOT PAIN
- WRIST PAIN
- & MORE!
TREATMENT WE OFFER
At Pain Specialists of Charleston, our board-certified team offers pain management treatment in the form of:
- Epidural Steroid Injection including cervical, thoracic, and lumbar injections
- Joint Injections including knee, shoulder, and hip injections
- Caudal Epidural Injection
- Hip Joint Injection
- Lumbar Sympathetic Block
- Facet Joint Injection
- Medial Branch Block
- Radiofrequency Ablation (Rhizotomy)
- Sacroiliac Joint Injection
- Discography
- Neurostimulation, also known as Spinal Cord Stimulation
- Stellate Ganglion Block
- Transforaminal Selective Nerve Root Block Injection
- Medical Massage Therapy
- Clinical Trials
- …and MORE!
ABOUT PAIN SPECIALISTS OF CHARLESTON
At Pain Specialists of Charleston, our mission is to provide you with relief from your chronic pain through the latest, most innovative pain management treatments available. Whether you’re suffering from back pain, whiplash, or anything in between, we can help you get back to feeling like yourself once again.
Plus, no referral is necessary!
At our pain management clinic, our experienced team approaches your pain through a variety of services to best meet your needs. This includes anesthesiology, neurology, psychology, and nursing. Our providers believe in collaborating with your healthcare team – your primary care physician, specialists, chiropractor, physical therapist, and especially you, the patient, to bring you the care you need.
Our private practice is powered by a talented, carefully selected leadership team.
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MEET DOCTOR EDWARD M. TAVEL, JR., MD
- Over 30+ Years of Specialty Training
- Double-Board Certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Management
AWARDS & ASSOCIATIONS
AS SEEN ON
FAQs
What are the benefits of taking a discogram test?
Benefits of undergoing a discogram test can include:
- Pinpointing the specific disk causing your chronic back pain
- Help your doctor determine the best course of treatment for your pain
- No radiation stays in your body from the X-ray involved
If you are interested in learning more, talk to your primary care doctor or reach out to Pain Specialists of Charleston directly. Our board-certified pain physicians are here to help relieve your chronic pain – five days a week! No referral needed.
What are the limitations of a discogram?
Discograms aren’t typically used as an initial evaluation for back pain since it is an invasive test. Doctors usually try conservative treatment options first, like physical therapy or medication, over the course of a few months to alleviate the pain.
If conservative treatments are not effective, then your pain physician may suggest a discogram. In some cases, an MRI or CT scan may be more effective for diagnosis, considering a damaged disk shown on a discogram may not actually be the cause of the chronic back pain you’re experiencing.
At Pain Specialists of Charleston, our clinic is equipped with advanced imaging technology from discograms to MRI scans. Reach out to us directly – our board-certified pain physicians are ready to help you get back to feeling like yourself again. No referral needed!
Will I be asleep during a discogram?
During a discogram procedure, you will remain awake.
However, your pain management team will administer local anesthesia at the injection site. For this procedure, you will lie on your stomach or side on an exam table, so you will be able to rest comfortably for the duration of the discogram.
Will the injection hurt?
For the discogram, your skin will be numbed around the injection site using a local anesthetic. However, you may experience pain as the medicine is injected as the goal of a discogram is to reproduce your usual pain. Your doctor will ask for pain feedback to help determine the extent of your pain and if the disk in question is the cause.
How will I feel after the injection?
Following the injection, you may feel sore from the needle placement, as that is not an unusual effect of the procedure. Additionally, your usual pain may slightly increase after the discogram, since the procedure’s goal is to replicate your regular pain. We recommend using ice packs three to four times a day, 20 minutes at a time. You may return to taking your usual pain medications after the injection.
Will I have any restrictions on the day of the procedure?
Avoid eating or drinking anything for six hours before your procedure, except for sips of water to take your medications if your doctor has instructed you to. Please follow any and all instructions given to you by your doctor for procedure preparation.
Following your procedure, do not drive for the remainder of the day. Have an adult with a driver’s license arranged to take you home after the discogram procedure. Do not use heat on the injected areas and keep the area from getting wet. Do not take a bath or soak in a pool or hot tub for the remainder of the day.
How long do discogram results take?
After your discogram, your doctor will review the images and analyze the feedback you provided about your pain levels during the procedure. This information helps your physician pinpoint the source of your pain. This information will then be used to guide your treatment plan or help prepare for surgery.
It’s likely your doctor won’t rely solely on a discogram alone because a disk showing wear and tear may not actually be the source of your pain. In addition, pain responses during the procedure can vary. Your physician will likely combine your discogram results with the results of another test, such as an MRI, CT scan, and/or physical exam.
What is the difference between other imaging tests vs a discogram?
A discogram is a more invasive imaging test than a CT scan or MRI scan.
Moreover, a discogram involves inserting a needle into the potentially damaged disk with a small amount of iodinated contrast using a fluoroscopy. The contrast dye is then injected into the disk to assess the damage to the disk and attempt to reproduce your usual pain. A discogram is often performed in conjunction with a CT scan or MRI to take a closer look at the area causing pain.
What is the difference between a discography and an MRI?
The discogram helps doctors confirm if a patient’s pain is being caused by a disk problem by injecting a contrast dye into the disk in question to observe any damage and attempt to replicate the patient’s pain. An MRI only shows detailed images of the area in question. Discogram results are often used along with MRI results to confirm a diagnosis.
What are the common risks of a discogram?
Discogram complications are rare, but may include:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Worsening back pain
- Blood vessel or nerve damage
- Temporary weakness or numbness
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Allergic reaction to the contrast dye
- Paralysis
How do I prepare for a discogram procedure?
Before your procedure, your doctor will provide instructions on what to do before your discogram procedure. In general, you should:
- Tell your doctor about any medications you’re taking, including over-the-counter medications and supplements, and let them about any known allergies
- Let your doctor know if you’re pregnant or think you might be
- Arrange for an adult with a driver’s license to drive you to and from your appointment
Can I eat before a discogram?
No. Avoid eating or drinking anything six hours before your procedure. Medications may be taken with a small amount of water if instructed to do so by your doctor.
How long does it take to recover after a discogram?
Most people can comfortably return to work, school, and other regular activities 24 hours after the procedure. Any soreness you may experience can take a few days to go away.
Who will explain my results after a discogram?
After your procedure, a radiologist will analyze the results of your discogram.
If it stays inside your disk, that’s considered a normal or negative result. If it leaks outside, it indicates wear-and-tear damage or a positive result. Once your results are analyzed, your doctor will discuss their findings with you and go through the recommended next steps.
When will I get my discogram results?
Once your radiologist analyzes your discogram, they’ll send the results to your doctor. Once your doctor receives the results, they will discuss them with you. Most results come back within a week.
What happens if you have a positive discogram?
If you have a positive discogram, this means the procedure discovered the disk in question shows wear and tear, and the injection temporarily reproduced your symptoms. Your doctor will use these findings along with the pain feedback you provided during the procedure to determine the next best steps for addressing your pain or preparing for surgery.
What is discography?
Discography is an invasive diagnostic test for chronic back pain caused by spinal discs. It involves injecting a contrast dye into one or more discs in your spine. This special dye makes the disc visible during fluoroscopy, an imaging technique that delivers X-ray images in real-time.
A discography procedure can help diagnose the root cause of your pain when MRIs, CT scans, and X-rays fail to show structural issues. The procedure is an invasive test, so pain physicians typically do not use it for an initial evaluation of back pain.