discogram
When I was seeing a Neurosurgeon here in the LA area (2 in fact ~ One for each surgery) they wanted myelograms done before surgery.
I don't want another one of those because of the horrible spinal headaches I've gotten each time afterwards that necessitated being hospitalized for 7 days each time, lying flat all the time and being catheterized (the least of my concerns with that leaking spinal fluid).
Ok so then I decided in 1998 I would see an Orthopedic spine specialist and a discogram was recommended. I remember not wanting to have it done because I didn't realize it wasn't like the myelogram. No googling back then at least not for me..
Well I did it anyway and the first one was the most painful in terms of post procedure pain. Lasted 3 days. But after that I felt better for a month like the discs had been rejuventated with fluid.
Ok, that being said in '03 I had another one done by a different doctor in San Francisco and this time I asked for something to be injected afterwards to help alleviate the pain as I was supposed to fly home the following day.. he put Marcaine into the sites tested to help with short term relief. It did help.
The 3rd time I had a discogram done I had it done by another different person, my PM in San Diego and I asked for a lumbar ESI afterwards which was done and this is the discogram for which I had the most relief afterwards.
The problematic discs could elicit (should elicit) a painful response from you which lets the doctor know which discs are painful to you considering the pathology present at each tested segment.
For me the pain was short lived even if I yelled during the most painful disc which was L5S1.. however I didn't want to have really bad discomfort when I was trying to put on my underwear and clothes like I did the first time when I had to ask my husband help me with that after the procedure.
Here in CA. the discogram seems to be utilized pretty widely with Orthopedic Surgeons ordering it altho I think most Neuros would order a myelogram esp. as protocol prior to moving on to surgery (no matter what the MRI says).
I think the discogram with the CT scan following can be quite helpful and pick things the MRI doesn't show. Again it may depend on what specialty is ordering what and in what state you live in as to who orders what when for what (standard of practice in the community).
Mark can tell you much more as can probably Justin and Terry and others here.
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