What is discography?
Discography is a minimally invasive procedure used as a diagnostic tool to further assess back pain generated by the disc space. Often it is performed when other studies are inconclusive or before surgery to help direct the surgery.

What should I expect?
The radiologist will use local anesthesia and fluoroscopy (X-Ray) guidance to direct needles into the disc space associated with patient's back pain. Once the needles are inserted, the radiologist will inject contrast material to assess the character of the disc and your discomfort (if any) during the injection.

After the procedure, we may obtain CT images of the lumbar disc spaces where the needles were placed if requested by your doctor. After the CT, you will remain in the radiology department for approximately 45 minutes. We want to ensure there is no severe pain before you leave. It is important that you carefully following the Post Discography Patient Instructions listed below.

Are there any complications?
Because discography is an invasive procedure, some complications may occur:

1. Discitis or infection in the disc space may occur in less than 1% of patients.

2. Nerve irritation or damage to the nerve due to needle placement.

3. Temporary worsening of back pain.

4. Infection introduced into cerebral spinal fluid due to inadvertent puncture of the spinal canal and resulting in meningitis may occur in less than 1% of patients.

5. On very rare occasions, patients will have an adverse reaction to contrast  material used, which contains iodine. Please inform your doctor and the radiologist if you are allergic to iodine, contrast material, or x-ray dye so that you can be premedicated.

Post Discography Patient Instructions:

1. No driving the day of procedure.

2. Limited activity day of procedure. May resume normal activity next day as tolerated.

3. If necessary, take your regular pain medications as directed.

4. Apply ice packs for the first 24 hours (3-4 times). Do not apply ice for longer than 15 minutes at a time.

5. Apply heat after the first 24 hours. A warm bath or heating pad applied to the back may be helpful.

6. Drink plenty of fluids and maintain your normal diet.