A Member of the University of Maryland Medical System | In Partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine
Spinal Pain Management | Facet and Selective Nerve Root Blocks | Cervical and Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections | Sacroiliac Joint Injection | Discograms
A discogram can diagnose abnormal discs. When doctors suspect that there is a problem with a disc, but the abnormality hasn't shown up on other diagnostic tests such as MRIs, a discogram may be recommended.
Discs are layers of tissue that act as cushions between the bones of the spinal column. If they are torn or damaged, they may become inflamed and cause a good deal of pain and discomfort.
Discograms may be performed on any area of the back where a patient feels pain on the lumbar area or lower part of the back or on cervical disks in the neck region. Discograms are usually done prior to surgery, to identify an inflamed disc or discs.
Information for Patients
Discograms involve injecting a sterile saline solution into the disc space of the back to determine the location and cause of the pain. The entire procedure usually takes anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half to complete.
If you are taking any blood thinners such as Coumadin and Plavix, you must stop taking them a week before your block. Let your primary care doctor and Pain Management Center physician know before you stop taking your blood thinners.
If your procedure is scheduled in the morning, please don't drink any liquids or eat any solid foods after midnight. If your discogram is scheduled in the afternoon, you may have water or apple juice that morning, up to two hours before the procedure.
Before the procedure, you will have an intravenous (IV) catheter placed in your arm or hand. This IV will provide you with fluid and medication that may make you feel a little drowsy. Cervical discogram patients will lie on their backs, while other discogram patients lie face down on their stomachs.
You will then be numbed with a local anesthetic before a small needle is inserted in your back. Once the needle is in the correct position, sterile saline with or without radiologic dye will be injected into the area of the disc(s) and your pain response will be recorded.
Once your discogram is complete, you will need to stay an additional 30 minutes for recovery time. You should limit your activity on the day of your procedure and someone should accompany you home afterwards because you will not be able to drive. You can usually resume normal activity the day after your procedure.
You may experience bruising or tenderness at the injection site(s) and your pain may get worse a day or two after the discogram. Please call our office (410-328-5063) if you develop a fever greater than 100.5 degrees or experience any unusual pain symptoms. Even if you don't have any unusual symptoms, we'd like to hear from you the day after your procedure.
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UMMC is a member of the University of Maryland Medical System, 22 S. Greene
Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. 1.800.492.5538 TDD: 1.800.735.2258
Physician Referral: 1.800.373.4111
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