Best Discogram Doc?

[Judi]

So, who is the very best discogram doc? I've had two of these things already and now whoever's going to do the surgery, I guess they all want to re-do it. There are dangers in getting discograms. I thought having 2 already was bad enough. Who would be the very best doc to see that could give me the most accurate diagnosis?

[Poncho]

This is a tough question.....

I am going to have to give this some thought first before posting an answer.

Dr. Anthony Yeung in Phoenix, Arizona. I have no doubt. I was his patient, and I have had been the patient of many Drs. He is the best Dr. I have ever met. He is also a hell of a diagnostician.

go to www.sciatica.com to se ehis website

[spotty14]

PStewart,
Can you explain why for those of us who haven't had alot of diagnostic tests or discograms. Thanks

[Jim M2]

I got the chance to hear Dr. Yeung talk and take questions for four hours at one of Mark's *** patient-doctor seminars. He was the most impressive doctor I've ever heard. Here's what I wrote about the seminar (see post #3 in this thread)

http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/...ighlight=yeung

Jim

[paulam310]

Judi, if I had to get another injection, of any kind, I would go with Dr. Christopher Zarembinski of Cedars-Sinai in LA. Of the three top anesthesiologists who have injected, he was by far the best. I would recommend him to anyone in a heartbeat. Good luck!

Originally posted by spotty14:
[qb] PStewart,
Can you explain why for those of us who haven't had alot of diagnostic tests or discograms. Thanks [/qb]

First of all, Dr. Yeung is EXTREMELY good at placement of the needle. He always gets it in the center of the disk and explains how many discographers err in this regard. Its amazing to see the skill with which he does this while I occassionally hear of other dicographers making multiple attempts and ocassionally jabbing a nerve.

Second, Dr. Yeung is highly, highly experienced at this and has been doing it for at least 10, if not 15 or 20, years.

Third, if he puts you under sedation (as in prior to a likely surgery), it is very light so that when he tells you hes going to inject, you IMMEDIATELYT come to and know exactly what is going on. He does not over-sedate for discograms.

Lastly, Dr. Yeung is iuncreibly well known for doing such meticulous spinal work, that one can safely assume his meticulous nature includes how he does his discography. He does it under guided flouroscopy.

One more thing, he listens to you and takes his patienst seriously, and explains everything.

The confidence in Dr. Yeung's discography is so high that several other surgeons (including Dr. Bertagnoli) will accept his results without doing disography on their own. You do not hear of that very often. Yeung is simpl one of the best surgeons in the world.

As I said before, he is the best Dr. I have ver met. And I think most Drs. are run-of-the-mill shmucks with just-above-average-intelligence. So if I like Yeung that says a lot.

Paul

[Harrison]

No question that there are some top docs out there who do great work. But I had a "run-of-the-mill shmuck with just-above-average-intelligence" who did a great job on my discography!

I was petrified with the whole idea of the procedure, but the docs (a pain mgt doctor at Lahey in Burlington, MA) was awesome. It also puffed up my disc for 10 days, making me feel pretty a good for a short while!

[spotty14]

PStewart,
Thanks for taking the time to explain. I do feel that I need another discogram done when the bone density issues are closer to getting resolved. I'll consider going to Dr. Yeung. I'm not too sure that the results of the first and only discogram I had was very accurate especially if it was mainly based on my reaction because I was so physically ill from the sedation medication (which didn't sedate me but only made me sick. Also, I don't want to get too many done if they cause damage and of course want the most accurate information about which discs are causing pain.

[ans]

For any interventional radiological back diagnostic/treatment, I'd choose Dr. Roy Simon of Westwood Associates in LA. He trains phyiatrists and other docs in such techniques. Not the best bedsite manner (Bronx "gruff") but seasoned.