How many discograms?

[Judi]

I had one discogram in 2002 which showed L5 was torn and L4 slightly torn. Docs said I was a one level, although one doc said I was a 2 level.

Then in 2005, I had another discogram and L3-L5 all hurt, although only L4 and L5 were 100% torn. L3 was 50% torn. 3 docs said I was a 3 level, 3 docs said I was a 2 level.

Then I had another discogram done by the surgeon himself. This one was different. He sedated me, I lay on my side, I remember saying "Ow, Ow, and then "Please stop", and he said I'm a 2 level.

How many of these do you have to get to confirm which is correct? Anyone had to have 4 discograms??

Not sure who to trust. All are very good doctors.

Have you had a myeologram yet? Another important diagnostic tool, which is a lumbar puncture.

Oh, and I had one prior to my IDET, and a second prior to disc replacement. One thing I thought of last night is that my IDET was performed by an orthopedic surgeon, vs. a neurosurgeon for the ADR. The contrast in style is quite striking, and henceforth, if need be, I will only see a neurosurgeon.

[Mariaa]

To date I've had 2 discograms. One done by my treating OSS in which L3 was concordant for pain and L4. He didn't do L5S1 ~ said he knew that was a bad one..

2nd discogram done by someone different and L3,L4,L5S1 done and only L4 and L5S1 concordant for pain.

Now have another discogram authorized by WC with treating OSS again and I'm reluctant to do it as I've not decided to have the surgery he is offering (ADR L4, Fusion L5S1 ~ that is if L3 is OK on this discogram).

It's confusing when the results are different and has made me wonder which discogram result was really more accurate with the L3 disc condition in terms of needing attention or not also..

[Judi]

Mariaa,

I seem to be the same as you. It's the L3 disc where the diagnosis differs. L3 is 50% torn. I really don't know how accurate these discograms are. I don't know whether for forget about ADR or go ahead and get a 2 level. I wonder what happens if you need 3 and they only do 2 discs?

have you had any of your diskograms immediately followed up with a CT scan to see what happens to the dye when it's injected into your disks during the diskogram?

my back already hurts all the time. just how painful should i expect a discogram (discography) to be?

---------------------
Maverick candidate L4/L5
May 06 (hopefully)

[annapurna]

Done right a positive discogram should be extremely painful while you're on the table. You'll probably be partially to mostly out during the procedure and will almost definately get anesthetic in the area after the provacative test and may even get amnesic drugs that will cause you to forget the test itself, but the actual test is very painful if it is positive. The pain isn't supposed to last afterwards. There have been a few posts where it has, but that isn't the intent and I'd talk to the needle jockey if it did.

both times I had it done, I felt pain during at the positive levels, and felt nothing at the negative level. The pain during was just an intense version of my everyday pain, and more like my pain in bad moments or days when I've overdone it and when I'm not on pain meds. But afterwards ...after the anesthesia wore off...like 2 hours to 24 hours post procedure it was like I just came out of major surgery and couldn't walk or move ...and I needed Vicodin to help me get through that time period.

[Dale S]

I had 2 discograms, one under anesthesia in the US which revealed 4 bad levels S1-L2 and another done in Germany be Dr. B, just prior to surgery without anesthesia. The level 10 pain induced without the anesthesia was so quick that before I even reached the ceiling, the pain was gone. The needle itself produced nothing more than a level 2 pain, and very tolerable. I had zero pain at L2/3 bringing me down to a 3 level, which was serious enough.

I will honestly tell you that the apprehension and fear of the pain was far worse than the test. The level 10 pain lasted for a mere second.

As far as pain post procedure, with anesthesia, I was sleepy for the rest of the day... and with no anesthesia, I had surgery within a few hours and therefore can't comment on it.

I've been told that a discogram without anesthesia is a more reliable test. Personally, though it's something I wouldn't want to have to endure again, without anesthesia, the test isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be. That said, I will also tell you, I had Dr. B do the test and he is about as skilled as it comes.

Wishing you all the best, Dale

iv'e one discogram i hope its the last. even with only one bad disc.they didnt load me up with anesthesia was like alittle just before the test and the rest after the procedure just before the ride to the ct machine. the ride home was awefull my wife took me home i sear she hit every bump that could have been in the road.. extra pain lasted a few days
with extra percocets.
chuck