Myeolgram/Discogram Question

[jchebert1979]

I would like to know how long after surgery ADR surgery should one wait to have a discogram and/or myeolgram.

My reason for asking is because the many MRI's I have taken have failed to show the extent of the damage, this being proved by the scar tissue and inflamation seen in my recent ADR surgery. As I have said before this surgery has actually proved to be the best diagnostic test I have taken since the pain it alleviated is the exact same pain that I feel that corresponds to the remaining herniations.

I have called my doctors office numerous times and his nurse keeps telling me to wait until the visit on the 19th. I have tried to re-schedule an earlier date and she will not let me. She also said that invasive tests have to wait 6-8 weeks due to risk for infection unless it is an emergency. I will be calling the office back tomorrow and demanding an earlier appointment.

I cannot make anyone understand that the pain that I am experiencing is not related to my surgery or C5-6 herniation. If there is a risk of infection I am prepared to take that risk as this is an emergency and I cannot wait 6-8 weeks.

To explain how much of an emergency this is, I am fully prepared to have another doctor order the test without his knowledge of my surgery. I most certainly do not want to have to do this but there is no way I can wait in this pain for 6-8 weeks for a diagnostic test because no matter what the results are, there will be more waiting on treatment plans.

I mean no disrespect, but please do not reply telling me that it is not a good idea because I already know that. Also please do not tell me to give the surgery more time as I know that my pain in completely unrelated to the surgery. I done trying to get other people to understand this. I will do everything I can to have my doctors support, but I if I do not, I will do this. If I felt that there was any way I could wait, I would do so.

I am asking for your help in making the most informed decision possible.

[annapurna]

Outside of the risks you know, see if you can find a really good radiologist willing to talk with you. My pea-brained belief is pointing out that the myleogram is putting liquid into your spinal canal which, unless someone really screwed up during surgery, wasn't extremely affected by the surgery.

Discogram into the ADR level is another thing and I'd really have to follow the experts on that but it seems like you'd not want to pressurize the disc level until sufficient healing takes place so that it can handle the pressure.

[jchebert1979]

Well I think the risks of the myelogram are from infection. Which is rare, but I did just have surgery and my immune system is probably low. If need be they can give me prophylactic antibiotics though.

I am not needing these tests for the level that was operated on. I have recieved relief from that. I am needing these for the other levels of my spine that have herniated and that the doctors are saying are too small to be causing problems.

Even though it should be evident from my pain patterns and the correlating herniations verified by MRI, my doctors are still dismissing the fact that they are causing problems.

[annapurna]

The main risk from myleogram is from failing to seal the hole used to inject the material. Do that wrong and your spinal fluid will drain out, very slowly, slowly enough that the risk is an almighty headache to beat out all other headaches. You basically have to remain in bed, prone until the puncture seals or hope the doc is willing to do what's called a blood patch to seal it.

As an intermediate step, have you tried MRI with contrast? As you mentioned scar tissue and inflammation, the contrast dye should show those up better and give you a better picture of what they're doing.

[jchebert1979]

Anna I know the headaches you speak of. For my chiari surgery the dura was opened and the brain exposed. I lost a good amount of CSF during the operation.

I have not had a thoracic MRI with contrast but have had brain and cervical.

These herniations have been picked up on MRI it is just that doctors are dismissing them. In fact here are some pictures.

.

[daveinaustin]

Since you are concerned about herniations away from your ADR procedure, I don't understand why they won't perform a discogram on the other discs. The discogram seems less risky than a myelogram at this point. Even if the myelogram causes the "all too common" major headache, I don't think that risk matters too much at this point.

What about either epidural steroid or bilaterial transforaminal injections? Could they help calm down scarring or ligament irriation?

Note: I have no knowledge on cervical discs. I'm only trying to apply the little bit of knowledge I've learned from my lumbar issues.

-Dave

[annapurna]

If your doc is absolutely refusing to pursue discograms now, could you try an EMG to show that you are indeed getting pressure on the nerves at those levels?

[jchebert1979]

It's not that he won't pursue a discogram, he just wants to wait for 6-8 weeks since I just had surgery. What he is not understanding is that the problems are not coming from my surgery. They are coming from another level that has been overlooked.

I was able to get a rush appt. with him at 4pm today. We will see how things go then.