Hello! I have been experiencing severe pain in the lumbar part of the spine. I went to a doc in order to determine if there is some sort of disorder or something and he told me I have to have a discogram done. What exactly is discogram and how is it done? Thx heaps
I also had discogram done. It is a diagnostic test performed to view and assess the internal structure of a disc and determine if it is a source of pain. It is done by injecting dye into the center of the injured disc(s). The dye makes the disc clearly visible on X-ray film and on a fluoroscope. A discogram can show if a disc has begun to rupture and if it has tears in the annulus. By injecting fluid into the disc to increase pressure, the doctor can tell if it is painful. This type of structural damage is a primary cause of pain within a damaged disc. Normal discs, and even those that are severely degenerated, do not usually cause pain. This test is usually done prior to surgery to help the doctor know the location of the problem and the type of operation needed.