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Local anesthetic is used to numb the skin and tissue down to the disk area. A physician uses fluoroscope to find the right spot and places a guide needle to the edge of the disc. Then small needle is inserted through the guide needle to the center of the disc. After all needles are placed the discs are pressured one at a time with a contrast solution. The healthy disc may feel pressure, the damaged disc feels pain. If pain appears it is very important for the patient to compare the pain with the pain he/she has been feeling. If the pain is the same, damaged disc is found. After X-ray pictures are taken, needles are removed. In additional CT-scan could be applied.
Discography Side Effects:
Common side effects could be compared with common injection side effects, i.e. allergic reaction, bacterial infection, bleeding in seldom cases. During discography no steroid medications are used.
The patient must inform the physician about pregnancy or if he/she takes blood thinning medication.
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