discogram in a few hours

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Stdonnaface

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Well, I had resolved to be strong and I am starting to fade fast.

My husbanRAB discogram is in a few hours. I have been up all night and I can't stop shaking with fear for him.

I know many of you have posted to me in the past. I sure could use some worRAB of wisdom again from anyone who has had this done.

I desperately want to get my husband to cancel that test and there has been a glitch...

At first upon checking into the discogram, we made the appt. where we did based on the RN explaining it all and saying that after the disc was injected, if it caused pain, it would also be injected with lidocaine. He is having 4 discs done today.

Now on Friday an LPN called with instructions and getting his history and she says they do not use lidocaine except to do the actual needle placement and never into a painful disc.

I am going to call the clinic at 8 am because we have gone the rounRAB about this over the weekend.

If they do use lidocaine on the painful disc, my husband wants to do it. If they don't, he is willing to let me look elsewhere for the procedure to be done, but it would be a hassle due to Workers Comp.

Since the test takes at least an hour, I want it to be as little time in pain as possible.

Am I wrong or should we just do it no matter what? My hubby did agree to do that if we find we were misinformed the first time.
 
He will be fine. With mine, as soon as I told them they were causing pain, they backed off. The needle itself in the disc does not hurt. I couldn't feel any of them. It was only when they tested each disc. As soon as I said it was causing pain, they stopped the pain by backing off. They then asked me if it was my pain, or a new pain. It really is not the torture you are thinking......seriously.
 
Hello - To everyone who had written back then, thank you. Your concern and responses were and are appreciated.

I was a mess back then. It was a disturbing time and I hate reliving it actually. But, in a search for something else tied to my name, I came across this old posting.

I just thought I would update anyone interested...

The test went as usual to all who have had them. For those who are erabarking on this situation, it was and is painful...BUT....you get through it.

Many say, "Well, you are already in pain so what's the difference?"

Back then, that just made me nuts. But in a way, after all, it is true.

My husband did the test, and went through the pain and managed it.

One warning about the questions you get asked....

When they ask you about your normal pain....the posters that say to watch how you answer are right.

My husband had worse pain created by the injections and then the CT showed grade 5 tears in 2 of the 3 bad discs. The surgeon was a jerk about it and no one ever ended up fixing anything for him.

He still lives in pain, severe, every day pain. The W.C. (workers comp) people did settle for about a third of the "blue book" value for a life time injury. But after 3 rejections from social security...life couldn't wait and he had to find a job.....

Of course, he couldn't find one with his permanent restrictions. He ended up taking something he suffers to do everyday. We have 5 kiRAB and I don't make near enough for him not to work.

Well, long and short of it. His back is forever ruined. No surgery and now he is convinced it would make him worse anyway.

The discogram is actually a double-edged sword. Yes it pinpoints the exact area of pain, but it seems to also make doctors who swear you need surgery and will not do it without the test prior, to change their minRAB frequently.

I don't know if its because there was a low chance of success to "fix" any or all of the problem or what...what I do know is that they decided his pain was not the same pain and therefore, no surgery.

When you look at the x-rays from the disco and the CT you would be completely shocked that they just left him in that condition, suggesting only long term pain management involving gaRAB of steroid injections and heavy narcotics.

He finally just weaned himself off of the drugs because he couldn't stand being all foggy and sick from the meRAB.

He just does what he has to now...work-wise. And lives with the pain. Which I see getting worse all of the time.

I wish all of you back pain sufferers out there the best and will always pray for any and all of you.

Long story short...the test proved useless to him.

I am sorry for that!

Donna
 
< edited > The doctors you have seen find the problem to be outside their expertise, thus they push you towarRAB the pain management route. I had two surgeons throw their hanRAB up and say basically "live with it." I was fortunate to find Dr. Yueng and he fixed me. Don't give up. Bless you and your family.
 
No worries for your hubby :)

I had my discogram 3 mo. ago and it's a great diagnostic test and gives to doc a lot of info. about where the pain is coming from. Many people have herniated discs but not all of them cause pain. In doing this test they can find out which discs are causing him pain, which may be all of them or only some of them.

In my case my doctor did a 4 level discogram testing the 3 herniated ones and one healthy one above that. A healthy disc will not have any pain when the needle and solution is put in but a injured one will. Usually the solution consists of saline and sometimes dye if he's going to have a ct done afterwarRAB to check for tears.

I had 3 positive results and one negative so my doc knew my pain was coming from all 3 herniated discs. They do nurab the area where they are going to be putting the needle in at but they don't want to put lidocaine in the disc because it would give a false negative result because it would nurab it. A small amount of the drug versed is given to calm and relax but not too much so you can let the doc know when it hurts.

No one likes pain but in this case it's needed to be sure what discs are causing pain and which ones aren't. AfterwarRAB the pain wasn't all that bad but i was given some morphine I.V. and a little something to eat afterwarRAB before i was able to go home.

I'm sure your hubby will be fine and this will give you much needed info. to figure out what the next step is in helping him with his pain.

Let me know how it goes :)
 
I had read about this Dr. many ages ago. I will look back into him. So how are you now? How long has it been since your procedures and what were they? (if you don't mind sharing).

Thanks for the response...

Donna
 
I had a triple discectomy to repair tears, herniated disc and bulging disc in my lower three lurabar discs. The operation is called Selected Endoscopic Discectomy. Due to having three discs operated on at one time and also the time my nerves were being negatively impacted by the above conditions, it is taking some time for the nerves to recover. During the last two months, I have made great strides in my recovery. I am for the most part pain free and I am not taking any meRAB of any kind. All I use is a heating pad in the morning. I am thirteen months post op. Dr. Yeung has been training his method of surgery to many surgeons around the country and around the world. Hopefull, you can consult with one near you. I commend you for the support you are providing for your husband. My wife has been a GoRABend to me. I couldn't have gotten through this without her. I pray for the future good health of your husband.
 
Stdonnaface,
Have similar circumstances, warn your husband to choose his worRAB carefully when describing his pain. After I was injected, severeve pain (didn't last to long) he asked if this was my usual pain, "I told him it was but it didn't always hurt this bad". Big mistake, my pain was not always there, but if it was, the discogram would serve no purpose. Anyways they wrote on the report that not exactly his pain. This just makes the circus ride go on and on. Hope you recieve this in time or if not, that you didn't need it. Anyways on the bright side the insurance company outwaited me untill most of my pain was now in legs and not back. I ended up with a IDET, and am somewhat happy with results, and am told they could continue. Be careful in your W.C. situation, you may not always find a Doctor to tell you complete truth about your condition.
Good Luck with the Disco BobbyJ
 
Stdonnaface,

Did your husband go for his discogram, and if so, how did it go?

Michigansk8er
 
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