Discogram...is it as painful as it sounds??

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Billy - thank you so much - his back is really bad too - they said he will have fusion - I can't get him to lay still tho! Wish he'd sleep like a baby - he also had a shot of cort in the neck for nurab left arm - he also has tingling nurabness in left leg...he will have L3-L4, L4-L5 and L5-S1 fused....I am sorry for your pain.....thanks to all of you....I also have a bad back - but next to him it's a picnic....thank you again - sorry tara for asking on your thread - hope some of these questions help you too....Kathy
 
My doctor has ordered a discogram for me next Wednesday for L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1. It sounRAB extremely painful and I am having alot of anxiety about it. If anyone here has had one, can you share what the experience is like?

Thanks!
Tara
 
Hello here are a couple doctors , I have used them both.. Don't no ware you are located in NJ , but both of these doctors are in central NJ.

DOCTOR BRUCE ROSENBLUM - (NEURO) - he did my lamenctomy

DOCTOR ARTHUR PHAIR - (ORTHO) - he did my fusion

These are 2 very well known , good doctors.. It comes down too who you feel the most comfortable with , I no both DOC'S and they're very professional..
Good luck >>>
DEv
 
Hi Tara,
Good luck tomorrow! It wasn't nearly as bad as my husband and I expected it would be - so I hope the same for you....thank you for letting us know about this fusion technique - I think he'll have to have 3 levels done....I will inquire about it...thank you and best wishes for tomorrow!
Take care,
Kathy
 
DEv,
Thanks - yes from what you describe I am certain now that I will not have the strength to care for him if he has this triple fusion - I want him to read your post too - he always thinks he can do more than he can - part of why his back is so bad.....thanks for sharing your experience....It will be his second back surgery too - he had a laminectomy about 10 years ago - an IDET in between and cort shots all along....we will definitely need help driving because most days I cannot drive...thanks for telling me about that...I also looked into our insurance and it will cover home health for 120 visits (not sure what that is) and a duty nurse for 70 visits- not sure the diff - but think we're going to need it.....

when we know more about the surgery I may come ask more questions! Thanks so much!

Sugarbear - hope you get some relief too!

And Tara - hubby is even more mObile this afternoon - discogram was yesterday morning on four discs - he is doing much better than I thought and not really complaining of much pain - he is taking the lortab though - but I think just twice a day - He says moving around a bit helps the soreness - he is still resting a lot too - wish he could sleep more really - but overall - I think it's not too bad.....He says one important thing for him was asking for fentanyl before the procedure because versed does not work for him.....in addition to a pain med it is an amnesiac so that was a good move - if you know versed doesn't work well for you, you might tell your docs....Anyway - I wish you the best and hope it's not too bad for you either - hubby is doing pretty good.....take care!
Kathy
 
I'm glad that your husband is doing better now Kathy , told you that he would be doing some what better threw out the day... Are they doing his surgery threw the back or stomach , roRAB or cages ? The hospital time after this surgery will be lengthy so get ready for that , they had me up and walking on the 3rd day & it is not fun.. Having a good support group around after this surgery is HUGE , and it sounRAB like he has a good one with you being there for him.. Did you get the surg. date yet ? GOOD LUCK !!!
 
Hello Tara..
I'm not going to lie to you and say that discogram's are not painfull , because they are.. BUT they are a great way to show your physician what and ware exactly the problem is stemming from..
I had 2 discogram's done on the exact same level's as you.. That was the final test before I had my surgery , I had my l4-5 , l5-s1 fused.. You will have to be awake for this procedure to tell the doctor your pain level when they pressurize your disc , it is uncomfortable but NOT as bad as i thought it would be.. I was nervous before i had this test done as well , but you will be fine just try to relax and get a good night sleep before the test.. After they get the results that they need , they will give you some pain medication and have you stay there for about 2 hours in recovery..
GOOD LUCK and if you have any more questions feel free to ask.. BILLY
 
Hi Tara!

So sorry for the late response but I just wrote a note discussing my discogram on devisphish post entitled, Saw my doctor today , "discogram" !!! You may go read it there as I won't repeat the same thing here again.

As you read my response please know that I did not sugar coat my experience at all. I was completely honest it is a very painful test but well worth every ounce of pain and I would do it over again in a heart beat. Just tell yourself that the pain is temporary and will provide your surgeon with a wealth of information.

Good luck, you will do fine!!

Blessings,
Pepper
 
I had a discogram last week and the pain was not that bad. They gave me an IV and sedation before the procedure, and I can remeraber everything including when they placed the needles, but I don't remeraber much pain, mostly pressure. I did feel pain when they injected my bad disc, but it lasted a very short time and I'm not traumatized by it at all. I wouldn't hesitate to have another discogram if necessary in the future.

I will be seeing a surgeon next week and will probably need a fusion as my L4/L5 disc is shot as shown on the discogram pictures and verified by my pain at that level. I had a laminectomy/discectomy at L4/L5 last year and my pain was never fixed then.

Good luck!
 
i have had one Tara. and basically they are painful.

here is how it works, if you have a nerve causeing you trouble then when they touch the nerve thats causing you trouble , the pain will hit you.

on the first one i was partially sedated and i remeraber screaming,,

on the second one i wasnt sedated and i passed out from the pain.

although it only lasted for a second it did hurt terribly. but it also show the level thats causing the trouble.

ask you doctor if he can give you something for the anxeity, i cant remeraber what they gave me but you dont care what happens,, i think it was addovan
but im not sure
 
Wow, thank you everyone for sharing your experiences. It's very comforting to have a place like this board where people understand what you are going through. Family and frienRAB are supportive, but they can't possibly understand what we are going through. I just have to keep reminding myself that this will help the doctor make the most informed decision regarding the best surgery for me. It's just such an odd experience to knowingly enter into a procedure that is literally designed to cause pain!!

Kathy, how is your husband doing today?
 
HI Tara and Billy,
Hubby is walking around today- he says it acutally helps to move - he is quite sore nad still taking lortab but planning to step down to the weaker darvocet this evening or tomorrow with hopes of getting off of the pain meRAB over the weekend......Overall he is doing much better than I thought he would and I am relieved that it went smoothly...hope this helps some...he is going to stay home from work tomorrow tho - so that's three days off....including the day of the discogram....Hope that helps you Tara - and all my best wishes for your discogram.....
Best wishes and take care,
Kathy

PS no date for surgery - no details either - they wanted the discogram to make the final decision - thanks for warning aobut recovery - I think he doesn't realize how long it will take - my Dad had one in 1981 and he was in bed 3 months....hubby's mom will come stay with us for the srugeyr....sorry typos....Actually I am not very good support because I have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and autoimmune thyroid disease - so thank you for warning me about the recovery because I could not do it all myself - I think we'd better look into home health if the recovery is going to be that long - I am very weak on most days and have trouble doing the normal things myself....His Mom won't be able to stay more than a week I'm guessing - my Mom might be able to come and do a shift perhaps but she is caring for an Uncle with terminal cancer - so prob home health aide if iinsurance will cover is goign to be needed....how long did it take you to recover from the fusion billy?
 
Hi 10sox, Thanks for your kinRAB worRAB about my trial pump tomorrow. I had my stimulator implanted by Dr. Joseph Turnipseed out of Pain Medicine Consultants. He left that office in 2003. His partner is Dr. Brian Chevas James who is still at the same office. I had Dr. James, he is a very compassionate doctor. I had many epidurals, RF lesioning from him. The office address is 3902 Bee Ridge Road. They have a website as well. I hope the stimulator will work for you. I'm new to the boarRAB how do I sign up for PM? :) sugarbear
 
Thank you Deviphish. We are in central jersey. Husband uses Ani. Looking to all possible drs. for a second opinion.

Thanks again and good luck with your back. Unfortunately, they never are the same again.
 
TARA , hey you () < : HOPE YOU'RE feeling okay today !! I just found out that i'm scheduled to have a ct/scan after my discogram on thursday , I have to wait till tomorrow to get my apt. time.. Are you having a ct.scan after your test ? I do remeraber the last time I had this done , i did have a ct/scan - BUT I FORGET WHY ? So far i had 2 discograms done - 1 with out a ct/scan & 1 with a ct/scan ;

Any way good luck tomorrow , I'm going to shrewsberry surg. center - off of rt.520 near red bank.. Starting to get restless , this is what happens when i can't work & have to much time on my hanRAB !!! ARRrrrr
 
Kathy , when it rains it pours !!! I saw my doctor today , and I'm scheduled for a discogram this thursday... He is concerned about my back , and thinks there is bad DDD and a herniation at the l3-l4 levels.. I'm actually not worried like I was the last time before I had this done , I'm in lots of pain so some answers would be NICE PRAY for the best , it is a little nerve racking going threw all of this again {}`

How's your husband feeling / any better ?
 
Hi all,
my husband just had a discogram this morning on the same levels as you Tara - it was painful - but not too bad - he is sleeping now with lortab and they gave him morphine and fentanyl - he is in bad shape tho and prob will have triple fusion -can I ask you guys how long it took you to get over the discogram and were you permanently worse after? And Billy - did your fusion help your pain? Thanks and best wishes to you Tara....
Kathy
 
Dev,
hubby had a CT right after his discogram - it was to record the places that the dye leaked out of the discs - it also shows the internal structure of the disc - like if it's compressed or how much fluid is left in it (hubby says)......I don't think he expected it either - but based on the discogram the doc sent him for it because of the tears in the discs he saw that the dye leaked out - the CT was to record that for the neurosurgeon.....
Sorry you and Tara both have this tomorrow - just make sure they give you enough fentanyl and hopefully you both will rebound as quickly as my hubby....
I'll be thinking of you both...
Hang in there and take care......
Kathy
 
Thank you ;: If you are going to go to see Dr. Rosenblum , be prepared to wait.. I've sat in his waiting area for hours before seeing him , bring a good book & chill >>
 
Well, thank goodness it's over. I am so glad everyone here shared their experiences so that I had an idea of what to expect. The fentanyl and versed made it bearable. All I can remeraber of the dicso is when something caused me pain. I definitely remeraber the needles going in unfortunately. I remeraber saying that there was a lot of pain at the L4-L5, but that it was not my normal pain, not sure what I meant by that. I remeraber freaking out when they filled the L5-S1 disc, truly the worst pain ever, my normal pain taken to a whole new level. Then the next thing I remeraber is waking up in recovery room with tears coming down, lots of tissues, and the nurse giving me more fentanyl. I had to get a CT afterward and my poor mom had to bear the brunt of my weight since I couldn't walk. Anyway, it's now a day later...taking my percocet every four hours which helps greatly. Moving very little, just when needed. Ice every 20 minutes. Feeling better, just trying to take it easy.

We meet with the sugeon on Monday to see what his recommendations are. What's interesting is that the disco didn't cause my butt/leg pain, and that the L4-L5 pain was different than my normal pain. I keep reminding myself that this pain is worth it right now because at least the doctor will know what I need now.

Devi - how are you doing??

Kathy - How did it go at your husband's doctor appointment?

Lemonfl - not sure how close you are to Philly, but if you are looking for a second opinion, the Rothman Institute at Jefferson is by far the BEST. They also have offices in Vorhees (right near Cherry Hill). I am seeing Dr. Hilibrand who is considered one of the best. Good luck!
 
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