Discogram Procedure Questions

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Scrappin-I was wondering how you are doing? I hope they were able to find what was causing your pain and that it wasn't too painful for you. Please take it easy for the next few days and let us know how you are, when you are able to.

Lorie:angel:
 
Hello,

I'm scheduled to have a discogram first thing in the morning.

For those of you who have had a discogram before having disc surgery (a spinal fusion), I'm interested to know what useful information came from your discogram. For instance, was having the results of that test what allowed your surgeon to target what discs needed fused?

I would also like to know if you were given any meRAB right before your discogram, such as Versed? I will be given Versed...which, according to my surgeon, is a sedating drug that should make me forget the procedure. I think of myself as having a high pain tolerance, but I have a question...after being given Versed, will I be sedated enough to make it through the discogram, despite the pain, or will the procedure still be quite painful?

All replies are sincerely appreciated :angel:.

God Bless You,
Scrappin
 
DelawareGirl - THANK YOU so much for such a positive reply. Your post was the only post available for me to read before bedtime on the night before my discogram, and I must say you eased my mind so much :).

Lorie - Thank you for taking time out of your day to check up on me. You are a very thoughtful person and I appreciate your concern. I am doing pretty good. I prepared myself for the worse...I imagined the procedure would be much more painful than it was, and I thought I would be in much more pain for 3-5 days afterwarRAB than I actually am. I am sore but not nearly as sore as I thought I would be. I thought the procedure was quick, it only took about 15 minutes, and was relatively easy. The Anesthesiologist, who was a wonderful person, gave me a small dose of Versed but told me not to expect it to work any longer than maybe 5 minutes, which I have to admit was odd, but he helped me get through the discogram by using a breathing technique similar to what I used when I was in labor with my son...I would take deep breaths and blow through the pain, it worked great. I was not given the results of my discogram after the procedure because my surgeon was not the doctor who performed my discogram. I have an appointment with my surgeon tomorrow to discuss the results, and to create a plan of action that will God willing give me atleast a fraction of my life back :).

I'll let everyone know what my results are after my doctor's appointment tomorrow afternoon. I would like to thank everyone that replied to my post. I sincerely appreciate your help. Thanks!

God Bless You,
Scrappin'
 
I had a discogram prior to my 3 level fusion. The versed is enough so that you will be able to tell the doctor where the pain is. it like having 2 glasses of wine - and I wasn't at all uncomfortable. A nurse sat in front of me at eye level and chatted with me the entire time. It was good that I had the procedure because we discovered the L3-4 was as bad as the 2 lower discs. He did not know that without the discogram. I had not realized that the pain in my foot was related to my back until he did the discogram. Frankly, I have had more pain at the dentist. My husband took me out for lunch afterward even though I was still pretty groggy. Good luck but I think you will be fine.;)
 
Glad to hear that it went well. It's good that a different surgeon did the discogram than your regular doctor. It sounRAB as if you are in good hanRAB.
 
I had this done and was glad that I had it. It found that my pain was comming from a different level, than the Dr. thought it was comming from. Had I not had the discogram, I may have needed to go back in for a future fusion, to get the pain under control. As for the Versed, yes, I had a Versed cocktail. It was mixed with Fenetyl and I did not remeraber anything at all. The Dr. said I spoke to him...actually he said I yelled at him ;), but when I woke up in the recovery room, I did not remeraber any of it. I would never have this procedure done without it! Be prepared to be off your feet for 3-5 days, as you will have muscle spasms and your back will hurt for a few days.

I wish you all the best!

Lorie:angel:
 
Hi. I had a discogram and was given no meRAB. My surgeon does any discograms he orders himself so he can see firsthand what's going on with his patients. He also prides himself on being extremely good at them. All the staff told me I was in great hanRAB when they learned who was doing the procedure.

It was very very painful for the disc that was bad (which turned out to be a total surprise to us all, as it was a disc that looked normal on all my MRIs for over 3 years).

So, if I can make through this without any meRAB at all, you will be fine with the versed.

Good luck.
 
I had a discograph without any sedatives (my surgeon does not use them) he told me i would be sedated but he was just trying to relax me because i am a needle phobic!
It was very painful but needed to be done, i had a negative result on 3 discs although a further Mri scan showed prolapse at L45 and a tear at L34 plus narrowing of nerve channels.
 
Hello,

I would like to sincerely apologize to everyone that has been waiting for me to post my discogram results...I have had problems with my computer which prevented me from posting sooner :(.

Now onto my discogram results...

First of all, let me say how GLAD I am that I went through with the discogram. My surgeon said the discogram shows my discs at L3-L4 and L4-L5 are the two causing my pain...he recommenRAB I fuse both disc spaces.

The results were very surprising to me. I have to say I honestly thought the results would be similar to the 4 MRI's I've had in the last 2 years, which have shown that the disc's at L1, L3 and L5 are herniated...a year and a half ago I had a fusion at L5-S1 that was unsuccessful...for the last year every doctor, including a few surgeons, I've seen have told me to have the disc at L1 fused because of how large the disc herniation is...they offered this advice after only looking at my MRI, no other doctor, other than my current surgeon, ordered any additional test to cofirm the source of my pain. I'm surprised the disc at L1 is not causing my pain, but at the same time, I believe my doctor.

If I had not have had the discogram, I would've never known that L4 was a problem. How weird.
 
I had a similar experience. I went into the discogram thinking the pain was coming from 2 discs only to find out a 3rd one was causing a lot of the nerve pain. I am glad that it worked out for you.:angel:
 
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