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Discography

Overview

This is an important diagnostic test to evaluate back pain but does not treat back pain.

A doctor performs a discography to determine if a patient has neck or back pain because of damaged discs between the vertebrae (back bones). Patients are mildly sedated for this procedure.

The procedure Using an X-ray, the doctor guides a needle into the discs and injects a medicine that is visible on the X-ray. If a disc regularly causes pain, the injection should cause the same pain. The doctor uses this information, along with X-rays and possibly a CT scan, to identify the source of the pain and how to treat it.

The sedation minimizes the patient’s discomfort. Some patients have an increase in spinal pain for up to a week after the procedure and might receive pain medication from their doctor.

Patients having a discography should not eat on the day of their procedure and will need a driver to take them home after the procedure.