A discogram or discography is a minimally invasive procedure that pinpoints the cause of your spinal pain. Find out if this procedure is right for you using the tool below.
When you’re experiencing chronic back pain, pinpointing the exact source of your discomfort can be challenging. A discography, also known as a discogram, is a specialized diagnostic procedure that helps identify which spinal discs are causing your pain. This precise imaging technique provides crucial information that guides your treatment plan and helps determine the most effective approach to relieve your symptoms.
At Oasis Medical Group, our spine specialists use discography as part of a comprehensive diagnostic approach to evaluate patients with persistent back pain. This procedure allows us to create a detailed map of your spine’s condition and develop a targeted treatment strategy that addresses the root cause of your pain.
A discography is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure that involves injecting contrast dye directly into one or more spinal discs. This contrast material makes the internal structure of your discs visible on X-ray images, allowing your doctor to see tears, cracks, or other abnormalities that might not be apparent on standard MRI or CT scans.
The procedure serves two important purposes: it provides detailed images of your disc structure and helps determine which discs are actually causing your pain. During the injection, you’ll be asked to describe any pain you experience, which helps your doctor identify the specific discs that are the source of your symptoms.
While MRI and CT scans can show structural changes in your spine, they cannot always determine which changes are actually causing your pain. Many people have disc abnormalities that show up on imaging but don’t cause symptoms. Discography is unique because it combines imaging with pain provocation, helping your doctor distinguish between painful and non-painful disc problems.
Your spine specialist may recommend discography when other diagnostic tests haven’t provided clear answers about the source of your back pain. This procedure is particularly valuable for patients considering spinal fusion surgery, as it helps ensure that only the problematic discs are treated.
Discography is most commonly used to evaluate degenerative disc disease, where the discs between your vertebrae break down over time. It can also help diagnose annular tears, which are cracks in the outer ring of the disc that can cause significant pain even when the disc hasn’t herniated.
The procedure is also useful for evaluating patients with failed back surgery syndrome, where previous spine surgery hasn’t provided the expected relief. In these cases, discography can help determine if adjacent discs have developed problems or if the original surgery didn’t address all the painful discs.
You might be a candidate for discography if you have chronic low back pain that hasn’t responded to conservative treatments, abnormal findings on MRI or CT scans that need clarification, or if you’re considering spinal fusion surgery. The procedure is typically recommended for patients who have exhausted non-surgical treatment options and need definitive answers about their disc health.
Discography is performed as an outpatient procedure in a specialized imaging suite. The entire process typically takes 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how many discs need to be evaluated.
Before the procedure begins, you’ll be positioned on your stomach on an X-ray table. The skin over your lower back will be cleaned and numbed with local anesthetic. Your doctor will use fluoroscopy, a type of real-time X-ray, to guide the placement of thin needles into your discs.
Once the needles are properly positioned, contrast dye is slowly injected into each disc. You’ll be asked to describe any pain you experience during the injection, including its intensity and whether it matches your usual back pain. This information is crucial for identifying which discs are problematic. The contrast dye allows your doctor to see the internal structure of your discs on X-ray images. Healthy discs contain the contrast material in the center, while damaged discs may show the dye leaking into tears or cracks.
The pain-provocation aspect of discography is essential for accurate diagnosis. When contrast is injected into a healthy disc, you should experience minimal discomfort. However, if a disc is damaged and causing your chronic pain, the injection will typically reproduce your familiar pain symptoms.
Your doctor will ask you to rate your pain on a scale and describe how it compares to your usual back pain. This real-time feedback helps create a clear picture of which discs are contributing to your symptoms.
Following your discography, you’ll be monitored for a short time before being discharged. It’s normal to experience some increased back pain for a few hours after the procedure, as the disc injection can cause temporary inflammation.
Most patients can return to normal activities within 24 to 48 hours after discography. You may experience some soreness at the injection sites, which can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication. Your doctor will provide specific instructions about activity restrictions and when to schedule your follow-up appointment.
Your doctor will review the discography images and correlate them with your pain responses during the procedure. This information helps determine which discs are healthy, which are damaged but not painful, and which are both damaged and causing your symptoms.
At Oasis Medical Group, our spine specialists have extensive experience performing discography and interpreting results to guide treatment decisions. We use the latest imaging technology and techniques to ensure accurate diagnosis while minimizing discomfort during the procedure.
Our comprehensive approach to spine care means we can seamlessly transition from diagnosis to treatment, providing you with coordinated care throughout your recovery journey. Contact us today at (844) 366-8800 or request an appointment online to learn more about how discography can help identify the source of your back pain and guide your path to relief.
(844) 366-8800
You can find the pain relief you deserve at Oasis Medical Group.
Start your consultation today!
Our Services
Copyright © 2025 Oasis Orthopedic & Spine
