Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Sacramento, CA
Discogram Posted: 02-08-06 00:50am
I was wondering if any of you might know
if it is an absolute 110% surefire thing
to have to have a discogram before
undergoing disc replacement surgery. I
really feel strongly against having one
done since my mri basically spells
everything out in a nutshell. Should I
stand my ground and decline to have one
done or just give in and hope it's not as
bad as everyone says it is. Thanks in
advance.
|
IMShirl
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 30 Mar 2005 Posts: 204 Location: Wisconsin, USA
Thanks: 1
Thanked:0
Posted: 02-08-06 19:12pm
Wrs ~
I have not had adr surgery but I have had
several levels fused and if I were you I
would most definitely have a discogram
done even if you think the mri says all.
Remember an mri doesn't show everything
all the time. You want to make sure with
the discogram that your pain is for sure
coming from the discs and to be sure it is
not discs and your facet joints. If you
have problems with your facet joints were
you told an adr may not be the right
answer?? Be sure, the more tests the
better when it comes to surgery. Have you
ever been to the adr support board/forum??
If you want the link let me know and I
willpost it for you.
Imshirl :)
|
Tamadrummer
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 710 Location: Zephyrhills,Fl
Posted: 02-08-06 20:13pm
I totally agree with shirl, the discogram
is basically the only way to verify for
sure that the disc in question is the base
for your pain.
If they do surgery on the questionable
disc and it is not the generator of pain,
you will be in sorry shape.
I also have had the charite 3 adr done at
l5/s1 and my disc pain is fixed but my
pain is not fixed. I now have facetogenic
pain and need more surgery.
There is not a sure fire fix for back
pain.
|
Nevets
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 11 Location: New Jersey, USA
It's a Bit Late Now to Be Replying to This But... Posted: 03-30-06 13:25pm
I just had a discogram.
One of the disks was basically trashed,
and I knew it from the mri.
But still, the doctor was able to identify
that I am a candidate for an idet, which
is minimally invasive. Also it seems that
I am having more pain from the less
damaged disk above it. The really bad one
is l5-si, and doesn't really impinge upon
many nerves. So the doctor will repair
the one disk, and hit the other at the
same time anyway. It seems that the heat
application from the procedure stimulates
collagen growth. So he hopes that perhaps
this other disk will regerate some amount
of cushioning.
In any case, I would have thought for sure
that I was in invasive surgery based soley
upon the mri. Instead the discogram
proved that I was able to get by with less
invasive treatment.
I have to say though that I had sapsms in
my lower back for close to a week after
the discogram. So stock up on muscle
relaxants and pain meds. Not to scare any
one.... But I was slightly taken by
surprise by this.
Preparation is everything.
|
aroutzahn05
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 May 2006 Posts: 4 Location: Indiana
Diskograms Posted: 05-05-06 13:22pm
I ended up having two disograms done due
to the first doctor not checking both one
up from the effected area and one below.
The first time I had it done it was the
most excruitiating thing I have ever had
done. The second time it was a piece of
cake because the two disks checked that
time were normal. Nothing can prepare
you for the pain or the spasms from the
diskogram. Good luck!
|
crafty52
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 1
Re: Discogram Posted: 10-27-07 21:40pm
WRS
wrote:
I was wondering if any of
you might know if it is an absolute 110%
surefire thing to have to have a discogram
before undergoing disc replacement
surgery. I really feel strongly against
having one done since my mri basically
spells everything out in a nutshell.
Should I stand my ground and decline to
have one done or just give in and hope
it's not as bad as everyone says it is.
Thanks in
advance.
It was a piece of cake!! I was scared to
death! I had my 1st disco two weeks ago
on my L4, L5, and Rt hip. I received
immediate relief. My rt leg was numb due
to the med for a couple of days. But the
relief was AMAZING. Now I am facing my
second set of injections in a few days. I
have an outstanding doctor and his
wonderful staff who have guided me all the
way. This was majorly due to a SEVERE
wreck 11 yrs ago. I couldn't ask for
better relief! I had to be off from work
2-3 days. I COULD LIVE AGAIN!!! The
disco will last for 6months to 3 years,
depending upon how I care for myself, it
will be worth it at 52 YOA!
|
aroutzahn05
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 May 2006 Posts: 4 Location: Indiana
Re: Discogram Posted: 10-30-07 13:03pm
crafty52
wrote:
WRS
wrote:
I was wondering if any of
you might know if it is an absolute 110%
surefire thing to have to have a discogram
before undergoing disc replacement
surgery. I really feel strongly against
having one done since my mri basically
spells everything out in a nutshell.
Should I stand my ground and decline to
have one done or just give in and hope
it's not as bad as everyone says it is.
Thanks in
advance.
It was a piece of cake!! I was scared to
death! I had my 1st disco two weeks ago
on my L4, L5, and Rt hip. I received
immediate relief. My rt leg was numb due
to the med for a couple of days. But the
relief was AMAZING. Now I am facing my
second set of injections in a few days. I
have an outstanding doctor and his
wonderful staff who have guided me all the
way. This was majorly due to a SEVERE
wreck 11 yrs ago. I couldn't ask for
better relief! I had to be off from work
2-3 days. I COULD LIVE AGAIN!!! The
disco will last for 6months to 3 years,
depending upon how I care for myself, it
will be worth it at 52
YOA!
Sorry Crafty52 but I think you may be
confused as to the name of your procedure.
It sounds as if you had cortisone
injections to relieve pain in your lumbar
area and right hip. A discogram is a
procedure when a nerosurgeon goes into an
area of the spine while placing a needle
into discs to determine which discs are
abnormal. This procedure is very painful
and causes spasms when the disc is
actually abnormal, but does not hurt when
it is normal.
I wish you luck and I actually hope the
injections do work for you. If they do
you are truly lucky. I wish my injections
worked. I ended up having a three level
fusion with dynesis system put into my
lumbar area. I had that surgery two years
ago and have regretted it since.
