One of the most common and disabling causes of low back pain stems from the intervertebral disc. It is most frequent in younger people who have suffered some traumatic injury to their back. Pain from the intervertebral disc is caused by a tear in the back of the disc which may occur as a consequence of the trauma.

Signs and Symptoms of Disc Pain
1. Deep aching back pain
2. Pain with standing
3. Pain with sitting
4. Pain with extension and flexion of the spine
5. Frequently cannot get comfortable in any position
6. Conservative treatment such as physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, spinal injections and activity modifications are not helpful.

Radiology Studies
Back x-rays, MRI scans and CT scans are helpful but frequently are reported as normal since these studies do not always reveal a tear in the disc.

What Causes Disc Pain?
Normally the disc is not a painful structure. The disc has no nerve fibers inside the disc and only a few nerve fibers in the back and sides of the disc. When a tear occurs in the disc, new “hypersensitive” nerve fibers and blood vessels grow into the tear. Now even relatively small amounts of pressure on this disc may cause pain.

When your doctor suspects that your pain is caused by a tear in one of the discs in your back, a discogram is performed to:
1. Determine the internal structure of your disc.
2. Determine which of your discs is the source of your pain.
3. Measure the pressure inside your disc which:
    a) reveals the structural integrity of the disc
    b) provides a guide to further treatment normal disc disc with annular tear

How is a Discogram Performed?
A discogram is performed in a specially equipped procedure room. You will be admitted to Croisan Ridge Surgery Center where an intravenous catheter will be placed so that you can receive sedation and antibiotics. Since the discogram is done under live x-ray (fluoroscopy) you will be positioned on a special x-ray table. Under local anesthesia and intravenous sedation, a needle will be guided into your disc. X-ray dye is then injected into the disc so that your doctor can see the internal structure of your disc on an x-ray monitor. As your doctor is injecting the dye into the disc, you will be asked to tell the doctor when you experience your usual discomfort. Pressure measurements are also being taken inside your disc to determine its structural integrity and to provide a guide to further treatment.

What to Expect
After the discogram you will be monitored in a recovery room for at least thirty minutes or until you are sufficiently comfortable to go home. You may have soreness at the injection sites as well as muscle tightness in the back. Applying a cold pack to the uncomfortable area for fifteen minutes every two hours for the next twelve hours is very helpful.

After your discogram, a CT scan of your spine will be done so that cross-sectional images can be obtained to further define the extent of the disc tear.

After you are discharged from the surgery center and finished with your CT scan, you should go directly home and lie down for the rest of the day. You will not be permitted to drive a motor vehicle for at least 24 hours after your procedure. We strongly recommend that you avoid any vigorous activity for the next several days.

Call your doctor immediately if you have a fever, increasing back pain, weakness in your legs, or incontinence of bladder or bowel.