How long does a discography take

However, some individuals may experience discomfort for one to two days following discography. If you are having discomfort, your doctor will advise you on how best to address it. Usually, the discomfort is alleviated with ice and oral analgesics.

The results of discography can be crucial to determining the best course of treatment to effectively address your back pain. Take the FREE back pain risk assessment to understand your risk factors, and aid in preventing complications in the future. Just take a few seconds to fill out this form, and send your request so that our team can get you scheduled. Treatments Discography.

Discography Accurately Diagnoses the Source of Back Pain Discography, also referred to as disc stimulation testing, is a diagnostic tool used specifically to distinguish the pain resulting from a damaged disc. Take a Moment to Request Your Appointment Now Just take a few seconds to fill out this form, and send your request so that our team can get you scheduled.

In addition, a normal disc is injected to serve as a reference point. Overall, this procedure has few risks. However, as with any procedure, there are some risks and side effects you should know about. The following patients should not have this injection: if you are allergic to any of the medications to be injected, if you are on a blood-thinning medication e. If you are on blood thinning agents your doctor can advise you if you can temporarily discontinue these before the procedure.

Tell your doctor about all the medications you take, including herbal supplements. List any allergies, especially to local anesthetic , general anesthesia , or contrast materials. Your doctor may tell you to stop taking aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs or blood thinners before your procedure.

Your doctor will likely tell you not to eat or drink anything after midnight before your procedure. Your doctor will tell you which medications you may take in the morning. Women should always tell their doctor and technologist if they are pregnant. Doctors will not perform many tests during pregnancy to avoid exposing the fetus to radiation.

If an x-ray is necessary, the doctor will take precautions to minimize radiation exposure to the baby. See the Safety in X-ray, Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Procedures page for more information about pregnancy and x-rays. If you have not already provided your radiologist with prior relevant imaging exams e. This exam typically uses a radiographic table, one or two x-ray tubes, and a video monitor.

Fluoroscopy converts x-rays into video images. Doctors use it to watch and guide procedures. The x-ray machine and a detector suspended over the exam table produce the video.

This procedure may use other equipment, including an intravenous line IV , ultrasound machine and devices that monitor your heart beat and blood pressure. The CT scanner is typically a large, donut-shaped machine with a short tunnel in the center.

You will lie on a narrow table that slides in and out of this short tunnel. Rotating around you, the x-ray tube and electronic x-ray detectors are located opposite each other in a ring, called a gantry. The computer workstation that processes the imaging information is in a separate control room. This is where the technologist operates the scanner and monitors your exam in direct visual contact.

The technologist will be able to hear and talk to you using a speaker and microphone. X-rays are a form of radiation like light or radio waves. X-rays pass through most objects, including the body. The technologist carefully aims the x-ray beam at the area of interest. The machine produces a small burst of radiation that passes through your body. The radiation records an image on photographic film or a special detector.

Different parts of the body absorb the x-rays in varying degrees. Dense bone absorbs much of the radiation while soft tissue muscle, fat, and organs allow more of the x-rays to pass through them. As a result, bones appear white on the x-ray, soft tissue shows up in shades of gray, and air appears black.

Most x-ray images are electronically stored digital files. Your doctor can easily access these stored images to diagnose and manage your condition. Fluoroscopy uses a continuous or pulsed x-ray beam to create images and project them onto a video monitor. Your exam may use a contrast material to clearly define the area of interest.

Fluoroscopy allows your doctor to view joints or internal organs in motion. The exam also captures still images or movies and stores them electronically on a computer. A nurse or technologist will insert an intravenous IV line into a vein in your hand or arm so that sedative medication can be given intravenously. You must be awake during the procedure in order to communicate any of the symptoms that you are experiencing during the test. Your doctor may provide medications to help prevent nausea and pain and antibiotics to help prevent infection.

You will be positioned on the examining table on your side, rolled forward slightly. All of your questions and concerns should be addressed and answered. This is the time to relate any and all horror stories you may have heard from medical and non-medical experts. Next, the discographer will talk with you to review the relevant anatomy and discuss the procedure in much greater detail. You now have a second chance to ask questions or decide whether or not to proceed.

If you agree to allow the discographer to perform this exam, an intravenous line is started just in case intra-procedural medications become necessary. Usually, sedation is avoided so as not to interfere with any reactions or sensations you may experience.

Next, you are placed on a specialized table around which a fluoroscopic x-ray unit is positioned. Your back is then marked with an ink pen over the disc spaces that will ultimately be examined. Then your back is thoroughly cleansed and sterile drapes are applied.

The fluoroscope will also be sterilely draped and the discographer will be in a sterile surgical gown.