Hello All!! I am so glad to see a place where other people understand the pain & frustration that I feel. After 2 years of a pain management Dr. telling me nothing was wrong with me, but so soft tissue damage I have found a DR. that says he can help me. He has ordered a myelogram & discogram to see exactly what is going on, a MRI did show L4/L5 herniated discs with it pressing on the nerve on the Rt. I am unsure what to expect with these tests, but have heard so real horror stories. Any advice???

HI and welcome to this board. You are in good company here. This part of the boards is mostly lumbar and thorasic spine issues.

My l4/l5 was blown out, but never showed on 3+ years of MRIs. The discogram found the blown disc.

The test is not pleasant whether they sedate you or not. I had no sedation, no medication for my testing. It was extremely painful, but worth the short term pain to finally FIND my problem, in hopes of a offering me a solution and ridding me of the horrific pain I had endured for over 3+ years.

I have not had myleogram. I understand it's not pleasant, but not as painful as a discogram can be. But we are all different.

Do the tests.. they will hopefully definitively identify what is or is not happening with the discs they test, and how your nerves are being effected.

Stay positive about the testing.. know it's temporary discomfort. Many go through it and are right here telling you they survived it (but got no darn t-shirt to show for it though) and are fine.

All the best and welcome!

Hi, Shynetime and welcome to the board. I'm sorry you have to be here, but I'm glad you found a good place to come for support and advice.

I've been dealing with a bad back for 25 years and I think I've had every test available including myelogram (at least 7 of them) and 1 discogram. I would advise you to have the myelogram and get the results before agreeing to the discogram. Ask the dr. what he sees on the myelo that is different from the MRI. ONLY do the discogram if results aren't clear and then do it only if you are willing to have surgery. However, and this is important, if surgery is recommended, take the MRI and myelogram results (the films, not just the report) to another specialist and get a second opinion. Then, if surgery is again recommended and you are willing, you can choose which doctor to handle your case. A discogram should be done only if there is some doubt as to whether surgery is needed or some doubt if there are other discs involved. It's a very intrusive and intensive test.

A myelogram is done by first inserting a needle filled with lidocain to deaden the area; then the dye is put in and at that point you will probably feel pressure, maybe even uncomfortable pressure. But it is quite bearable. Each dr's routine is different, but the last time I had one, I was taken to recovery where I sat in a chair, drank lots of fluids, and released in a couple of hours with instructions. You will need someone to drive you home.

A discogram is done without medications usually because you have to be alert and able to tell them if the pain induced is the same pain you are having, tho probably more intense. A needle is inserted down into a "control" disc which when injected shouldn't cause pain. That's the thery. Then either another control disc is done, or they go to the disc that is suspicious and inject it as well. That one should replicate your pain. However, there is a study out recently that casts doubt on the efficiency of the disco. seems like a lot of people experience a lot of pain even from the good disc leaving a dr to think there is another bad disc. That's why I say I would avoid it if I can. Between the pain of the test and the shadowness of the results, I just won't have another. That, of course, is up to you.

I hope all goes well and that you get the results that are needed; I hope you do lots of research on surgery for that level of your back so you are well informed. It's very, very, important to question the doctors carefully and get their reactions. A dr. who brushes your questions off, is not a dr who you want taking care of you. Be sure and question them about post-op medications as many surgeons don't want to give meds after a few weeks.

Having said all that, I want you to know that my first fusion at that level, went very well and was quite successful until a couple of rear-end accidents caused it to fail.

Please do stay in touch; ask as many questions as you like and research, research, research.

Carol

Welcome,

The people here are the "best of the best" ; we discuss things at people level and not Doctor level. You are so fortunate to have found this web site just as everyone else has that is here.

I have experinced an attempted myelogram - and it was not all that bad for the most part. It was attempted 2 times be the same guy; he asked if he could try it again after the first attempt. I told him go ahead, I was not going anywhere and this was why I was here... They could not get any fluid to come out so that they could put the dye in. He put the dye and and told me that there was no guarantee that it would go where the nuer surgeon wanted it to go. It in the end did not; the guy who still is the head of the Neb MEdical Center's neurology dept told me that he had never have had or seen that this has happened in the past. I thought great - he told me to get another opinion. I told him thanks for being honest with me.

I went and found a Spine Specalist and he told me it was a no brainer; I had been in this process for the last 3 years and that I was ready to try surgery. He told me 50 / 50 chance that he could make things better.


It has been 6 months and a couple days and was told thursday that I am 100% fused in 6 months. The surgeon was estatic and told me how fortunate that I am....


Roy
:wave: