Intradiscal Injection



An accurate diagnosis is necessary to successfully relieve back pain. Once the origin of back pain is accurately diagnosed, an appropriate treatment program can begin.

Intradiscal Injection is often used to diagnose discogenic pain, including:

• Disc Tears
• 
Disc Degeneration
• 
Disc Herniation

Intradiscal Injection of steroids and anesthetic medications provides another tool for the diagnosis of discogenic back pain. The procedure takes place in two separate visits.

The spine surgeon injects steroids into the patient's disc during the first visit and anesthetic medication during the second. Using fluoroscopic (x-ray) guidance, a thin needle is inserted into the appropriate disc(s). Dye is injected to prove that the medication will flow into the disc.

Anesthetic solution, steroid solution, or a combination of both, are then injected, depending on theintent of the procedure. 

Typically, the steroids relieve back pain caused by a disc condition for two to three weeks, while the anesthetic wears off in less than two days. Based on the predictable results, the surgeon can determine if the back pain is caused by disc problems (discogenic).