How you prepare
By Mayo Clinic staffYou may need to avoid taking blood-thinning medications for a period of time before the procedure. Your doctor will give you specific instructions about what medicines you can take and if you need to avoid food or drink the morning before the test.
References
- Discogram. American College of Radiology. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=discography. Accessed Dec. 30, 2011.
- Barbara Woodward Lips Patient Education Center. About your lumbar discography test. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. 2010.
- Williams KD, et al. Lower back pain and disorders of intervertebral discs: Injection studies. In: Canale ST, et al. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-4/0/1584/0.html. Accessed Dec. 30, 2011.
- Stevens JM, et al. The spine: Discography. In: Adam A, et al. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-10163-2..50063-4--cesec49&isbn=978-0-443-10163-2&sid=1249267188&uniqId=309664755-4#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-10163-2..50063-4--cesec49. Accessed Dec. 30, 2011.
- Staiger TO, et al. Diagnostic testing for low back pain. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 30, 2011.
- Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Dec. 30, 2011.
- Maus TP (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 17, 2012.


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