Back pain investigations (discography)


There are many possible causes for back pain.

Discography is a simple 45 minute test that allows your doctor to confirm whether a damaged disc (soft pads between your bones) is causing your pain, and identifies which one would need to be repaired.

This test is usually only done if other treatments have failed and back surgery is being considered by your doctor. It can be an important step towards you resuming a full and active life.


Why you might need it

Back pain and related symptoms can interfere with our lives. As well as being one of the main reasons people take time off work, back pain can prevent you:

  • taking part in exercise or sport
  • playing with your children and family
  • driving
  • using computers for work or leisure.

Our highly trained and caring clinicians understand that ongoing (or chronic) pain can gnaw away at us, affecting your enjoyment of life.

Discography can identify which of the discs between the vertebrae (bones) in your back is causing you pain, and it is often used before back surgery. The discs are small, soft pads that act as shock absorbers for the bones.

Your doctor will recommend this if other tests, including CT and MRI scans, have not pinned down the exact discs that need to be treated.

The test takes around 45 minutes and you will be sedated and have a local anaesthetic. This means you’ll be awake but won't feel anything while a fine needle is inserted into the area of your back that is causing problems and X-ray images are taken. The sedation will give you a calm feeling.


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Who will do it?




Before your treatment




Preparing for your treatment




The procedure

You'll be given a local anaesthetic to numb the skin on your back. Your doctor will then insert a fine need into the affected area. They may insert more needles if they have to look at more than one disc.

You might feel uncomfortable as the needles will be going into an area that is already causing pain but tell the doctor immediately if you feel pain in your leg during the test.

A second needle will be inserted through the first one to inject contrast or X-ray dye into the centre of the disc. This provides a clearer image. You might be asked to rate the level of pain on a scale of 0-10 while this is happening.

X-ray images will be taken for your doctor to analyse later and the needles will then be withdrawn and the test is over.



You might have bruising, swelling and pain at the injection site(s). We’ll give you painkillers to help with this.

Please contact the hospital or your GP immediately if you feel unwell, develop back pain that does not settle or gets worse, or if you develop a fever or a high temperature.

Your surgeon will review the results and discuss them with you and the possible implications for treatment or further tests at your next follow-up appointment. If you are not under the care of an expert Spire consultant for your back pain, we’ll forward them quickly to your GP or NHS consultant.

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