Disc Herniation (Page 3)
Some practitioners advocate more extensive diagnostic tests and will recommend a discogram in order to develop as much information as possible about the patient’s condition. However, this test is expensive, invasive, painful, and is quite controversial as to whether or not it is valid, accurate test. For these reasons, many doctors do not use discography unless necessary.
Although the test findings on an MRI or other test are significant, they are not in and of themselves a diagnosis. This is because there are often lesions (anatomical problems) that show up that are not symptomatic. In fact, most people will have some level of disc problem by the time they reach 60 years of age, but few will have pain.
Quite simply, a patient’s physical exam findings and symptoms need to match the MRI or other test findings to arrive at an accurate medical diagnosis and, more importantly, an effective treatment plan for the patient, as is explained in the next page.
