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Condition
Study of the spine for any abnormalities. Accomplished
through a myelogram dye is inserted into the spinal canal. This
injection creates a silhouette of structures in the spinal cord. A myelogram
is used in the diagnosis of spinal tumors, herniated disks, and other spinal
disorders. Patient activity will be restricted for several hours after the procedure.
Prep
You should take nothing by mouth for 6 hours before the test. Tell your doctor ahead
of time if you have ever had an allergic reaction to the medicine lidocaine or the numbing medicine used at the dentist's office. You should
also tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergy to x-ray dyes. Tell
your doctor if you might be pregnant.
If you are taking a medication called metformin (Glucophage) to
control diabetes, you should talk to your doctor and discontinue the drug
48 hours before your test.
Procedure
Patients usually will be asked to
wear a hospital gown. In most cases, you will be asked to lie on your
belly.
An area on your lower back will be cleaned
with soap. Medicine through a small needle is used to numb the skin
and the tissue underneath the skin in the area. This causes some very
brief stinging. A different needle is then placed in the same area and
moved forward until fluid can be injected through it into the spinal
canal. This fluid is a type of dye that shows up on x-rays and allows
your doctors to get a clear picture of the fluid space around your
spinal cord and to identify places where the space is narrowed.
Because of the numbing
medicine used in this area, most patients experience only a feeling of
pressure from this needle. Occasionally some patients do feel a
sharp feeling in the back or (rarely) in the leg. Let your doctor know
if you feel anything painful.
Once the dye has been
injected, the needle is removed and several x-ray pictures are taken
of your back. Sometimes a CT (computed tomography) scan picture is
taken instead (see the section on CT scan of the back separately.
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