Intervertebral Disc Therapies for Patients with Herniated Discs

The pain specialists at The Center for Interventional Pain at Mercy Medical Center utilize intervertebral disc therapies to treat patients with a herniated disc. 

What are Intervertebral Disc Therapies?

Intervertebral disc therapies (discography, IDET, disc decompression) are treatment options for patients with a herniated disc.

The intervertebral disc is often a primary source for chronic pain and has been the focus of much recent research. Scientific advances have led to an improved understanding of disc pain and to new and improved methods for the diagnosis and treatment of pain caused by spinal discs. 

How are Intervertebral Disc Therapies performed?

When making the diagnosis of disc related pain it is common to undergo provocative discography, a technique that involves inserting a small needle into the disc using X-ray guidance. Contrast is injected to both visualize the disc for abnormalities and to pressurize the disc to determine if it is a "pain generator." Following discography a decision can be made regarding further treatment options which may include procedures such as percutaneous discectomy, IDET, or surgical evaluation.