Spinal injuries and imaging - Myelography?

Has anyone with spine issues underwent a myelography beyond an MRI or know anything about this procedure? I know it's not used very often anymore but still is used in some cases.

With the newer dyes that they have now, myelograms are allot safer and allot of doctors use them inconjuntion with an MRI, it has been quite a few years since I had one, but when they did it, after they did the regular Xray pictures with the dye, then they did an MRI.  Not like the first Myelogram that I had, when they had to remove the dye, after they put in. I thought the worst thing about it, was them sticking in the needle, first time they stuck me four times and had to..... and I quote the military doctor doing it ("get out old reliable! a bigger heavy duty needle!") because they could not get the smaller thinner needles through all the tissue and into the spinal canal in my lower back!  Being hung nearly upside down so the dye could run down the inside of my spinal canal to my cervical spine was not all that comfortable either. The last one I had done was sp much better, as they gave me concious sedation and I did not remember most of it, so I don't know exactly what they did! Wish they would have done that with the first one! But for the first one, I was in the military, up in Alaska and I think military medicine does things a little differently, at least they did back in the 80's!

I might add that when I had the second Myelogram under concious sedation, the next day I had severe pain in my legs, and I had to go back to the doctor and they gave me a Decadron ( steroid) injection they said that I they must have irritated a nerve when putting in the needle thus causing inflamation of that nerve. The one Decadron injection fixed it! I am not sure they still do this with concious sedation, because the doctor said that this was a problem with doing it this way?????

White Beard

had one many years ago (like in the 70's) was awful, I am sure that they must have gotten better since then, but when I had mine the little puncture didn't heal right so I leaked spinal fluid, most awful headache ever, they had to do a blood patch (involved taking blood from arm and putting it in my spine) and that fixed it. like I said it was done many years ago and I am sure it must have gotten better since then. Bottom line is we are all in the boat of having to do just what doc says or risk getting dumped (learning that the hard way), so get it done and find out what it says; it could yield some useful info.

the procedure involves getting dye injected into the spinal canal and then the docs look to see where the dye does or does not go. this helps them diagnos conditions

Back when Pjune had hers done they used an oil based dye that made people very sick. Now they use a water soluable contrast that is a huge improvement. Yes, things have improved greatly. My daughter's friend had one a couple of years ago, she went shopping that afternoon. She should not have done that, she should have went home & rested & drank plenty of water or juice to flush the contrast. My purpose in telling you this is so you can see the difference from what Pjune went through.

BTL...I had that diagnostic procedure in the late 80's so I don't have anything current to offer.  Back then I had a horrible experience with "stroke-sensation" headaches post-procedure (for days).  I would hope that 3 decades would have improved upon the barbaric procedure that I experienced=(

Dixie

I had myelogram done.... Not on my spine, but on my shoulder, so it's probably a little different, but I will say, it wasn't as bad as what everyone made it out to be. You can feel the dye enter your system, but other than that it was no different than many other tests I have had.

The Dr didn't feel the risks outweighed the benefits of doing myelogram for my spine, but that's because they could clearly see the issues without it and they didn't want to irritate the area, anymore if they didn't need to.

I hope they find the source of your issues. Myelopathy is tough and really frustrating.....

Just out of curiosity, have they attempted to do any ENG'S on you? Sometimes that can help pinpoint nerve damage. I had a few of those done too. Not the best feeling, but it helped them pinpoint nerve damage....

Take care....

Post Edited (lila w) : 9/22/2014 5:39:24 AM (GMT-6)