Has anyone had this, is it painful? Did yours show anything that your MRI did not?

Have had (2) myelograms (cspine). Both were done post-op from fusion, and did show more than MRI due to the artifact/distortion (on MRI) caused by the plating/screws.

Did it hurt? Ummm, well, you are having a spinal cord puncture. The second time around, the radiologist hit a nerve going in, and I can, without a doubt say this was the first ever procedure that left me in tears. There is no anesthesia, sedation, anything (except for a local at the puncture site).

The main discomfort I had each time was enduring a week long spinal headache, as I could not envision gettting back to the hospital for a blood patch, as I could not stand up long enough without severe head pain.

I developed the spinal headache the moment the table was tilted to bring the dye into the area needing to be examined, and it didn't go away, even following orders to lay low. It took a good week before the head pain dissipated (but at least it did go away).

best of luck.

Well, I had it done today. I was a bit concerened because the same radiologist that did it seems to be the same one reading my mri's that other radiologist actually are able see what is wrong on other mris's. Anyway, this guy was great. I did not feel ANY discomfort, he kept me informed thru out the procedure and I was very relieved. No headache so far. Guess I got lucky. I needed a break.

Why did you have a myelogram, I have been told by my neurosurgeon that there is NOTHING that can be seen on a myelogram that can't be seen as well as or better on a MRI.

quote from Dr. Christopher Wallace.

"myelograms are not done at our institution
they are not recommended either
CW"

M. Christopher Wallace, MD, MSc, FRCSC, FACS
Professor, Department of Surgery
Fondation Baxter et Alma Ricard Chair in
Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery
Program Director, Division of Neurosurgery
University of Toronto


Head, Division of Neurosurgery
Toronto Western Hospital
University Health Network
WW 4-450, 399 Bathurst Street,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T 2S8