Best Doctors in India for Discogram
- Neurosurgeon, Mumbai, India
- Over 25 years’ experience
- Fortis Hiranandani Hospital Vashi Mumbai
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Ashok Hande is a renowned neurosurgeon in Mumbai who holds the credit for 300 AVMs, 1400 skull base tumor surgeries, 3600 surgeries for cranial and spinal trauma, 1200 lumbar prolapsed intervertebral disc surgeries, 800 cerebral aneurysms, and more than 100 microvascular decompressions.
- He holds an experience encompassing 25+ years and holds the credit for pioneering neurosurgery in Mumbai by bringing in new and advanced neurosurgical procedures for brain and spine surgery.
- Neurosurgeon, Bengaluru, India
- Over 22 years’ experience
- Gleneagles Global Hospital Bengaluru
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Madhusudan H V is an expert Neurosurgeon in South India with 22+ years of experience in neuro and spine surgery.
- With a specialization in minimally invasive neurosurgeries, Dr. Madhusudan holds the credit for more than 7000 neurosurgeries. He also finds interest in endoscopic interventions and frameless navigations.
- Neurosurgeon & Spine Surgeon, Bengaluru, India
- Over 15 years’ experience
- Gleneagles Global Hospital Bengaluru
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Praveen K S is a highly qualified neurosurgeon with over a decade of experience in handling all kinds of neurological diseases and disorders.
- He specializes in Pediatric Neurosurgery, Neuro-Oncology, Endoscopic neurosurgery, Aneurysms, and Neuro- Trauma and has performed over 4000 neurosurgeries in his career.
- Neurosurgeon & Spine Surgeon, Mumbai, India
- Over 20 years’ experience
- Wockhardt Hospital Mumbai
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Rahul Modgi is a highly established neuro and spine surgeon in Mumbai specializing in all types of brain and spine surgeries.
- Dr. Rahul Modgi’s name has been recorded in the Limca Book of Records in 2014 when he removed the heaviest iron rod from the brain of a 17-year-old patient. He has also performed various other risky surgeries for which he has greatly appreciated.
- Neurosurgeon, Bengaluru, India
- Over 30 years’ experience
- Fortis Hospital Banerghatta Bengaluru
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Rajakumar V Deshpande is a renowned Neurosurgeon in Bengaluru. He performed the first pedicle screw fixation surgery for a spine injury in Bangalore.
- Dr. D V Rajakumar specializes in endoscopic neurosurgeries and has performed some of the most complex brain and spine surgeries through the endoscopic approach. His other areas of interest include minimally invasive neuro surgeries, management of cerebrovascular diseases, and brain tumor surgeries.
- Orthopedic & Spine Surgeon | Max Hospital, Saket, New Delhi, India
- 14+ Years Experience
- Max Super Specialty Hospital, Saket, New Delhi
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Om Prakash Gupta is a reputed Spine Surgeon in India.
- He is currently functioning as a Consultant – Orthopedics & Spine at Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi
- He has over 14 years of experience.
- Orthopedic and Spine Surgeon, Gurugram, India
- Over 25 years’ experience
- W Pratiksha Hospital
Profile Highlights:
- With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Verma can be generally considered a boon for people suffering from complex, bone, joint, or spine disorders.
- Currently known as one of India’s leading spine experts in India, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Verma performs as many as 50 surgeries in a month. The types of surgeries he performs include all types of spine surgeries, joint replacements, as well as complex trauma surgeries.
- Orthopedic Surgeon and Spine Surgeon, Chennai, India
- Over 12 years’ experience
- Apollo Cancer Centre
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Madhu Kiran Yarlagadda is an orthopedics – consultant specializing in Joint and spine surgery and works at the Apollo hospitals of Chennai.
- Dr. Madhu Kiran Yarlagadda’s team carried out Robotic Spine Surgery for the first time in South-East Asia and performed Endoscopic Transforaminal Spine Surgery in Chennai.
- He treats spine diseases and has the facilities and expertise to perform robotic spine surgery. Along with that, he treats patients with joint and other orthopedic issues.
- Spine Surgeon and Orthopaedic Surgeon, Chennai, India
- Over 18 years’ experience
- Apollo Hospitals Greams Road
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Muralidharan Venkatesan is a consultant in spine surgery from Chennai.
- He provides comprehensive cervical (neck), thoracic (upper back), and lumbosacral (lower back) conditions treatment.
- Dr. Venkatesan pursued MBBS, MRCS, and a fellowship FRCS and shifted his specialization to spinal surgery.
- Dr. Venkatesan has his papers published in several journals.
- Orthopedic Surgeon and Spine Surgeon, Chennai, India
- Over 23 years’ experience
- Apollo Hospitals Greams Road
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Ravi Venkatesan is a spine surgery specialist from Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- His experience in spine surgery, orthopedics, and spine deformity surgery date back nearly 23 years.
- Dr. Venkatesan has performed several surgeries and has been an active member of various orthopedics groups.
- Many organizations have recognized his service and have awarded him for his dedication.
Best Hospitals in India for Discogram
Hospital Highlights:
- Apollo Hospitals is a private healthcare group in India, with its headquarters based in Chennai. Established in 1983 by Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, the group offers a wide range of medical treatments and services across various specialties.
- It is renowned for emphasizing innovation and utilizing cutting-edge medical technologies into patient treatment.
- Known as India’s first corporate hospital, Apollo Hospitals is often credited for pioneering the private healthcare revolution in the country.
- With clinics and hospitals located all throughout India, Apollo Hospitals is a nationwide healthcare organization. Its presence can also be found in foreign countries.
- Preventive health examinations, medical and surgical treatment, and diagnostic centres are just a few of the services that the Apollo group provides.
- The group has several centres of expertise, including Cardiac Sciences, Neurosciences, Orthopedics, Emergency Care, Cancer Care, and Organ Transplantation.
- City: Chennai, India
Hospital Highlights:
- RIMC is a multi-specialty hospital in a sprawling area of 36 acres located in Chromepet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
- The facility has 450 beds including 130 critical care beds, 9 operating rooms, modern reference laboratories and radiology services, and is conveniently located near road, rail and air transportation.
- RIMC is led and managed by world-renowned physicians committed to healthcare.
- RIMC offers the broadest range of clinical care, education, and research. The hospital offers state-of-the-art technology and modern treatment facilities designed to provide health care at an affordable cost.
- Rela Institute is driven by patient needs, comfort and confidence.
- City: New Delhi, India
Hospital Highlights:
- Fortis Hospital in Shalimar Bagh is a multi-super specialty hospital that strives to provide world-class patient care by leaving no stone unturned.
- Fortis, Shalimar Bagh, with 262 beds and a 7.34-acre footprint, provides the best level of medical care through its team of doctors, nurses, technicians, and management professionals.
- City: Bengaluru, India
Hospital Highlights:
- Established in 2007, the Apollo Hospitals Bangalore is a 300-bed multispecialty hospital situated in Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore.
- Equipped with the state-of-the-art technology, it is a leading hospital dedicated to providing healthcare needs to patients with compassion and expertise.
- It is the first hospital to have completed the highest number of Robot Assisted Heart Surgeries in India.
- Over the years, it has successfully conducted some of the rarest medical procedures such as spinal angiolipoma excision, autologous chondrocyte implantations, and tibial tuberosity shift with MPSL reconstruction.
- The Apollo Hospitals Bangalore has the reputation of performing the greatest series of airway stents in the country.
- Additionally, the hospital is known for providing comprehensive treatment in specialties such as gastroenterology, urology, gynecology, oncology, colorectal surgery, etc.
- The “The Minimal Access Surgery Centre” (MASC), one of Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore’s premier Centres of Excellence, is devoted to the use of minimally invasive surgical procedures.
- In 2013, THE WEEK-A C Nielsen, Best Hospital Survey ranked Apollo Hospitals Bangalore as the 2nd best multi-speciality hospital in Bangalore.
- City: Mumbai, India
Hospital Highlights:
- Gleneagles Global Hospital The 450-bed facility comprises of 17-stories, housing state-of-the-art infrastructure, and advanced medical care facilities.
- The hospital offers end-to-end clinical, surgical, and diagnostic services. It is equipped with a team of eminent medical professionals aided by qualified nurses and medical staff
- The Hospital offers advanced Endoscopic procedures, Hepatobiliary and Liver Surgeries, Surgical and Medical Gastroenterology, Bariatric Surgery, and Robotic surgery.
- The hospital is a center of excellence for Orthopedics, Joint Replacement, Knee Replacement, and Hip Replacement surgery.
- City: Hyderabad, India
Hospital Highlights:
- CARE Hospitals were established in the year 2000, by CARE Group.
- The multispecialty hospital has 435 beds, including 120 critical care beds, with an annual inflow of 180000 outpatients and 16,000 in-patients.
- The hospital provides specialty medical services in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Nephrology, and Urology.
- The hospital has the first dual source, 128 slice CT scanner (for high precision cardiac imaging) – the first of its kind in south India.
- The hospital offers a wide range of accommodation facilities for the convenience of its varied patient base, ranging from general wards to super deluxe rooms.
- City: Mumbai, India
Hospital Highlights:
- Fortis Hospital in Mulund is a 315-bed multi-speciality tertiary care hospital with five JCI accreditations that offers a wide variety of diagnostic and treatment services. The Fortis Hospital in Mulund delivers patient-centred treatment with cutting-edge technology, highly skilled and experienced surgeons, and paramedical staff.
- This institution houses Maharashtra’s largest multi-organ transplant centre. It is also the first heart transplant centre in western India to conduct 100 or more consecutive heart transplants in under four years. It is the only hospital in the city to have multi-organ transplants and has handled the youngest patient for angioplasty. Fortis Hospital Mulund now boasts the first advanced surgical robot in central Mumbai.
- Cardiology and heart surgery, urology, nephrology, neurosciences, orthopaedics, digestive care, emergency and critical care, and maternity care are among the services provided by the hospital.
- City: New Delhi, India
Hospital Highlights:
- Manipal Hospitals, Dwarka, is a super-specialty hospital in Dwarka, New Delhi, which is a part of Manipal Hospitals Group.
- The hospital aims to provide the best treatment on par with international standards at a fraction of the cost.
- Equipped with 380 beds, the hospital is also one of the new age hospitals which are equipped fully with state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge technology as well as the latest and advanced clinical practices. The hospital also has 13 modular Operation theatres with 118 beds which are solely meant for critical care.
- The hospital comprises internationally acclaimed doctors and highly professional and experienced hospital and medical staff who are able to provide preventive, therapeutic, and diagnostic services all under one roof.
- City: Chennai, India
Hospital Highlights:
- Located in Chennai, India, MGM Healthcare is a top multispecialty hospital that provides all medical services under one roof.
- Since its founding in 2019, MGM Healthcare has quickly become a leading national referral centre, creating several innovative flagship initiatives.
- MGM Healthcare combines next-generation medical and digital technologies to provide better patient results.
- With 12 centres of excellence, more than 400 inpatient beds, 100 intensive care unit beds, and 24/7 emergency care, MGM Healthcare leaves no chance in redefining the patient experience in Chennai.
- MGM Healthcare boasts 250+ expert doctors across 30+ departments, including Cardiology, Pulmonology, Neurology, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and more.
- They house 12 specialized Centres of Excellence, including Neurosciences, Orthopaedics, and Multi-Organ Transplantation.
- Their team of doctors, nurses, and paramedics works together to give every patient individualized treatment.
Hospital Highlights:
- Lilavati Hospital & Research Centre is India’s premier multi-speciality tertiary care hospital and has been recognised as a global medical excellence centre.
- Lilavati Hospital & Research Centre has built an unrivalled level of trust with its patients over the years, thanks to a solid foundation that comprises cutting-edge facilities, the best medical competence, research, education, and charity endeavours.
- The hospital is quite proud of the fact that it now serves patients from all kinds of backgrounds, not just from the United States but from all around the world.
- The hospital has a total of 323 beds, one of the largest Intensive Care Units (ICUs), 12 Operation Theatres with modern amenities, over 300 consultants, and almost 1,800 personnel.
DISCOGRAM
Discogram, also known as a discography, is an interventional diagnostic imaging test. It can help determine whether a specific intervertebral disc is the cause of your back pain. Spinal discs are cushions between the bones of the spine. They are made up of cartilage and a jellylike substance. Their purpose is to act as shock absorbers between the bones in your spine.
Purpose
A discogram is generally not used for the initial evaluation of back pain. But your doctor may suggest it if you continue to experience back pain, despite conservative treatments such as physical therapy and medication.
Sometimes a discogram is also used before a spinal fusion surgery, as it can help identify which disks require removal. However, it is noteworthy that a discogram is not always accurate in pinpointing which disk is leading to back pain. Therefore, many doctors prefer other tests, such as CT scan and MRI for diagnosing disk problems and guiding treatment.
Preparation
Before the procedure, a blood test might be required to determine how well your kidneys are functioning and whether your blood clots normally. You will also need to inform your doctor about all the medications and supplements that you take. If you have an allergy to local anesthetic, general anesthesia, or to contrast materials, you should let him/her know about this as well.
Also, let your doctor know about any of your recent illnesses or any other medical conditions.
It is likely that you will be instructed not to consume any food or drink the midnight before the procedure. Your doctor will also let you know if it is okay to take any of your medications on the morning of the procedure.
You will need to arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure.
Procedure
First, you will need to change into a hospital gown. Then you will lie on a table, or on your side. After your skin is cleansed, your doctor will likely inject a numbing medicine to decrease the pain caused by the insertion of the discogram needle.
After this, your doctor will be using an imaging technique such as fluoroscopy, in order to watch the discogram needle enter the body. Fluoroscopy helps to allow more precise and safe placement of the needle into the center of the disk that needs to be examined. Then a contrast dye is injected into the disk, and then an X-ray or CT scan is taken to see if the dye spreads.
If the dye stays in the center of the disk, then the disk is normal. If it spreads outside the center of the disk, it indicates that your disk has undergone some wear-and-tear change. These changes may or may not be the cause of the pain.
In most cases, if the disk is the cause of your back pain, then you should feel pain during the injection, which is similar to the back pain that you normally experience daily. However, if the disk is normal, there is very little pain during the injection. You will also be asked to describe and rate your pain during the procedure.
After the procedure
After the procedure, you will be remaining in the room, for around 30-60 minutes so that you can be observed. After that, you are able to go home, but you will need someone to drive you.
It is not unusual to experience some pain at the injection site or in the lower back for several hours, after the procedure. You can apply an ice pack to the area for about 20 minutes, as this might help. You will also need to keep your back dry for 24 hours.
Within a week or two after the procedure, if you experience severe back pain or a fever, let your doctor know right away.
Results
Your doctor will review the images and the information that you provided regarding the pain you experienced during the procedure, and this will help to pinpoint the source of your back pain. This information will be used by your doctor, to guide your treatment or prepare for the surgery.
Generally, doctors don’t rely on the results of a discogram alone as sometimes a disk with wear-and-tear might not cause any pain. Also, pain responses during a discogram may also vary widely.
Generally, results of a discogram are combined with results of other tests, like an MRI or a CT scan and physical examination, when determining a treatment plan for back pain.
Risks
Though it is most generally safe, a few risks of complications are associated with a discogram, which includes:
- Infection
- Allergic reaction to the dye
- Worsening of chronic back pain
- Injury to nerves or blood vessels in and/or around the spine
- Headache