Using Discography to Identify the Source of Chronic Back Pain

Dr. Daniel (Dan) Kendall trained in pain management as a fellow at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Now an interventional pain medicine specialist at National Spine & Pain Centers in McLean, Virginia, Dr. Dan Kendall implements a number of different techniques to reduce chronic pain. One of the many services offered at National Spine & Pain Centers is discography.

Physicians use discography to identify the underlying cause of back pain, which could result from facet syndrome, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, or a damaged disc. Discography provides a means of inspecting the internal structure of discs in the spine to see if one or more is contributing to pain in the back. Spinal discs can become damaged over time and cause a deep, aching pain that is difficult to distinguish from other types of pain.

Discography involves the administration of contrast dye into spinal discs, followed by the recording of the flow pattern of the dye. The entire procedure takes less than an hour and involves minimal recovery time. The results are very useful in guiding further treatment to maximize pain alleviation.

Johns Hopkins Publishes Study Showing Dogs Help ICU Patients Recover

Dr. Dan Kendall stands out for his proficiency in performing fluoroscopic-guided procedures, practicing techniques such as epidural nerve blocks and radiofrequency ablation. Currently treating patients at National Spine and Pain Centers in McLean, Virginia, Dr. Dan Kendall is a former fellow at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. 

Johns Hopkins health professionals have established a program that takes a unique approach to improving patient outcomes. Taking advantage of the special type of healing only a canine can provide, the hospital team brings specially trained dogs into intensive care units (ICUs) to help alleviate patients' physical and emotional pain. 

While dogs have been used for therapy in other medical settings, bringing them in to visit critically ill patients is a first. The human-canine bond helps overcome the impersonality of the ICU and the coldness of the equipment, such as ventilators and feeding tubes. According to an article in the February 2018 issue of Critical Care, Johns Hopkins rehabilitation and ICU researchers reported that dogs helped their ICU patients become active sooner, as well as motivating them to be more engaged in their recovery efforts.