Lumbar discography is generally performed as an outpatient procedure. It requires the use of fluoroscopic guidance and as such, is commonly performed in a radiology suite. Patients are generally sedated with intravenous mediations. The patient must remain conscious during the procedure for several reasons. First, it is necessary that they report and production of back pain during the procedure so that it can be correlated with detection of degenerative change. Secondly, the placement of the needle for the injection of dye into the disc passes adjacent to the nerve root at that level. The patient must be able to advise the surgeon of the presence of leg pain on insertion of the needle, which may indicate irritation or injury to the adjacent nerve.

Following sterile preparation of the skin, the entry points are injected with local anesthetic. The spinal needle is advanced under x-ray guidance to the posterior lateral corner out the disc. Following verification of appropriate positioning, the needle is inserted to the central third of the disc. Contrast or dye is injected into the disc. Several parameters are reported. These include the amount of contrast injected into the disc, the pressure created within the disc, any loss of pressure following injection. The patient is queried regarding any production of pain and whether the pain is similar or dissimilar to their symptoms. In addition x-rays are recorded, often followed by CT Scan, to determine the degree of degenerative change present.