Myelography is an x-ray examination of the spinal canal in which a contrast agent is injected through a needle into the space around the spinal cord to display the spinal cord, spinal canal, and nerve roots on an x-ray.

Degenerative disc disease in the lumbar spine, or lower back, refers to a syndrome causing low back pain (LBP). A lumbar spinal disc acts as a shock absorber between vertebrae and allows easy joint movement in the spinal joints. Pain from degenerative disc disease is usually tolerable, with flare-ups that last for a few days or more. It is felt in the lower back that may radiate into the hips and legs. The pain tends to be worse when sitting, as the discs have to bear a heavier load. Degenerative disc disease can be successfully treated with steroid medications delivered through an epidural injections that relieves inflammation and the pain.

There might be an improvement in lower back pain and leg pain after myelography in some patients; however, few may experience a headache and nausea as adverse events. Till now, no such clinical cases of post-myelographic alleviation have been reported.

Therefore, researchers surveyed the post-myelographic alleviation of LBP and leg pain from April 2012 to March 2014 in 325 patients who had the degenerative lumbar spinal disorder and underwent myelography. The participants were prospectively investigated at four hospitals. Leg pain, numbness of the lower extremities and LBP severities were assessed and also intermittent claudication distance was measured before myelography. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and myelographic findings were also evaluated to check the improvement in the symptoms.

The study results depicted that out of 325, thirty-five (10.8%) patients (twenty-six cases of LBP, two cases of leg pain, two cases of numbness of the lower extremity, and five cases of intermittent claudication) reported ease in symptoms after undergoing myelography. Thus, intradural injection therapy might be a therapeutic method to alleviate these symptoms.