Provocative intervertebral disc stimulation is an advanced Technique used to determine whether an abnormal disc seen on an MR1 scan is the source of patient's pain.

If surgery is necessary, the procedure can help a surgeon determine what type of surgery and post-operative treatment will achieve optimal results. The procedure is preformed using local sedation with the patient awake. Using fluoroscopic guidance, contrast dye is injected into the suspicious disc. Because the patient is awake, he or she is able to react to the injection of the fluid and to pressure. A digital pressure transducer attached to the needle measures and. records this pressure.