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Posted 2/27/2008 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
having one next fri, really nervous any suggestions
Posted 2/27/2008 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi JessieRose.  I've had a spinal tap aka lumbar puncture and know the basic procedure. The doc numbs your skin for the tap, but when the needle reaches the cord, you need to grit your teeth. Sometimes this takes 2-3 minutes and you will be gritting teeth the entire time. Once the doc hits the space and starts filling the tubes, the pain is dull.  After the needle is removed there is no more pain than an injection site. You will be told to lie still with your head flat to avoid headache. Docs seem to differ about how long you must lie still, 30 minutes to 4 hours. Please don't be frightened. It should be over in a few minutes, but if you have any questions just ask. Let us know how it goes, okay?  Love, Butterflake

Posted 2/27/2008 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
i had to have a spinal tap done but i was out of it after seizers and strokes..so i dont remember much but my sister said i was really restless before getting it but doing the procedure i laid still.. good luck im sure you will do fine..
Posted 2/28/2008 12:58 AM (GMT 0)
I had one recently and it really was not near as bad as I thought it would be. Try not to freak out about it, it's not my idea of a good time but it's not that bad! God luck and God bless you, Judy
Posted 2/28/2008 2:47 AM (GMT 0)

CATZZ said...
Hi JessieRose!

I'm not going to lie to you it hurts...badly...try to take someone in with you to hold your hand and take your mind off of it. This may sound silly but focus on one thing like a happy place. When its over follow all the instructions for after to avoid the possible headache. Fortunately I didn't get a headache I was just a little sore for a few days. But having the tap is the hard part after those few minutes your home free.

Good Luck [img]/community/emoticons/smile.gif[/img]

Posted 2/28/2008 3:02 AM (GMT 0)

Hi JessieRose... I had one way back in 92 with a bout of meningitis.  Just be very still and lay flat for as long as they tell you.  I remember a lot of pressure, but not really any pain except for the numbing medication.  It will be okay, just breathe through it and stay calm.  Its over pretty quickly.  If you've ever had an epidural for the birth of a baby... its very similar.

Please let us know how it turns out!

Posted 2/29/2008 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
I had one last month it was not as bad as I thought it would be. But, after your lumbar puncture make sure to drink alot of water and caffiene to prevent a lumbar headache. If you do begin to have a severe position headache the next day call your doctor you may need to have a blood patch which will seal the hole made by lumbar puncture needle. I don't tell you this to scare you because the chances of this is rare but it happened to me and I was not given any of this information from the medical professional that did mine.
But, I do want you not to worry because the procedure is not that bad.
let us know how it goes.
-Kasey
Posted 2/29/2008 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
Did you have lay down for a certain amount of time? And how long should I wait to call the doctor, and was your back sore after like to walk around and do stuff
Posted 2/29/2008 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
I had to lay flat for one hour. When you get home lay flat on your back for the next 8 hours they may tell you that before they do the lumbar puncture. My back did not bother me at all. If you wake up the next day with a severe lumbar headache call the doctor right away and ask what he or she thinks you should do. You will know it is a lumbar headache because it will be severe pressure in the top and front of your head and it will only hurt when you sit up or stand up. I really would not worry about this happening just follow all the post instructions you are given it will help to prevent this.
Posted 2/29/2008 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hey JessieRose,
i had a lumbar punture done in Feb of last year, and my experience with it was awful. But i think alot of it had to do with me then the actual procedure. They did the procedure with x-ray guidance or something like that, and they gave me some something to keep me calm and some pain meds through an IV. But i have a great fear of needles near my spinal cord or it still freaked me out. Then the technician (sp) had trouble getting the right spot so he kept poking me and i felt it, so i was crying and they had to give me more medicine but it still didnt calm me down and if the man didnt have a needle in my back i would have kicked him. but he did finally get it and let me tell you how relieved i was. But like i said i have an awful awful fear of needles in that area so i think the procedure would have been easier if i wasnt alreay sooo scared. But since then, looking back at it, it really didnt hurt and i didnt have any pain afterwards they just told me to take it easy. Good Luck, sister, i'll keep you in my thoughts.
Posted 3/1/2008 4:35 AM (GMT 0)
I had mine with only local anesthetic, under x ray guidance. It really didn't hurt that bad at all. I had to lay flat in recovery for 2 hours and then went home and just tried to be still until the next day. I chatted with the radiologist and the tech. They were real sweet. I used to work with them when I was nursing and so he showed me the pic up on the screen of the needle in my spine. It was pretty cool. I had no backache or soreness at all, or headache. The post spinal tap headache is actually pretty rare. Try not to panic. Judy
Posted 3/1/2008 6:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Jessie, was your spinal tap today or next friday?
hugs
carol
Posted 3/1/2008 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
it is the 7th of march. thank you everyone for being so caring :-)
Posted 3/1/2008 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Jessierose,
That's my b day! One year I had chemo on my birthday. O what fun! God Bless You, Judy
Posted 3/1/2008 6:40 PM (GMT 0)

Hi,

I had a spinal tap on Monday (2/25.) Went fine, pain was manageable. My problem is I developed a THROBBING headache on Thu night and it has not gone away. My head throbs if I sit up, if I move, if I cough, if I bend down, etc. Yesterday afternoon, I called the neuro radiologist at the hospital who did the spinal tap, and he dismissed me and told me that this headache can't be related to the spinal tap since it didn't come on until 3 days later. I called my neurologist and he said of course it's related and put me on vicoden for the pain. Has anyone else experienced this? How long does it last? I have a husband and 2 kids to take care of, not to mention the fact that I work full time. If anyone can shed any light, I'd really appreciate it!

Posted 3/3/2008 12:43 PM (GMT 0)
Did you lay flat after wards? Im so nervous! my doctor told me that I would get a blood patch done if it bothered me a few days after.
Posted 3/3/2008 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
Jessie, I don't have any experience with a spinal tap, I just wanted to tell you that I'll be thinking of you and hoping that things go smoothly for you. Take care
Posted 3/3/2008 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
thank you very much. that really means alot to me..
Posted 3/4/2008 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
Judy, I just want to say Happy Birthday before I forget.. We all know how that can be. I hope you have a great day you deserve it... Also thank youfor all the kind words,and support I will def be back in touch with everyone after friday to let you know how it goes..

Jessie
Posted 3/26/2008 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
is it normal for my back to hurt 3 days after getting a spinal tap??

please help

Posted 3/26/2008 8:46 PM (GMT 0)

Hello

Yes mine still hurts a little it feels like bruise. But only when  I put pressure on it the right way. but other than that its good.

Posted 5/14/2008 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
I'm having a spinal tap next Tuesday to check for MS. My boyfriend said he ahd to lay flat for 8 hours, but the nurse said I would probably only be at hospital for 2-3 hours. Have things changed that much in the last 20 years? What else do I need to know about this procedure? Will I be able to go to work the next day? I never had an epidural with my children so I have no idea what to expect. I'm a little nervous.
Posted 5/14/2008 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
It was very easy. I was very worked up over nothing I had mine done on a friday so I could take it easy on the weekend. I wouldnt work the next day because you just don't know how you will feel. I was a little sore. And I didnt have to lay flat they told me to lay low for the rest of the day my suggestion is drink lots of coke/ caffeine it helps with the headache after. I drank a case in one weekend. good luck to you hope all goes well.. :-)
Posted 5/14/2008 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
thank you. How long did you stay in the hospital the day you had it done?

Posted 5/14/2008 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
In and out in a hour! The Doctor I had was awesome. She talked me through the whole thing my anxiety attack was worse then the actuall procedure. Just take it easy for a couple of days. I will tell you that for a couple of weeks the spot hurt like a bruise it so dont be alarmed by that. But other than that it was easy.

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