Lumbar Puncture / Spinal Tap

charlies-aunt

Does anyone have any experience of this procedure please? I am going in as a day patient on Tuesday for this and feeling a bit apprehensive TBH.

Basically - I'd like to know if and how painful its going to be!

And is there anything I can do to prepare for it?

I have already had a bone marrow extraction done from my hip which was a bit of an experience but not particularly painful.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

It's similar to an epidural - so you'll get a feeling of a lot of pressure.

I found the most disagreeable moments were having to curl up enough to make the spaces between the vertebra as large as possible, then the pressure was roughly what I would have expected to give me a bruise anywhere else on the body.


Google reveal people who describe it as absolute agony, but then again, that includes people who were undergoing it for suspected meningitis, as well as people who thrive on the thought of scaring others about things. It also shows people who say it was no problem. So don't google it.

mandi

charlies-aunt wrote: »

Does anyone have any experience of this procedure please? I am going in as a day patient on Tuesday for this and feeling a bit apprehensive TBH.

Basically - I'd like to know if and how painful its going to be!

And is there anything I can do to prepare for it?

I have already had a bone marrow extraction done from my hip which was a bit of an experience but not particularly painful.

Hi Charlies ..

Lumbar punctures are not painful but can be a little uncomfortable .

If you are apprehensive then your GP can give you a mild sedative to reduce your anxiety ( I would do the same TBH )


Just to say though . I hope the results are good for you .

Fingers crossed for Tuesday .

charlies-aunt

Thank you for your replies I feel a bit more confident that I can cope with it now as it doesn't sound too bad and I have a fairly high pain threshold!

I understand what you mean by not googling it . . . . I haven't but just the general mythology seemed to suggest that it is a really painful procedure....which was making me feel a bit queasy!

I was diagnosed with MS last year but blood tests have revealed I have antibodies to two very rare neurological diseases so my spinal fluid has to be tested for these....needs must!

Thanks again

curlytop12

good luck for tuesday.

take some painkillers with you-paracetamol or ibuprofen is ok,whatever you would take if you had a headache.

try and stay relaxed,listen to the dr,they will advise on the best position for you to be in,sometimes lying on your side,sometimes sitting up and resting over a table.

once finished,you will be asked to rest for a while lying down,this can be on your back or side.
drink plenty of water (at least a litre) before sitting up again.

you MAY have a sore back once the local anaesthetic wears off-this is normal.

you MAY have a mild headache for up to two weeks after-this is normal-take your regular painkillers and plenty of fluids

if you have a worse than mild headache contact GP or neurology centre if thats where you had the LP.

its best (though i'm not sure actually recommened) to have someone else take you home,i wouldn't be driving myself or going on pulic transport alone.

am sure you'll be ok.:(

OnAndUp

I've had one done and didn't find it that painful I would describe it more as unpleasant / discomfort.

Personally I felt a bit yucky with headaches etc for a few days after and found that worse than the procedure but not everyone gets that.

Good luck with it don't worry too much beforehand and try and relax on the day (I know easier said than done! ) I'm sure you will be fine!

daska

I had one two years ago because I had meningitis. When the experienced doctor did it I didn't feel anything more than a bit of cold as they sterilised the area, a small jab for the local anaesthetic and then some pressure If you do feel pain it means they're doing it wrong so sing out loudly and ask for someone who knows what they're doing (as I did when the trainee was fumbling around).

Mely

Ive had 4 epidurals as i was having babies, with two of them being cesarean sections and my experience was pretty much the same as others have posted. The worst part for me was trying to curl up and having contractions at the same time! I did feel it going in the wrong place which was uncomfortable, but they stop and try again when that happens. The area is cleaned with a very cold substance,then numbed with an injection, then they do the procedure.There is a feeling of pressure but no pain as such, I honestly didnt find it that bad. x

mr_rush

I have done a hundred or so lumbar punctures on people.

Some find it very painful, some find it virtually painless.

I think a lot depends on individual pain thresholds.

Generally the procedure is easier in people who are thin compared to those who are overweight.

I don't think many GPs would prescribe sedatives - if required this should be done by the doctor performing the procedure. That said, I've used sedatives in perhaps 1% of my patients having a lumbar puncture but never those who come in for them 'electively'.

Torry_Quine

I had a lumbar puncture and it was very straightforward. I felt a small scratch and that was it, thought it was the local but he didn't use any but just inserted the needle directly which surprised me but he was obviously very experienced. Having to lie flat for 24 hours and eat and use bed-pans was the most awkward part of the experience!

Molly41

I had a very bad post dural headache and had to have a procedure to replace the lost spinal fluid. I was very poorly and ended up in hospital for a couple of weeks with complications. I had to lie flat and not move out of bed. I do have other neurological problems so think this was a factor so dont take too much notice of my experience.