Lumbar Puncture / Spinal Tap

LisaB85

Wish I hadn't read this, I have gone all queezy thinking of it such a wuss I am.

It is hard to say if it is painful as what is painful to 1 person is pain free to another, both me and my sister have the depo she finds having a big needle shoved in her bum cheek painful whereas I rarely even flinch although my bum is fatter too.

My Nan had an epidural instead of general when she had her prolapsed bladder fixed now me I'd be begging to be knocked out.

Gingernutty

I had to accompany my Dad when he had an LP. It was brief and relatively painless - he had to curl up on his side for the doctor to do the procedure.

After the procedure, you're encouraged to lie back for an hour or so to help prevent a post dural headache. But no, Dad refused and left as soon as the doctors said he could.

The woman in the bed opposite had to have regular LPs for benign intercranial hypertension (which, frankly, didn't sound that benign) and she told Dad off for getting out of bed too soon as she always got a headache following the LP.

Of course, later on, Dad was complaining about a headache.........

Make a tight ball when you curl up, shout out if you feel something going wrong, bring something to drink, lie still afterwards and try not to worry too much.

The procedure is over in less than 10 minutes if it's done right.

charlies-aunt

Thank you everyone for the advice and for your personal experiences They have been a big help it is the fear of the unknown that's been bothering me.... I don't like needles especially big ones! I hope that it will be as quick and straightforward as many of you describe.


Post-LP.... not the most pleasant of experiences and not one I'm in a hurry to repeat as the needle snagged some spinal nerves which brought tears to my eyes! ..... but I am grateful for the lovely NHS doctor and nurse, both were wonderfully kind, they made it as painless and stress free as possible, the ward was immaculate and all staff were so nice


Thank you to everyone who posted - it really helped settle my nerves this morning.

Mely

charlies-aunt wrote: »

Thank you everyone for the advice and for your personal experiences They have been a big help it is the fear of the unknown that's been bothering me.... I don't like needles especially big ones! I hope that it will be as quick and straightforward as many of you describe.


Post-LP.... not the most pleasant of experiences and not one I'm in a hurry to repeat as the needle snagged some spinal nerves which brought tears to my eyes! ..... but I am grateful for the lovely NHS doctor and nurse, both were wonderfully kind, they made it as painless and stress free as possible, the ward was immaculate and all staff were so nice


Thank you to everyone who posted - it really helped settle my nerves this morning.

I am so pleased that it is over and done with for you now x

dizsiebubba

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Google reveal people who describe it as absolute agony, but then again, that includes people who were undergoing it for suspected meningitis,

I don't want to scare you, but i had one just before christmas as i had menigitis and its the only sure way that they can tell.
I found it excrutiatingly painful, i screamed down A&E and my back hasn't ever been the same since - it ALWAYS hurts....HOWEVER... a lady in the bed next to me a few days later had one for a different reason and although she said it hurt , her expereince was very different to mine and she didnt seem to be in as much pain as I was so it would seem everybody is different xxx