Was your spinal tap helpful ? (painful, surgery, symptoms, stomach)

[SusanG_O]

I've never had one and am not scheduled for a lumbar puncture but have been reading about them for various reasons. Have you had one and did it confirm what was suspected? Or did you have one and wish you didn't and it confirmed nothing?

[2nd trick op]

I underwent my first spinal tap two weeks ago, I carry some emotional baggage from some procedures now carried out nearly sixty years ago (spinal fusion and confinement to a body cast) so I'll readily admit that I objected (and forcefully) at the mention of the term "lumbar puncture". An hour's wait after "gowning up" didn't do much to put me at ease.

But from there on, everything turned around.

After signing the official release, I was given 5 mg of Lorzepam and invited to sit on the treatment table while the procedure was explained; the "table" turned out to be a state-of-the-art fluoroscope, which would be used to guide the needle and avoid penetrating any of the places where it could really hurt (very much appreciated in my case since the previous surgery left my spine far from normally-formed).

A shot of Novocain or lidocaine was then administered while lying on my stomach, followed by the extraction needle; I felt virtually nothing. Removal of about 30 cc of spinal fluid took another two minutes or so, during which I was able to hold a conversation with the MD in charge. The site of the puncture could be covered with a small "spot" (circular) Band-AId.

ONE SMALL BIT OF FRIENDLY ADVICE TO THE MEDICAL PROFESSION: Some of us have been able to avoid the "rougher" side of medical procedures for a long time, but the memories can linger. So when scheduling a test or treatment that has been made easier and a lot less painful, please be sure that this is fully communicated to someone "my age", and not by a Pollyanna-type barely into her twenties.

[tickyul]

Ruling-out things may be just as helpful as a confirmation of some sort of issue..........spinal-tap
could very well be valuable to a patient in this way.

[2nd trick op]

Originally Posted by tickyul

Ruling-out things may be just as helpful as a confirmation of some sort of issue..........spinal-tap
could very well be valuable to a patient in this way.

I was referred for the spinal after a preliminary diagnosis of hydrocephalus (what used to be called "water on the brain"), which has affected my walking and sense of balance. In some cases, removal of excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) eases the pressure immediately, and the symptoms improve quickly; unfortunately, this was not the case for me.

So it's "back to the drawing board" with the diagnosis refined to Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH). But at least I'll have a lot less to be scared about if the phrase "lumbar puncture" comes up again.

[jacqueg]

Yes, it was necessary to reach a diagnosis.

[Rowan123]

I had one years ago and it ruled something out. It wasn't painful. It was the right decision.