My Son is having a Spinal Tap. He's being sedated - Can i stay with him ?

Question

He is 7. Having a Spinal Tap - for something.

He is being sedated - will that stop it hurting ?

What position will he be held in ?

Will i be able to stay with him - He doesn't want me leaving him.

Ofcourse i know why he's having it.
Just, it's private. lol

Answer 1

The sedation will be local so that he can't feel the larger needle going into his spine. He will not be unconscious, he will be very much aware. Many facilities prefer to do spinal taps in sterile environments, you may be able to watch, but not likely be in the same room with him.

He will need to bring his knees up to his chest and hold them there until the tap is done.

Answer 2

A little info I think should be considered about this drug Versed ( Midazolam ) that is used for Sedation for many medical procedures..Sedation and General Anesthesia are not the same and quite a few people being given Sedation
think they are being given General Anesthesia!

There is simply no good or valid reason to ever purposely induce amnesia during a medical procedure. It is only a recent development in medical thinking that amnesia is somehow a "benefit" to the patient. On occasion some
some patients will remember a bad experience. Forgetting does not mean it did not happen!!
I feel that if people were aware of the effects of this drug they would Opt For Another Drug!
Erasing someones memory of what was done to them is wrong!!
In fact, many people who use Versed for " IV Sedation,Conscious Sedation" Twilight Sedation, during a procedure are Awake For The Entire Procedure but remember nothing, often Believing They Were "Out" the whole time.

Versed (Midazolam) is an amnestic. It is also commonly used for minor procedures like setting broken bones,colonoscopies,endoscopies, dental procedures like extractions,conscious sedation,twilight sleep, so that patients won't remember pain and discomfort.HOWEVER THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THOSE SENSATIONS WILL NOT BE EXPERIENCED!!!!

A note from an anesthesiologist
I agree that using midazolam alone in painful situations is wrong. I've heard people getting colonoscopies and screaming, and maybe they remember, maybe they don't.

A note I got from someone on Yahoo Answers who did have a bad experience..This is very disconcerting... My sister said she heard me screaming from the waiting room but assumed it wasn't me. When we left we heard another female patient screaming. I did a lot of research since your post, thanks so much for the info.

Here is a note from a Dentist Who uses Versed
I've used Versed 1000+ times during oral surgery procedures and I've never had a complaint. It's a miracle drug because it is safe and it causes you to not remember an unpleasant experience. My answer to him is isn't it better to have not experienced the pain than to have forgot it. No wonder you have had no complaints they have no memory of the procedure.....

I feel that giving a drug for amnesia is cruel I would not want it done to me!

A strange development in medical thinking that it's okay for a patient to have
pain as long as they don't remember it and think they slept thru the procedure..


Here is a link for some info

http://www.freehelpforcancer.com/manages-meds/sedation

Answer 3

You don't know why he is having a spinal tap? Well i had one and it was to check for Multiple Sclerosis...the sedation itself was inserted in my spine and that hurt worse than the tap itself. As for what position..he cannot raise himself for at least 8 hours. Somebody will have to be with him. The spinal fluid has to build back up in the spine in that time. I was told that if i tried to raise up i would have the world's worst headache. I wouldn't leave the little fellow..check with your Dr. and nurses.
Oh ok..figured you did..well good luck to you and the little guy. but if you can stay with him..he will be much better off.

Answer 4

Rules vary from one place to another, the person you need to be asking these questions is the doctor that will be doing the test.

Answer 5

He wont feel a thing,You won,t be allowed in to the treatment room,But as soon as the precede is finished you will be asked to come back in.