Lumbar Puncture Back Pain and Headaches?

Question

I had a lumbar puncture about two months ago. I have had back pain at the puncture site (especially when in forward flexion for a while) and left-sided headaches ever since. I used to be a powerlifter and developed quite thick ligaments along my spine because of the deadlifts. When the dr. did the puncture, he had to get a second needle because the first one bent. Is it possible that he poked too many holes or my supraspinous ligament tore? How can you tell if you have a CSF leak? and where does it leak to and from? Please let me know what you think as I would like to get rid of this back pain and these headaches. Thanks!

Answer 1

Well hummm. part of the consent you signed to have the lumbar puncture done should have told you the risks. this sounds kinda like one of those risks. however, one must first ask you why was the lumbar puncture done in the first place. LP's are usually done to rule out meningitis which cause headaches photophobia (in ability to tolerate lights) nausea, vomiting etc. Its possible that when he punctured the skin and the needle bent the needle went through a nerve causing damage thus the pain.. but generally wont cause the head .ache. Its also possible that you are leaking CSF but unlikely that it would have been leaking for more than a few hours or days without seeing severe signs and symptoms i described above. As for where it comes from... CSF is a liquid that serves several jobs one of which is to cushion the brain from injury, it bathes the brain in a fluid that acts as a shock absorber in an impact... it also follows down the spinal cord to the lumbar region (lower back) to protect the spinal cord from impact as well. If it were to leak it would simply leak into the surrounding tissue of the spine and be reabsorbed by the body.

Check out the link below for added info

Answer 2

Chiropractor and massage therapist

Much pain is from muscles below is an example of what may help (based on headaches).
Begin with a couple swigs of molasses or a couple of bananas (natural muscle relaxers) daily - magnesium (which regulates many things in the body) and potassium (a needed building block for muscles).
Drink at least 1/2 gallons of water per day. Running a body low on water is like running a car low on oil is the analogy the head of neurology at UCDavis told my husband about 10 years ago.

Now to the cause - muscles - your back, neck shoulders and head have tender spots. They are knots in the fibers of the muscles called trigger points. It makes the muscles tight which makes them press on nerves and other things causing the pain.

The cure - start with a professional massage, (if this does not do it you probably need a chiropractor as well) you will also want to go back over any place you can get to 6-12 times per session up to 6 times per day rubbing (or lightly scratching on your head) every where that is tender until the knots go away. The place where the skull connects to the spine press up under the edge of the skull (to get to those muscles).

For more information read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies. It teaches what to do and where the pain comes from.

Answer 3

Though sciatica is a common problem, it is really surprising that often it is hard to tell why a person suffers from this ailment. This is why it is often referred to as a back pain complex. Even experienced doctors find it difficult to pinpoint a cause. Number of medical conditions lead to sciatica such as stress and trauma at any point on spinal cord or lower back. This is understandable but when a person feels this pain and the underlying causes are as general as obesity or pregnancy, it presents a vague picture to the doctor. There can be many more underlying causes that require supervision and treatment at the right time.


For more info and details about natural treatments visit: http://curesciatica.toptips.org
Cheers ;)

Answer 4

Postdural Puncture Headache Features Post-lumbar puncture or, more precisely termed, postdural puncture headache (PDPH), is the most common complication of lumbar puncture, occurring in up to 40% of patients.[6] The headache begins within 48 hours in 80% and within 72 hours in 90%, although the onset can be immediately after the procedure or delayed for as long as 14 days. The duration of the headache is less than 5 days in about 80%, although the headache can persist for 12 months. The headache is usually but not always bilateral and may be characterized by frontal, occipital, or generalized pressure or throbbing occurring when the patient is upright, and diminishing or resolving when supine. The headache worsens with head movement, coughing, straining, sneezing, and jugular venous compression. The longer the patient is upright, the longer the time before the headache subsides when lying flat. In one series, additional symptoms were present in the following percentages: neck stiffness, 43%; nausea, 66%; vomiting, 27%; cochlear symptoms, 15%; and ocular symptoms, 12%.[7] In another series, nausea and vomiting were present in 22% and 2% of patients, respectively. Pathophysiology The cause of PDPH is not entirely certain. The best explanation is that the CSF pressure falls as the CSF leaks through a dural and arachnoid tear produced by the puncture, and the leakage exceeds the rate of CSF production. This CSF hypotension can produce headache and cranial nerve symptoms through a downward descent of the brain, stretching pain-sensitive structures including the dura, nerves (cranial nerves V, IX, and X, and the upper 3 cervical nerves), and bridging veins. Secondarily, intracranial venous dilatation and increased brain volume occur as the veins passively dilate in response to decreased extravascular pressure. Substance P levels in plasma (and presumably CSF) rise after lumbar puncture. Patients with low CSF substance P levels are 3 times more likely to develop PDPH than those with higher levels. Thus, PDPH may be mediated by the release of substance P after lumbar puncture in those with low levels of substance P and receptor-mediated hypersensitivity For patients who do not relish the prospect of a number of days at bed rest, there are other effective treatments. Oral caffeine 300 mg every 4-6 hours is worth trying initially, although the relief may be transient. Intravenous caffeine sodium benzoate given as a slow intravenous bolus of 500 mg may initially relieve headache in 75% but permanent relief in only 50%.Caution should be used in patients with coronary artery disease or seizure disorders. The epidural blood patch is the most effective treatment, with a success rate of 85% after 1 treatment and 98% after a second. Basically, the deal is this: Lie flat and get someone to get you migraine medicine (contains caffeine and pain relief or call the doctor and have him call you in relief. You don't need to suffer. Feel better soon.

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Answer 5

I had a spinal tap a few years ago and the puncture didn't heal right and I lost quiet a bit of fluid. I had headaches so bad that I would just black-out. Has your doctor tried doing an epidural blood patch? here is a link for you to read.. http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/central/csf-leak.html
I hope you get rid of you pain soon.

Answer 6

lumbar puncture pain headaches

Answer 7

Don't use Medical doctors.Chiropractors are for real. I have actually been healed in one visit. They got rid of a sciatic nerve condition that is the most painful ever.Trust me they do wonders.Be sure you get references there are some better than others. always better than the knife!

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Did you already tried using Back Pain Relief 4 Life mechanism? Proceed to this url : http://BackPainInstantRelief.com/ . This is able to extremely manage one and all!

Answer 10

go back to the docs for it to be cecked out..it dont sound too good....