has anyone ever had a spinal tap?

Question

if so was it painful? What were they looking for and during the test did they give you the option if you wanted to be completly out? Were you able to see the fluid that was taken out and did they tell you what it meant?

I am getting so may good answers but, wanted to add this, what do they look for when doing a spinal injection, or what could the spinal tap mean with blood or cloudy fluid, like what diseases would show?

Answer 1

Spinal tap also call lumbar puncture,is a procedure to obtain csf for analysis to find out;infection,bleeding,certain inf lamination condition such MS,gillan-Barre syndrome and cancer.For analysis to find out csf contain amount;portent,glucose,blood,wbc and bacteria and fungus..complication(or side effects) including; headache,herniation(uncommon due to high intracranial pressure can push the brain to get squeezed into the direction of spinal cord),bleeding(due to trauma of the procedure)Epidermoid cyst(due to inplanted of epidermoid to spinal canal).This procedure is not very painful.For most common is headache after tap can drink a lot of fluid to reduce this problem.Csf is clear if bloody or cloudy will possible of infection.

Answer 2

Spinal Tap Pain

Answer 3

I had one a couple of years ago and it was no biggy really.
The neurosurgeon I had at the time was doing many tests on me over a short time period trying to diagnose why I had lost the use of my left leg.
The lumbar puncture (spinal tap) was just one of them. You do get a local freezing where they do it and there is another person there to make sure you stay in the correct postion on your side while the doctor does the procedure. It acutally didn't take long and yes I did feel the pressure but really it wasn't painful. I then just needed to lay there for a while before getting up and going on my way.
She did tell me at the time that my fluid was clear - which was a good sign... then later told me everything was fine with the fluid.
But basically the three of us just chatted throughout the whole procedure. Relax if you are going in to have one done - if you are really nervous let your doctor know ahead of time.

Answer 4

I've had numerous spinal procedures. They were all painful and I was awake for all of them. I was not awake when I had a disc removed at L5-S1. For most of the procedures, I was given an IV with pain medication. I had a Myleogram a few years ago in which the doctor did not give me anything at all. I was kinda pissed. But I've been dealing with this for about 30 years, due to a terrible car accident. For the past year I've been getting injections because my broken neck is bothering me and the spots in my spine that were broken are too. I will probably have to have surgery. Do not EVER get into a car with someone who has been drinking!

Answer 5

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RE:
has anyone ever had a spinal tap?
if so was it painful? What were they looking for and during the test did they give you the option if you wanted to be completly out? Were you able to see the fluid that was taken out and did they tell you what it meant?

Answer 6

Anything with a needle is painful if you ask me! :o) But they do numb the area. It is uncomfortable, but bearable. If you have a low pain tolerance, I would suggest being sedated if possible. It's usually not enough to "knock" you out, but you may think you are and probably won't remember it. It is very important also that you lay very still, so again, if you think you can't lay still, ask for sedation. Also, you'll want to lay down for a while after the procedure so minimize the risk of a "spinal" headache. I hope this helps you.

Answer 7

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Hi Funny that you ask the question at this time. I just had a minor operation last Wednesday(May 28) and I had a spinal. When the needle was inserted in my middle back,it was really nothing,hardly felt it. It was weird when I woke up. I had thought the the surgeon had cut my legs off.No feeling from belly button down. It was about three hours later when i could feel anything. How the nurse checked is to slap my butt as that the last to get full feeling back. Why do you ask?

Answer 8

I had one almost a year ago. They put me under and I just remember a little bit of pinching in my lower back because of the needle. They were testing to see if I had meningitis. The actual spinal tap didn't hurt but the recovery was absolutely awful. The first couple days were hell, the pressure in my hips was unbearable and I couldn't lay flat on my back. I couldn't sleep because I couldn't lay down so I was constantly cranky. I went back to get painkillers from my doctor on around the 3rd day. I recovered around a full week and I could walk straight and sleep comfortably. I've heard it's one of the most painful things to recover from.

Answer 9

As a child I had fever and a headache so severe that the pain of the spinal tap was nothing.

Answer 10

it could be painful, but they can inject some medicine to numb that area.

they want to get the csf (cerebral spinal fluid), the fluid inside that is supporting the spine and the rest of the brain. so they can see if it has blood, bacteria, pus, etc.

you can't take the fluid completely out, your brain and spinal cord is floating in the fluid, it helps to reduce damage, etc.

if the fluid is clear, you are most likely safe. if they see blood, or cloudy fluid. they probably have to send it to the lab for further test.

you will most likely be awake when they do that, so afterwards, you can ask to see the fluid.