Question 1

i had spinal tap to check for prion diseases. during procedure blood or fluid came out, if i touched area after, could that travel to family i touched?

Accepted Answer

Prion: No likely. Did they find prions?

Question 2

what to do if i have a question involving a spinal tap blood patch?

Accepted Answer

Always ask doctor!: Never consent to any procedure unless all your questions have been answered. A blood patch is usually done to treat headache caused by a spinal tap, or occasionally by an epidural. The blood patch stops the leak of spinal fluid that causes the headache. Usually, this is done by a physician anesthesiologist who will be happy to answer any questions about it.

Question 3

spinal tap headache. whats a blood patch?

Accepted Answer

See below: A spinal tap headache is due to CSF leaking thru the puncture site in the dura following a spinal tap. Normally the puncture closes following the tap .During  a blood patch, is a sample of your own blood is placed in the area outside the dura by a spinal tap. The blood clots, closing the puncture site and the headache resolves. The blood is reabsorbed over time.

Question 4

very ill after normal spinal tap and and follow up epidural blood patch. what could it be?

Accepted Answer

Postdural puncture: This sounds like you had a postdural puncture headache, which is a headache that improves after lying down.  Bed rest, fluids and caffeine usually resolve the problem after several days, but sometimes a blood patch is needed to fix the issue.

Question 5

spinal headache due to spinal tap, a blood patch was given. the headache was gone and is now returning.  what should be done?

Accepted Answer

Spinal headache: After a spinal tap or lumbar puncture, patients can suffer low pressure or spinal headaches due to persistent leakage of spinal fluid through the puncture site. The usual treatment is to lay flat and drink fluids. Occasionally a blood patch is required to stop the headaches. Rarely, a second blood patch is required. Check with the physician to determine if the headaches are spinal in origin.

Question 6

i continually feel flu symptoms, spinal tap and all blood panels normal. dr suspects fibromyalgia. any other tests i should ask for?

Accepted Answer

Not enough info: There are specific diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia. See a rheumatologist. The diagnosis of fibromyalgia is not a difficult one to make. I have no idea why a spinal tap would be done if fibromyalgia is suspected.

Question 7

i just had a spinal tap for ms. i also had blood drawn at the same time. what are the looking when comparing the spinal tap and blood?

Accepted Answer

MS: The CSF (spinal tap) will show elevated levels of immunoglobulins (oligoclonal bands and igg). The blood test will be to not only check for other diseases and disorders that can mimic ms (infectious, rheumatological, etc) but also to check igg and Albumin index in the blood. Measuring the igg index in the CSF vs blood as well as CSF oligoclonal bands are used to help determine if a person has ms.

Question 8

i had a spinal tap done about two months + ago, and a blood patch 3 days later. i now have the worst back pain that is only getting worse every day?

Accepted Answer

Most to least common: Reasons usually are pelvic imbalance and core weakening, psoas muscle spasm, scar tissue formation around the cord and nerve roots causing pain syndrome commonly seen in patients after back surgery called post laminectomy syndrome.

Question 9

constant flu symptoms but normal blood work, could a recent spinal tap have triggered fibromyalgia or something else?

Accepted Answer

Spinal tap: A spinal tap (lumbar puncture) will not trigger the flu or fibromyalgia. Additional imaging tests and blood work may provide answers to the flu-like symptoms. See your medical doctor.

Question 10

i had a spinal tap about 15 days ago. then a blood patch 13 days ago. since the patch, my symptoms have gotten worse. headache,  pain in neck.

Accepted Answer

Patch did'nt work: The blood patch usually stop the headaches immediately. If it did not, you might need a second one.

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Doctor answers about:

Blood in spinal tap fluid

A member asked:

I had spinal tap to check for prion diseases. during procedure blood or fluid came out, if i touched area after, could that travel to family i touched?

A member asked:

What to do if i have a question involving a spinal tap blood patch?

A member asked:

Spinal tap headache. whats a blood patch?

A member asked:

Very ill after normal spinal tap and and follow up epidural blood patch. what could it be?

A member asked:

Spinal headache due to spinal tap, a blood patch was given. the headache was gone and is now returning. what should be done?

A member asked:

I continually feel flu symptoms, spinal tap and all blood panels normal. dr suspects fibromyalgia. any other tests i should ask for?

A member asked:

I just had a spinal tap for ms. i also had blood drawn at the same time. what are the looking when comparing the spinal tap and blood?

A member asked:

I had a spinal tap done about two months + ago, and a blood patch 3 days later. i now have the worst back pain that is only getting worse every day?

A member asked:

Constant flu symptoms but normal blood work, could a recent spinal tap have triggered fibromyalgia or something else?

A member asked:

I had a spinal tap about 15 days ago. then a blood patch 13 days ago. since the patch, my symptoms have gotten worse. headache, pain in neck.

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