Question 1

how can i prepare for a lumbar puncture?

Accepted Answer

Relax!: Simply said, your expectations and advice from others, regardless of how well they mean, can put a ton of stress and tension on you. A lumbar puncture is a fairly painless procedure. Staying as still as you can during and then laying down after are the two main things you should do. Otherwise, in experienced hands, the procedure is safe and fairly painless.

Question 2

what is a lumbar puncture?

Accepted Answer

Diagnostic test: A lumbar puncture is a test where a needle is inserted into the spinal canal to draw out a small amount of cerebral spinal fluid for diagnostic testing purposes, such as diagnosing meningitis.

Question 3

whats a lumbar puncture likes?

Accepted Answer

Bee sting: The worst part of the lumbar puncture is the bee sting when you get local anesthesia injected.  After that you should just feel some pressure in your back and not too much pain.

Question 4

how is lumbar puncture performed?

Accepted Answer

Carefully :): Lp is typically performed in the office.  You will lie on your side curled up into a tight ball.  After sterilizing the area, local anesthetic is injected into the skin at the small of the back, and then a spinal needle is advanced between the vertebrae into the spinal canal.  Once in the canal, the fluid pressure is measured and fluid is removed for analysis.  Total time is typically 20 mins.

Question 5

how risky is the lumbar puncture?

Accepted Answer

LP: Lumbar puncture these days is done for diagnostic as well as anesthetic purposes. The needles used now are pencil point and the anesthetic agents injected are preservative free. So in experienced hands, there is no danger. However, if done above the level of L2, it has a potential of damaging the spinal cord.

Question 6

what will happen during a lumbar puncture?

Accepted Answer

Lumbar puncture (LP): Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) bathes brain & spinal cord (cns). CSF may be abnormal in some diseases. In an lp, you are either on your side or sitting. Md feels lower back for interspace between 4th & 5th lumbar vertebrae, below end of cns. Lidocaine is injected. 3” hollow needle is inserted thru interspace & into sac holding CNS & csf. Md collects CSF (usually ~1 tsp) into 3-4 tubes. CSF sent to lab.

Question 7

what do you advise if i had lumbar puncture?

Accepted Answer

Lumbar puncture: The advice is mostly based on why the procedure was done. The key advice is to discuss with the physician why the procedure was done, were there any unusual results for findings and do you need any further treatment for the reason the puncture was done.

Question 8

getting a lumbar puncture, how serious is this?

Accepted Answer

Lumbar puncture: A lumbar puncture is a common diagnostic procedure with quite low risks and great benefits. Risk of injury to a nerve is quite low, under 2% and risk of infection extremely low.  If indicated the fluid obtained can provide a good deal of useful information.

Question 9

i would  like  to know  what  is lumbar  puncture?

Accepted Answer

Spinal tap: Needle inserted into lower back area into spinal canal to obtain spinal fluid for testing.  Can evaluate possible infection, multiple sclerosis, various other diseases of brain and spinal cord.

Question 10

what are the affects of getting a lumbar puncture?

Accepted Answer

Headache: It is common to experience a headache after an lp.  Otherwise the effects are fairly minimal.  The headache can be pretty bad, but they are very treatable.

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How can I prepare for a lumbar puncture

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How can i prepare for a lumbar puncture?

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How is lumbar puncture performed?

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How risky is the lumbar puncture?

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What will happen during a lumbar puncture?

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What do you advise if i had lumbar puncture?

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Getting a lumbar puncture, how serious is this?

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I would like to know what is lumbar puncture?

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What are the affects of getting a lumbar puncture?

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