Question 1

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 2

what is a spinal tap ?

Accepted Answer

Spinal Tap or: Lumbar puncture is a medical procedure to remove cerebrospinal fluid from your spine so that it can be evaluated in a lab.

Question 3

what medication is in a spinal tap?

Accepted Answer

Lidocaine : No medicine is injected in the spinal canal in a diagnostic spinal tap. Small amounts of anesthetic are injected in the soft tissues to control local pain.

Question 4

what is the cause of my spinal tap pain?

Accepted Answer

Spinal tap pain: Sometimes patients have a "spinal headache" following lumbar puncture ("spinal tap") because a small amount of fluid continues to leak from the site. In other patients, pain occurs because bleeding or infection has occured in the area. In any of these cases, it is exceedingly important to report these symptoms to your doctor so that you can be diagnosed and managed appropriately!

Question 5

why am i experiencing continuing pain from a spinal tap in 1998?

Accepted Answer

Something else: That is very unusual for a small puncture from a spinal tap to cause long lasting pain. There are usually other causes in the low back that can produce pain in the same area. 

A thorough evaluation is recommended to rule out other reasons for pain.

Question 6

how is a spinal tap procedure done?

Accepted Answer

Carefully: Generally, the patient is placed on their side, the area in the lumbar region is then sterily cleaned.  A local anesthetic is infused in  the region of the planned procedure.  Finally, a needle is introduced and advanced into the sub-arachnoid space till spinal fluid is encountered.  Usually, an opening pressure is measured and spinal fluid is sent for analysis.

Question 7

what can a spinal tap find besides ms?

Accepted Answer

Many things.: Spinal fluid can demonstrate blood, white blood cells, bacteria, fungus, abnormalities of protein, sugar, etc. We also measure pressure of the spinal fluid which can be very helpful.

Question 8

did i have a botched spinal tap? headache.

Accepted Answer

Maybe: Headache is common after a spinal tap, and is classically worse with sitting or standing up and better with lying down.  While post-tap headache usually improves with time, fluids, and caffeine, it sometimes requires a procedure known as a blood patch to make it go away.

Question 9

common tests for leukemia involve spinal tap?

Accepted Answer

Leukemia/spinal tap: Several types of leukemia have a predilection for the spinal fluid. A lumbar puncture ("spinal tap") is performed to look for leukemic involvement of the spinal fluid and to give chemotherapy directly into this area, either as a preventive therapy or an actual treatment.

Question 10

for how long do spinal tap side effects last?

Accepted Answer

Spinal taps: Usually the symptoms and of headache and back pain resolve fairly quickly, usually within 24 to 48 hours. If the symptoms seem to be worsening bed rest is the best treatment.

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Doctor answers about:

Spinal tap vs epidural

A member asked:

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

A member asked:

What is a spinal tap ?

A member asked:

What medication is in a spinal tap?

A member asked:

What is the cause of my spinal tap pain?

A member asked:

Why am i experiencing continuing pain from a spinal tap in 1998?

A member asked:

How is a spinal tap procedure done?

A member asked:

What can a spinal tap find besides ms?

A member asked:

Did i have a botched spinal tap? headache.

A member asked:

Common tests for leukemia involve spinal tap?

A member asked:

For how long do spinal tap side effects last?

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