Anyone ever had a spinal tap before?

[Goosemaster]

my mom took ill and had to be admitted to the emergency room.

I was really shocked when they said that they gave her a lumbar puncture:Q No one seems to know what caused her fever (something similar and jsut and weird has happened before), but either way, they weren't messing around. They are really covering all the bases.

So, to my question, has anyone ever had one before? How much did it hurt? From the sounds of it, it sounds excrutiatingly painful...when I got there she was pretty out of it, but they told me that she had not been sedated or anything.

 

[Goosemaster]

And if anyoen mentions the movie...well, actually, it was a really good movie so feel free to make references

 

[Slew Foot]

Its not terribly painful, as an Anesthesiologist, I give spinal's to people all the time (almost the same thing as an LP). Assuming the doc numbs up the skin right and isnt fishing around trying to find the right spot, should be a piece of cake.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
Its not terribly painful, as an Anesthesiologist, I give spinal's to people all the time (almost the same thing as an LP). Assuming the doc numbs up the skin right and isnt fishing around trying to find the right spot, should be a piece of cake.

that's good to hear

I jsut don't want her to be in any pain right now...she's really disoriented and weak.

 

[drum]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
And if anyoen mentions the movie...well, actually, it was a really good movie so feel free to make references

:laugh:

those are the only replies you're going to get!!!!

I had one at 11am once

 

[TraumaRN]

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
Its not terribly painful, as an Anesthesiologist, I give spinal's to people all the time (almost the same thing as an LP). Assuming the doc numbs up the skin right and isnt fishing around trying to find the right spot, should be a piece of cake.

I'll definitely back you up, seen plenty and assisted on more than a few spinals and lumbar puncs and if done correctly, they shouldnt feel anything more than a little pressure if anything.

If they hit bone or the wrong spot....well...ouch

<------student nurse/soon to be nurse...

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: DeathBUA

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
Its not terribly painful, as an Anesthesiologist, I give spinal's to people all the time (almost the same thing as an LP). Assuming the doc numbs up the skin right and isnt fishing around trying to find the right spot, should be a piece of cake.

I'll definitely back you up, seen plenty and assisted on more than a few spinals and lumbar puncs and if done correctly, they shouldnt feel anything more than a little pressure if anything.

If they hit bone or the wrong spot....well...ouch

<------student nurse/soon to be nurse...

Like I said, I am jsut glad that it was not painful..they gave her a battery of tests, and that one spooked me....

 

[Coquito]

My mother had one done twice. On both occasions, she was in bed with body aches most of the next day.

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
Its not terribly painful, as an Anesthesiologist, I give spinal's to people all the time (almost the same thing as an LP). Assuming the doc numbs up the skin right and isnt fishing around trying to find the right spot, should be a piece of cake.

My wife had it done at a military hospital in Okinawa (Navy), and they were extremely inept. She had something like 42 punctures attempting to get the fluid and wound up with a fist-sized bruise on her lower back. Partially as a result of that, she wound up in bed for three days.

Navy medicine sucks.

 

[Hecubus28]

I had one done a few years ago. Just felt like a little pressure. I was on a lot of pain killers at the time so I probally wouldn't have felt it if it did hurt.

The thing that did hurt though, is the headaches that I got a few days after it happened. The doctor said it is somewhat common for the hole not to clot and when you stand up some of the spinal fluid leaks out causing headaches.

Worst headache I have ever had.

 

[Dulanic]

I've had one done. No problems what so ever, honestly I was laying on my side and never really even knew he was doing it besides the little... I dunno how to explain it... like a pinch but it felt like it was inside you, was a weird feeling but it did not hurt.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: AndrewR

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
Its not terribly painful, as an Anesthesiologist, I give spinal's to people all the time (almost the same thing as an LP). Assuming the doc numbs up the skin right and isnt fishing around trying to find the right spot, should be a piece of cake.

My wife had it done at a military hospital in Okinawa (Navy), and they were extremely inept. She had something like 42 punctures attempting to get the fluid and wound up with a fist-sized bruise on her lower back. Partially as a result of that, she wound up in bed for three days.

Navy medicine sucks.

:shocked:

 

[krunchykrome]

About 5 months ago, I got severe sports headaches. It was only until I visited a headache institute that I found out what the problem was. Prior to that, I had been in and out of hospitals. Among the tests I went through, one of them was a spinal tap. I told them to knock me the f out. So, I actualyl didnt feel much, although I was wide awake. However, the next couple of days were painful. She should spend 2-3 days after the spinal tap just laying around the house and make sure she has pain meds. I made the mistake of going white water rafting the very next day and camping for the next two nights.

 

[davew0670]

Ive had one. I was so out of it, I didnt even know it happened. My wife said it looked like it would have hurt pretty bad though.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: davew0670
Ive had one. I was so out of it, I didnt even know it happened. My wife said it looked like it would have hurt pretty bad though.

Yea, lol, my girlfriend was in the room with me and she said that I was making everyone laugh because I kept talking about cheeseburgers and margaritas.