Extreme Constant Back and Neck Pain After a Lumber Puncture

Hi Summer, its been 7 months today since I had the LP and I am still in pain but not near as much. After about 3.5 or 4 months the pain in my back and neck started to localize in my upper back and neck. It did get better but I am still not where I was before this started. I still can't bend over all the way without being in extreme pain. It took me a long time to even get any doctors to believe me because this is so abnormal to happen after a LP. I am still not working because I can't bend over all the way or pick up objects. Something did happen because of this though. I was diagnosed almost 2 months ago with fibromyalgia. Now they aren't certain about what causes Fibro but, they think it can come from Physical or emotional trauma with the pain for 7 months did. So i believe that the LP caused me to have fibromyalgia. If you are still hurting go back to your doctor because something is wrong. You shouldn't be hurting like this after a LP.

I would make sure u beleive that diagnosis. I am not a dr and i am not saying dr is wrong. Just my neurologist sent me to get checked for fibromyalgia cause she started saying that to. The dr i went to said you dont just wake up with it like that and you would be surprised how many people with csf issues get misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia. She said im sending a report back to your dr that they need to look at cause and effect you were fine then had a lp and now arnet they need to look at that. Again not saying your dx is wrong just letting you know my experience.

I also have had a LP, after getting it done I couldn't lift my head fir almost a week the headache and pressure was so bad, worse than before. Now three to four weeks later I cant sort of bend forward and I get terrible pain where I git the LP, also I've always got a stiff neck. can anyone help please

i know this is years old .... but did you happen to recover from your LP ?!! im on the forums looking for similiar stories i need hope this neck pain will go away its debilitating and been months !!! hopefully you see this

i know this is old ... did you recover from the lumbar puncture ? im feeling the exact same way 

I too am having moderate back pain after LP. I can’t believe I let them touch my spine. I also have awful neck and head pain. It’s been 2 months since my LP. It feels worse when sitting like so much pressure up my spine  

Yes, agree. Sitting does make it worse. I have that same feeling. I did find a neurologist who now saif even though its late doesn't mean they cant do a blood patch. So they teied one that day but they couldnt get blood from me. Only got 4cc and needed more. They said my blood kept clotting before they could get to put it in. Thwy are going to attempt again next week. In the mean time they gave me a pain pill that helps but isnt great and said they can do spinal injectables for back pain but i don't really want that. I almost feel like its to high pressure not low like a leak but she thinks its a leak. I told her if you are wrong and no leak will it make my pressure higher? She said no just circulates through. It really is an awful feeling though. I am sorry you feel this way as well. I can't even sit for my 8 hours a day job. Its been a struggle. Just hope one day i become normal.

What are your other symptoms Summer? I have extreme neck and back of head pain as well as developed hyperacusis which is severe pain in my ears please keep me updated on your blood patch. Did your neuro say leak can cause the pressure and pain in the spine? Worse when sitting? 

Blind patch didn't work. They have checked everything in mri and ct and say looks fine. Definitely isn't fine. I was hikeing and active before and now hurt all the time and cant sit to work. Anyways i have pain in the neck and back of the head, also upper spine, and lastly ringing in the ears. at this point i am pushing for someone to check my pressure cause maybe its high instead of low. Problem is they say mris and stuff dont really accurately tell about pressure. So checking means another lp. I dont know id want to do that what do u think?

Blood patch not blind patch

Ughhh. Not good. I wish I could rewind and say no to the LP. Maybe the blood patch takes some time?? Or maybe you need to do a 2nd patch? I don’t think I would do another LP after this experience. Perhaps the symptoms will lessen with time  

I have to hope it will go away with time

I see to many stories that theirs didn't though. i am worried its like to much pressure. I saw someone somewhere say they had to much pressure after. Idk anymore. They did look at things do mri and a ct and say all looks normal. I have no idea. Its crazy drs look at u like your nuts i feel. My dr was like i havent heard of neck and back really but back of head yes. Which is why she tried blood patch. I wish everyday i could go back. I used to hike weekly and do yoga now i barley do stuff cause the neck pain is so bothersome. The upper back is to but the neck bothers me more.

Summer, 

Ask yo try a medicine called Diamox. It would help with high presssure headache. If it doesn’t help it’s probanly still low pressure. I wish I could go back too. My life has been turned upside down.  I’m so sorry My Dr today did say it is low pressure spinal headaches etc. I will see a new neurologist in a couple of weeks and hope to have another mri done. I’ll let you know what she says. Also my Dr said this usually works itself out over time. I saw somewhere the longest spinal tap headache on record was 19 months. But of course there are those who suffer daily and don’t know why. I’ll let you know what the new neuro suggests. 

A recent visit to the er they did give me that ned. I didnt take it cause i wanted to ask my neuro first. I asked her and she said thing with that is if it isnt high pressure it will make your headache even worse i got scared and havent taken it. its all scary to me now. Ringing in my ears getting so loud and they never checked my pressure in the lp so.