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Lumbar Puncture

Posted , 5 users are following.

Misssy2
Misssy2

I'm not thrilled about having this...but since I have many symptoms of MS...without lesions in the perfect places...but I have many lesions.

They told me to diagnose with MS...If I showed multiple bands on the Lumbar puncture than they would diagnose.

How did you feel after your Lumbar Puncture?

 

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • wendy80842
    wendy80842 Misssy2

    Posted

    After mine, I had a really bad headache, for a few days, which is a common after effect. It's far less likely now, I've read, but I was LP'd in 2004 (doesn't time fly?). It is better to have one done, to have a clearer picture. Back in the day, I was diagnosed in spite of them not finding any brain lesions, at the time. At least LP's are pretty quick.

    • Misssy2
      Misssy2 wendy80842

      Posted

      Well I don't know what takes 4 HOURS..LOL.

      The lady told me to get there at 10am and have someone to pick me up at 2pm.  

      She did say it was a simple test...but the time is used for recovery time.  Great.

      Thank you for the reply

    • Misssy2
      Misssy2 wendy80842

      Posted

      And again...thank you for reply because I want to make sure if I do have a headache it is ok to take the prescription med I have for headaches.
  • Can0814
    Can0814 Misssy2

    Posted

    Hi there! My LP was last Wednesday. Still waiting on results. I also had the spinal headache. I couldn't stand for 6 days. I'm terrified of needles and put the test off for several months but the LP wasn't that bad honestly it just took longer than I thought it would. About an hour total. Good luck to you! If you get a headache just lay flat until it goes away...

    • Misssy2
      Misssy2 Can0814

      Posted

      Good luck with your results..I'm curious to know what they were.

  • wendy80842
    wendy80842 Misssy2

    Posted

    When I had mine, I was told that I had to lay flat on my back for 2 hours, after LP, or it was likely that it would result in terrible headaches. I got them anyway. I think most of mine were, because they told me to drink large amounts of water, I stopped drinking my usual large amounts of VERY strong tea, and I might have gone into caffeine withdrawal, which can cause terrible headaches, yeah, probably that. ;-)

    • Misssy2
      Misssy2 wendy80842

      Posted

      Thank you wendy....I am not looking forward to having headaches...at all...I already suffer from migraines....ugh.

      What were your results? If you don't mind.

    • wendy80842
      wendy80842 Misssy2

      Posted

      They found oligoclonic bands, along with lots of lesions around my upper spinal cord, I got my MS diagnosis (in 2004, I feel so old, yelp).
  • Elena_Romo
    Elena_Romo Misssy2

    Posted

    Hi Missy2. My experience with the lumbar puncture was not very pleasant, but everyone is different. When the procedure was actually being done it felt like someone was taking a screwdriver and scraping my spine from the inside. Mind you it wasn't painful. Just uncomfortable. That was actually the easy part. The next day I had a horrible migraine. I was only able to stand or sit for no more than 10 minutes at a time before having to lay down. The migraine went away. Then again up for 10 minutes then back down again. It felt like all the blood was leaving my head. Very severe migraine. I had to go to the ER. They wanted to go back in and do what they called a blood patch. Apparently where they went in the previous day had a leak and didn't patch as it should have. I was very hesitant because of the uncomfortable experience of the procedure. But the migraine was so bad I went ahead. Mind you this is a side effect for some, but not all. The only reason for the LP was because I got a new Neurologist. The first time I was diagnosed my Dr. Just had me do an MRI. I personally don't know why a LP vs. an MRI.

    • Misssy2
      Misssy2 Elena_Romo

      Posted

      Well I know an LP is more indicative than an MRI since we should onlly have one band in the LP or none...vs. many.

      And the MRI on the brain...I have a bunch of lesions but was told not in the McDonald criteria areas.  So they proceed to the LP.

      I don't like that everyone that has responded has had a migraine.

       

    • wendy80842
      wendy80842 Misssy2

      Posted

      I'm sure that you already know, Missy, as you're clearly very well informed, but, while you can end up with a few days of headaches (mine was pretty relentless, for a while, but wasn't a migraine) if someone elects to not have a LP done, there might be a question about the diagnosis given, if a diagnosis WAS given without LP. I hate needles, always have, but I'm glad I had it.

      If your neurologist is using McDonald's criteria, the standards have been changed, for years, apparently the standards were regarded as far too strict.

  • christy82965
    christy82965 Misssy2

    Posted

    I have lesions all over my brain just as you.  Many symptoms of MS.  They are sending me for a LP Monday.  I am very scared because I have a herniated disc, degenerated disc disease, bone spurs, arthritis, along with a hosts of other things wrong with the area where they gather the fluid.  I called and ask the nurse in the neuros office and she informed me they have had issues with other patients with problems like mine and I just need to inform the radiologist.  

    I really do not want to go through with this.  I would like them to be able to diagnose this another way if possible.  Very scary.

    • Misssy2
      Misssy2 christy82965

      Posted

      Hi christy...yea...I'm not a big fan of this at all.

      And I have been avoiding this for 3 months.

      The Neurologist asked why I didn't go and I just said I was scared.  So now my appointment is Sept 9th.

      Let me know how you do if you remember?

       

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