Lumbar puncture

[bridgetreilly]

Has anyone had one? Are they always as awful as they sound? I have to have one and am terrified! Talk me down?

Anyone?

my dh had one recently and it didn`t appear to give him any discomfort whatsoever. I am sure it will be fine.

I had one about fifteen years ago, the thought was definitely much worse than I remember it actually being. Hope it all goes okay for you.

I had one a few years ago. It honestly wasn't as bad as you imagine. But the best advice I can give you is lie down as long as possible afterwards and drink caffeinated drinks so that you avoid the post LP headache.

Have done them but not had one - they are worse than they sound and over very quickly.

Lie down afterwards for as long as possible, then lie down some more.

Nowhere near as bad as they sound. As others have said, lie down for as long as possible after. Painkillers with caffeine in and home to carry on being horizontal as long as you can.
Honestly, the build up is worse. They really are fine.

Yup as everyone says it’s the recovery rather than the procedure. During mine I felt like funny shooting pains but not painful, more like when you bang your funny bone. I was bed bound for days with dizziness and headache, standing up was horrendous. But my spinal fluid pressure was through the roof and loads was drained off so I think my side effects were severe.

I've had a few. They struggled to get it in a few times, once I had to come back in and do it under X-ray. But it was ok, as others have said the thought is the worst bit! Just try and curl up as much as you can (they will direct), stay still and (this is the tricky bit) try to relax! I didn’t have much of a headache after, had one before which is why I had it which disappeared! Hope it goes well.

Thanks everyone! I am trying not to freak out about it, so this definitely helps.

I did find it painful, but not excessively so. I felt a weird kind of tugging/pulling sensation, which I didn't like. It took longer than I was expecting. I definitely got the headache afterwards whenever I wasn't lying down. But all in all nowhere near as bad as I was expecting.

I had one a couple of years ago. Didn't hurt at all and felt totally normal afterwards.

I had one last year. Mine was done by a lovely physician assistant (specialist nurse) who does them all day every day. It was absolutely fine and I didn't have any problems afterwards. TBH it was one of the least uncomfortable procedures I have had over the last few years, and I have lost count of the number of things involving needles that I have had done to me.

I've had 2 this year. Really wasn't as bad as U thought. Worse bit is the local anaesthetic going in. After that no pain. Just felt a bit of pressure.

Have some coffee afterwards. And lie down for as long as possible.

The after effects were worse with the 2nd one as more fluid was taken. I felt sick & dizzy when upright for about 4 days. I was fine lying down.

You feel a bit bruised for a few days but nothing major. I didn't need painkillers either time.

Please don't worry. I wouldn't be bothered about having another one.

Good luck 💐

I've had one. The procedure itself wasn't painful at all, although I could feel it banging against my spine while they were trying to find the right spot!

I followed all the advice but the drinking lots of caffeinated drinks afterwards made me have to get up and go to the loo so I probably didn't lie down as long as I should have so I had the worst headaches for about a week afterwards. Have codeine to hand at home ready just in case.

Really helpful, thank you all. It is now booked in for January so I shall try to forget all about it over Christmas.