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Original poster

Lumbar puncture

7 replies

whosebrain · 17/03/2012 08:12

My 12 year old daughter had a lumbar puncture three weeks ago to measure the pressure of the spinal fluid in the brain (it took us 2 years to pluck up the courage to do it - results came back as no raised pressure) and has complained of terrible back pain ever since. She has been unable to sit up or walk for more than 5 minutes since. Has anyone else experienced this? She has suffered from constant migraines for the past two years and we are desperately trying to get to the bottom of what is causing them. I took her to A & E the evening after the lumbar puncture and the doctor there said that she should have stayed in the hospital and rested for a lot longer than the 3.5 hours they allowed her to rest.

OP posts:

mrsjerryfish · 17/03/2012 13:30

Anyone had a bad experience after a lumbar puncture?

moosemama · 17/03/2012 13:40

Yes me. I had a lumbar puncture just before New Year and it took a few weeks for the backpain to subside. I felt like I'd been kicked in the back and the pain spread horizontally across the width of my back as well, rather than just being around the injection site.

I also got the lovely post LP headaches, so spent the best part of a month laying flat out recovering.

I was told I could leave after an hour by the registrar that did my LP, but the ward sister told me two and a half hours. I left after the two and a half hours of lying flat and then lay completely flat for 48 hours at home, but it didn't make any difference.

I don't think there's much they can do about it really. If it was really bad headaches they could do a blood patch, but if its back pain they just tell you to take anti-inflammatories and rest.

I would probably take her to get the injection site checked though, just to be on the safe side - in case of infection.

I suffered from severe complex migraine for years, I feel for your dd as its a horrible affliction that really dominates your life. I used to be bedridden for weeks at a time with them. Eventually, about six years ago, I went on the epilepsy drug Topiramate/Topomax for six months and have only had a couple of migraines ever since - and they were nowhere near as bad. The treatment itself is horrible and the side effects were awful, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat, as it literally changed my life.

Hope she feels better soon.

mrsjerryfish · 17/03/2012 15:38

Thank you so much for that. I will speak to her paediatrician about the drug. I am at my wits end. It is affecting her schooling so much. She does enjoy going but it is impossible for her to attend at the moment. We have the possibility of a tutor via the local authority but only if she stays out of school which I think is rather mean as it is penalising her for trying to get to school. I will then have to look into private tutors who would have to be very sympathetic to her health needs.

I hope you are OK too.

moosemama · 17/03/2012 19:42

Your poor dd. It does sound as if she's as badly affected as I was. Has she had an MRI done as well as a Lumbar Puncture? Not sure if they do Topomax treatment for children, but its worth asking.

I am OK thanks. My LP was for something completely unrelated.

tunaday · 18/03/2012 17:31

Poor dd :( My dd was admitted to hosp a few months ago with suspected meningitis. Turned out to be a reaction to a new drug for her ulcerative colitis. Anyhow they did a lumbar puncture and she had crashing headaches and backache for nearly 2 weeks after and had to have a week off work and literally was flat on her back. The pain gradually started to subside but she said it was absolutely awful. Hope dd much better soon.

mrsjerryfish · 02/04/2012 12:17

dd now on the road to recovery but still suffering with some back pain. However she walked a mile yesterday so feeling more confident now. Thanks so much for the support and info.

homeaway · 02/04/2012 16:48

My db had one and it took him quite a while to get over it and he had headaches aftewards as well. Have you looked a diet as a cause of migraines ? My mother suffers from them and her triggers are coffee, chocolate, cheese . On the health clinic series on tv there was a little boy who had migraines that were caused by a preservative that they put in processed meats so things like ham, hot dogs etc.. I hope that you find the cause soon .

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