Advertisement
The Body: The Complete HIV/AIDS Resource Follow Us Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter
Professionals >> Visit The Body PROThe Body en Espanol
Take Tell Us What YOU Think! Take The Body's Visitor Survey!
   
Ask the Experts About

AIDS-Related CancersAIDS-Related Cancers
         
Rollover images to visit our other forums!
 
  
  • Email Email
  • Glossary Glossary


Pain after a spinal tap; it really hurts.
Mar 31, 2002

Dr Dezube, Recently I had a spinal tap. After 4 attempts they gave up, that was 2 weeks ago. Last week I had the spinal tap under Fluoroscopy. My back is so painful like after I walk a distance and if I bend to quickly, I get a sharp pain in my lower back. I don't won't to look like a boby and complain but it really hurts a lot. I am not allowed to take aspirin. Thank you.

Response from Dr. Dezube

Sorry to hear about your pain; it sounds awful. Although spinal taps are performed smoothly and painlessly in the majority of patients, we do indeed hear horror stories such as yours from time to time. I imagine that you are in pain from the multiple attempts. In time, the pain should subside. Depending upon the nature of the pain, ibuprofen (advil, medipren, nupren), tylenol with codeine, percocet, or many other medications can all help. On occasion the spinal tap creates a hole and the spinal fluid continues to leak out. Patients with such a leak often complain of severe headaches for days after the procedure. If you do have a spinal leak, then the treatment for this is for a health care provider to place a patch to seal up the hole. Please let your provider know about your pain.


  
  • Email Email
  • Glossary Glossary


 
 
Advertisement




Q&A TERMS OF USE

This forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither TheBody.com nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.

Review our complete terms of use and copyright notice.

Powered by ExpertViewpoint

Advertisement