Question about lumbar puncture

[xmelax35]

Anyone know why my legs would hurt so bad today after having a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) yesterday?  Also, does anyone know what the normal opening pressure range is supposed to be?

Thanks ahead of time.

[selmaS]

I am sure the dog senses u need to be cuddled...they can tell when we do not feel well and have compassion.....

What do they think is going on with ur heart?

There r conditions like POTS and pusedptumor cerebri in which BP plays a part.....and some have Ehlers-Danlos in which they have some heart issues, but not all do....I have EDS but not the heart issue.

Do u have a chiari specialist?......I am not sure what part of Ohio u r in, but if u r close to PA , u may want to check out Dr Bejjani in Pittsburg, PA.

I hope u can keep in touch...I know how frustrating this all can be.

"selma"

[xmelax35]

It has been a long time since I posted to this a lot has happend.  I have been going to the Cleveland clinic however, they stopped focusing on my back, neck and brain issues and now are concentrated on my heart...interesting!  I can tell you I AM VERY SCARED!

To answer your question like 7 months later (oops) yes I do have a dimple there according to my husband (I just got married a week ago along the side of a road 5 minute ceremony - I cant take a church wedding due to my health issues).  Anyway, I have that pain down there and what feels like a knot - a TON of pressure! Feels like something in there.  

The radiologist said it was not due to my past puncture (12 years ago) I asked before my last procedure.  He said the puncture is done in a different spot.  My last puncture was like 5 months ago I believe now.  I am telling you I feel like I am dying or I am going to die!  Our one dog has been at my side a lot and laying on my lap - this dog has never done that in the last 7 years so that scares me even more since they say they sense stuff.

[selmaS]

The tethered cord that is missed on MRi's is occulta tethered cord.... the occulta meaning it is hidden.

Do u have the dimple on ur lower back near where ur tail bone is??

Well, a syrinx can grow due to many diff things...a bumpy ride in the car a fall ect....may I ask how long ago was ur MRI?

"selma"

[xmelax35]

Yes, I have had them MRI's.  They never said anything about having either condition.  One or two MRI's indicated that I should be evaluated further for syrnix.  However the doc said I didn't have it.  As far as the tethered cord, my family suspected that and said it could be missed on the MRI.  I am hoping one day one doctor will really listen to me.

Gosh, now I am having intense itching on my scalp, head and face and now it is in various spots on my body!! I don't know what this could be and if all this pain in the legs and itching is caused by the lumbar puncture.  Thank for listening.

[selmaS]

May I ask...have u had MRI's of ur thoracic and lumbar spine?
Did the drs rule out a syrix or tethered cord? Some of ur issues may not be directly due to ur chiari, but to a chiari related condition....

If u haven't ruled out these conditions, ask if they could at least do that.

"selma"

[xmelax35]

It has been a downhill battle with the Chiari and all other stuff.  It is like my life just gets worse and worse because I just have too many doctors and too many different answers.  I was seeing a chiari specialist - well that is what I am told.  He is on the list on the chiari site.  I see Dr. Benzel, but I still have my regular neurosurgeon too.  I can't see him until July.  Dr. Benzel said that he wouldn't do surgery because I do not have hydrocephals (sorry spelling).  He had said that my flow from the flow study looked fine so no need to do surgery again.  I want to feel better and wanted the surgery, because I am so sick of this and if it helps well...it was worth a try.  He said it is too risky.  My herniation is worse than the first time from what I was told recently in Cleveland.

They really just wanted to mainly find out if I had infection, disease or bleeding on the brain.  I have not heard my results yet and it is like 1:25 p.m. I believe.  I would think I would have heard something by now.  I am nervous/ scared. I want them to find something but from what I hear I don't want anything wrong from Blood Tests or from a lumbar puncture.  If it is a CSF leak, I have complete confidence in the Dr. From Cleveland - the ENT to do the surgery.  If it is something else I will be scared to death.

I always thought a person could have symptoms of Chiari even with normal CSF flow study.  So what is up with these doctors? Am I wrong?  Thanks a lot for listening and your advice.  I promise to not keep going on on this posting.

[selmaS]

Hi...well I am even more confused...y if u have a possible CSF leak would they want u to have a LP?

I believe u r on the right track in looking for a diff dr.....if u have chiari, look for a chiari specialist.

"selma"

[xmelax35]

I don't see him for a month.  Neither one of them who wanted me to have it done - the Primary who ordered it for me or the ENT.  I went to the ER a few nights ago with the worst headache of my entire life.  They wanted me to have it done then and I had to refuse it and go home bc my fiance was upset and mad that we were there for 5 hours.  That the waiting room had filled up and emptied 3 times while I waited in the room to be seen.  They made me suffer.  If it wasn't for one certain nurse... I would have been there until the next day sometime.  So anyway my ENT said I should have got it done then.   I am seeing the ENT now because of possible CSF leak, my left nostril.  I can't get fluid out now bc of a clearing up sinus infection.  It is not bad now, but clearing up and still a bit stuffy to a degree.

So I went to have the Spinal Tap done yesterday afternoon and I am in a lot of pain.  My headache not so bad at the time being.  My lower side and legs hurt sooo bad.  I had got leg pains before but this is horrible.  Like it just triggered the old leg pain again or it is something else. I don't know.  Anyway they measured opening pressure which was 11 1/2 and then did a whole bunch of tests on the fluid.  I don't know the results yet.  Doesn't matter if they are normal or not normal....my doctor will be sure to tell me they are normal.  I am telling ya....I am working on getting a new doctor.  He told me other tests were normal but they were not.

[selmaS]

Hi, a LP is not recommended for those with chiari.....I would imagine u have pusedotumor cerebri and that is y u had the LP.......

[Normal values vary from lab to lab but typically range as follows:

Pressure: 50 - 180 mm H20
Appearance: clear, colorless
CSF total protein: 15 - 45 mg/100 mL
Gamma globulin: 3 - 12% of the total protein
CSF glucose: 50 - 80 mg/100 mL (or approximately 2/3 of blood sugar level)
CSF cell count: 0 - 5 white blood cells, no red blood cells
Chloride: 110 - 125 mEq per liter
Note: mg/mL = milligrams per milliliter; mEq/L = milliequivalent per liter]


When do u see ur dr again?...... As mentioned above all lab ranges vary, so do ask for a copy of the report from the lab it should show their ranges.


Good luck

"selma"