how does a lumbar puncture feel

[maggs970]

hi i have 1 lesion on spinal cord came up on mri at neck have lots of numbness whole left side, was at neurologist today and have to go as day patient for lp and eye tests can anyone please tell me if this is extremely sore as people are screwing up their faces when i mention it cheers.my mother had ms and my brother has ms whats the chances for me?

[HVAC]

I just had one and it was a lot of fretting for nothing. They did mine under sedation and I remember them putting me on the table then it was two hours later. I was really sore for a few days but now I am doing everything as usual. Good luck.

[DeniseApril]

Thanks for all of the invaluable information...I've been so scared about having the LP done in the upcoming near future!  I'm sure I'll still be nervous, but not as afraid as I have been up until now.  Thanks again D.A.

[maggs970]

hi thanks so much for all your answers to my question you have all been so helpfull i will be a member of this site for a long while i expect and am so glad i joined thanks to all you lovely guys out there will keep you all up dated on my progressxxxx

[Lulu54]

Maggs,
I wrote about the LP from start to finish in my journal - you can read it here

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/42150?personal_page_id=5829

It is no where near as bad as you might let your imagination tell you...........

my best,
Lulu

[hbananas]

For me, the worst part was the numbing shots--typical stinging stuff.  I was fortunate and didn't get the headache, and my lovely doctor hit the right spot without having to mess around in there.  I had minor low back pain for a couple of days.  People are just screwing up their faces because it SOUNDS so terrible.  Can't say anything on the odds of MS because of your family history, but you are more likely than the average Joe.

[toadaleh]

I was petrified before mine, and I would not believe anyone who told me it wouldn't hurt.  How could something like that not hurt?  
Well, I was given Valium that morning, with a repeat dose about 30 minutes before the proceedure.  That helped with the anxiety, and being relaxed is important.  The House Officer (like an intern in the US) that did mine said that doing it on very tense patients is very difficult, and makes a not very pleasant proceedure a lot worse.
As for the proceedure itself, the only thing that hurt (and that is rather an over-statement) was the first four local injections, I couldn't feel the last two.  After that, it feels like someone pushing against you, and internally, well the best I can desribe it is like pressing the length of a pencil against your bcak, but inside, it is really just a bit odd.  
Yes, I did have a post LP headache, but I have both a slow clot time and a slow heal rate.  Remember, that the headache only occurs in about 25% of cases, and although it is horrible, it does go away.  
I think one of the reasons that people screw up their faces is that having anything done that is a invasive as this, is not a very palatable prospect.
You will probably be as cynical as I was when I was given reassurance, but it really, really, doesn't hurt.  Good luck, let us know how it goes.

[Janette2836]

Maggs
I had an LP in September & to be honest - I was so afraid of the procedure.  I did all that fretting for nothing because the procedure was very easy & I did not have any pain from it.  They did mine under the x-ray fourascope (sp?) & I could watch the entire procedure.  I layed flat on a table & once my back was cleaned off I felt a little a little pinch where they put in the numbing material.  Once they got the needle in place they tilted the table a bit so the fluid could drip out.  It was over before I knew it.  Each person is different & the doctors all seem to give different advice.  Mine had me lay flat in a recoup room for 4 hours then I was to go home & lay flat for 24 hours - not even a pillow!  Drink lots of fluids - mine wanted me to drink lots of caffeine also!  If you have any other questions - drop me a note.  

Take care!
Janette

[samandsprout]

Hi, there, and welcome.  I'm new here, myself, and not yet diagnosed.  My mom also has MS.  
I have had a lumbar puncture, and although it's not fun, it's not necessarily horrible either.  
The LP itself for me wasn't that bad - they numb the area first (a little sting) and then use the needle to extract the fluid...it felt like he was hitting my funny-bone or something.  
However, I did get the excruciating spinal headache afterwards (even though I stayed horizontal for the recommended period of time) and wasted days is misery because I didn't know about getting a blood patch.  Basically, the hole didn't heal on its own and was leaking spinal fluid, which causes a massive headache, vomiting, etc.  I even went to urgent care, and they just gave me morphine and fluids and when I felt better, sent me on my way.  And then the headache just came back when the drugs wore off.  Finally, I went to the ER, and they were like, duh, you need a blood patch.  They take some of your blood and "patch" over the hole with it.  Instant relief!  If only I had known.   So, if you do end up with the spinal headache afterward, ask for a blood patch right away.

Hugs,
Laurel