lumbar puncture post op

[padrssuck]

firSt i want to apologize for being MIA for a while. i have been dealing with so much crap lately.... long story short, i am almost three months post op and have had no relief... in fact today i feel worse than i have in a while.... Dr b is.sending me for a spinal tap on Monday and i am having a follow up appt after that. i have my disability hearing on ThursDay so fingers crossed. ...
my question is. .. had any one had to have a spinal tap post op? did it help?? years ago i had one done and the headache was by far the worst i have ever had (until the chiari kicked in) i cannot imagine the two combined. i am to the point that after all this time and surgery if i still dont get anywhere on Monday i don't know what i am going to do. i really cannot take this anymore. some days i feel better than othere but i haven't had an entire day where i feel good since this all started. i am going crazy!! sorry for the venting, any input would be greatly appreciated
   ~ Amanda

[sandy629]

  i was told by my ns not to have spinal taps  after chiari surgery

[RheaAnn]

I've had a lumbar puncture to drain a pseudo meningocele.  I had a leak from the dura and it caused a very high volume pseudo.  The pain was horrid.  After they drained it, I felt great until I developed symptoms from a wet tap.  So I then had 2 leaks :-/  They did a blood patch to close up the one from the spinal tap but the pseudo came back.  I was put on Diamox for a few months to pull out some of the extra CSF.  It worked like a charm.  Once the pseudo was gone, I stopped the Diamox and the pressure in my head stayed normal.  I wish I would have avoided the spinal tap and went to the meds first, but I'm better now, and I cannot complain!  I avoided having to have a shunt! Hope this helps some!
Rhea

[KaroleR]

LP after surgery he's feels you have IH probably and this is what I'm dealing w too!
Your 1st LP did you know you already had Chiari? It's a big no no before surgery to have a LP it will cause you to go down further (like a pulling vaccume in spine!)  
My LP I felt like gold after but they drained soooo much CF off all the pressure went away along w paralyzation. If you don't have IH I have heard horror stories of pain from them... I'm sorry your hurting (huggs)

[selmaS]

  Hi Amanda,

Some develop IH or ICP...same thing diff name also known as PTC...basically u over produce CSF or ur body has stopped absorbing it...either way, it build up and u have HA's...

It is not clear y some develop this and others do not....sometimes it can be a related condition like EDS, and a rejection of the dura patch, but I am sure Dr B checked all that ...

As I said this can happen with no way to know b4....just a post op issue....they may try meds like DIAMOX to see if it helps b4 they consider  other options.

Keep us posted on the LP and how u r doing,.