Aa
My LP and what happened afterwards
PLEASE DON'T READ THIS IF YOU HAVE AN LP IN THE WORKS. THIS IS ONLY MY EXPERIENCE AND IS NOT A NORMAL REACTION!!
Okay, with that said, here is what happened with me and my LP. I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this and/or opinions of why this happened to me. Thanks in advance.
I was told by my neuro staff that I could get something before the LP because I am so scared I will jump when they insert the needle, or I will have a muscle twitch/spasm while the LP is in progress. I was told yes, just say something to the nurses. When I preregistered, I asked again and was given the same answer.
So, I went arrived at 9am for my 10am appointment. They checked me into a room, got me in a gown and a nurse came in and did vitals. I asked her about getting something beforehand and she said to say something to the nurse when I get taken in.
I got blood work done. Ok, one needle down, one to go. That is what I was telling myself as I really have a phobia when it comes to needles.
I get wheeled over to the room for LP. Nurse is asking me questions and telling me about the proceedures. Ok, I need more than one more needle due to the local they give just before the LP. I ask her about getting something as I am really nervous now. She looks through my file and says that she doesn't see an order for anything. I explained that everyone told me to wait and speak with her. She left to go ask the doc and came back and said I could get a Valium. Now i am scared. I KNOW that a Valium will do nothing for me.
The nurse is noticeably irritated that I want to go ahead and take it. She keeps telling me that I have the choice of just getting the LP done and over with in 5 minutes or I can take the Valium, go back to my room and wait half an hour for drug to kick in...then come back here for the 5 minute test. She keeps saying how good this doc is and that she would trust him to do the test on her. I finally told her that how SHE feels about it means NOTHING to me. I was scared and nervous about a test that I have done twice before. I KNOW what is going to happen and I still want something before the test. So she gives me the Valium. And she tells me we will just wait here for it to kick in. She stands next to my bed and just stares at me. Then she says, "whenever you are ready, scoot on to the table". And then she just stands there and stares at me.
After ten minutes, i can't take any more of this woman so I scoot over to the table. The doc comes in and is very nice. He talks to me for a few minutes and then prepares to do the LP. He gave me 3 local shots in my back. Okay that makes 4 needles done, one more to go.
He starts the test and then I feel it and jerk a little. Doc asks if i felt that. I say yes so he gives me 2 more local shots. Okay that makes 6 shots, one more to go.
LP is over and I survived. I was just glad it was all done because that meant no more needles. I went into this thinking I had 2 needles to get over. I ended up with 7 needles. Well, at least it is over. They wheel me back in my room. My mom is waiting there with coffee in hand yay! I am laying flat but get a straw for my coffee. Then the Valium kicks in. I guess it would have been helpful. I fell asleep drinking my coffee and ended up spilling it everywhere. hehe
Then the blood draw lady walks back in. She says she is sorry but she needs more blood. Omg! Okay now we are at 8 needles....can i go home now??
So I am home now and resting in bed. I slept. I started getting uncomfy on my back so I layer on my left side, still flat. My back has started hurting, like muscle spasms. By 8:00pm it is hurting like nothing I have felt before. I decided to take a vicodin, which I has been off of for about 1 1/2 months. It didn't even touch the pain and the pain is getting stronger and stronger.
I decided I wanted to go to ER, which I hate doing and only do it when it is absolutely needed. I couldn't even get out of bed to get to the car. My mom had to call for an ambulance. :( So in came a handful of probably gorgeous firemen and EMT's and I couldn't get out of the fetal position or open my eyes. Go figure!
After a few minutes of these guys trying to figure out the best way to get me out of my bed and onto their gurney, they decided to unhook my sheet from my bed and lift me with the sheet onto the gurney. It hurt like he'll but they did it and got me out of my room and on the gurney (narrow hallway and small doorways). There was one guy that stayed close to my head, talking to and reassuring me the whole time. He must have been one of the EMT's because he was in the ambulance with me. He told me he could start an IV on me right now and give me some pain med if I wanted. Yes yes please stop the pain. I didn't even think of the needle involved. Thank god because he blew my first vein and had to do a second one. So, back to the needles....that makes my count up to 10 needles.
He gave me morphine. He asked me if I have ever had it before. I had one other time (terrible muscle spasms in my pelvic floor) and it made me sick. So he gave me something for that. Within seconds, I could feel the pain start to go down. It didn't disappear, but it let me breathe. And I didn't feel sick. This same guy talked to and soothed me all the way to the hospital. I never did see his face...though I did say thank you when he passed me on to ER people.
I was in and out of conscience while in the ER. At one point the pain started climbing again to unbearable. Someone came in and gave me more morphine in the IV. After being there for six hours, they released me. But my last needle of this day was in my butt and was morphine again.
That made 11 needles that day. And I was expecting two. And my biggest fear for after the LP was getting the headache. Kinda wish I had that instead. On a good note, I never got a headache from the LP.
It was almost 4 in the morning when we got home. I slept until about 11 am. My back was still hurting but not as high of a level as the night before. Now it is two days past the LP and ER. My back still hurts and I am still in bed. I am not walking well. I know, I know I need to go see my doc. I am going to call them in the morning.
So, has anyone experienced this back pain after an LP? Now, I have been having muscle spasms in my neck, back and around my torso lately. But not even close to what I experienced that day. I don't like taking morphine...but I am glad that it helped me both times I have taken it.
Maybe the pain I got had nothing to do with the LP? Just coincidence?
Opinions please?
Thanks,
Addi
Okay, with that said, here is what happened with me and my LP. I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this and/or opinions of why this happened to me. Thanks in advance.
I was told by my neuro staff that I could get something before the LP because I am so scared I will jump when they insert the needle, or I will have a muscle twitch/spasm while the LP is in progress. I was told yes, just say something to the nurses. When I preregistered, I asked again and was given the same answer.
So, I went arrived at 9am for my 10am appointment. They checked me into a room, got me in a gown and a nurse came in and did vitals. I asked her about getting something beforehand and she said to say something to the nurse when I get taken in.
I got blood work done. Ok, one needle down, one to go. That is what I was telling myself as I really have a phobia when it comes to needles.
I get wheeled over to the room for LP. Nurse is asking me questions and telling me about the proceedures. Ok, I need more than one more needle due to the local they give just before the LP. I ask her about getting something as I am really nervous now. She looks through my file and says that she doesn't see an order for anything. I explained that everyone told me to wait and speak with her. She left to go ask the doc and came back and said I could get a Valium. Now i am scared. I KNOW that a Valium will do nothing for me.
The nurse is noticeably irritated that I want to go ahead and take it. She keeps telling me that I have the choice of just getting the LP done and over with in 5 minutes or I can take the Valium, go back to my room and wait half an hour for drug to kick in...then come back here for the 5 minute test. She keeps saying how good this doc is and that she would trust him to do the test on her. I finally told her that how SHE feels about it means NOTHING to me. I was scared and nervous about a test that I have done twice before. I KNOW what is going to happen and I still want something before the test. So she gives me the Valium. And she tells me we will just wait here for it to kick in. She stands next to my bed and just stares at me. Then she says, "whenever you are ready, scoot on to the table". And then she just stands there and stares at me.
After ten minutes, i can't take any more of this woman so I scoot over to the table. The doc comes in and is very nice. He talks to me for a few minutes and then prepares to do the LP. He gave me 3 local shots in my back. Okay that makes 4 needles done, one more to go.
He starts the test and then I feel it and jerk a little. Doc asks if i felt that. I say yes so he gives me 2 more local shots. Okay that makes 6 shots, one more to go.
LP is over and I survived. I was just glad it was all done because that meant no more needles. I went into this thinking I had 2 needles to get over. I ended up with 7 needles. Well, at least it is over. They wheel me back in my room. My mom is waiting there with coffee in hand yay! I am laying flat but get a straw for my coffee. Then the Valium kicks in. I guess it would have been helpful. I fell asleep drinking my coffee and ended up spilling it everywhere. hehe
Then the blood draw lady walks back in. She says she is sorry but she needs more blood. Omg! Okay now we are at 8 needles....can i go home now??
So I am home now and resting in bed. I slept. I started getting uncomfy on my back so I layer on my left side, still flat. My back has started hurting, like muscle spasms. By 8:00pm it is hurting like nothing I have felt before. I decided to take a vicodin, which I has been off of for about 1 1/2 months. It didn't even touch the pain and the pain is getting stronger and stronger.
I decided I wanted to go to ER, which I hate doing and only do it when it is absolutely needed. I couldn't even get out of bed to get to the car. My mom had to call for an ambulance. :( So in came a handful of probably gorgeous firemen and EMT's and I couldn't get out of the fetal position or open my eyes. Go figure!
After a few minutes of these guys trying to figure out the best way to get me out of my bed and onto their gurney, they decided to unhook my sheet from my bed and lift me with the sheet onto the gurney. It hurt like he'll but they did it and got me out of my room and on the gurney (narrow hallway and small doorways). There was one guy that stayed close to my head, talking to and reassuring me the whole time. He must have been one of the EMT's because he was in the ambulance with me. He told me he could start an IV on me right now and give me some pain med if I wanted. Yes yes please stop the pain. I didn't even think of the needle involved. Thank god because he blew my first vein and had to do a second one. So, back to the needles....that makes my count up to 10 needles.
He gave me morphine. He asked me if I have ever had it before. I had one other time (terrible muscle spasms in my pelvic floor) and it made me sick. So he gave me something for that. Within seconds, I could feel the pain start to go down. It didn't disappear, but it let me breathe. And I didn't feel sick. This same guy talked to and soothed me all the way to the hospital. I never did see his face...though I did say thank you when he passed me on to ER people.
I was in and out of conscience while in the ER. At one point the pain started climbing again to unbearable. Someone came in and gave me more morphine in the IV. After being there for six hours, they released me. But my last needle of this day was in my butt and was morphine again.
That made 11 needles that day. And I was expecting two. And my biggest fear for after the LP was getting the headache. Kinda wish I had that instead. On a good note, I never got a headache from the LP.
It was almost 4 in the morning when we got home. I slept until about 11 am. My back was still hurting but not as high of a level as the night before. Now it is two days past the LP and ER. My back still hurts and I am still in bed. I am not walking well. I know, I know I need to go see my doc. I am going to call them in the morning.
So, has anyone experienced this back pain after an LP? Now, I have been having muscle spasms in my neck, back and around my torso lately. But not even close to what I experienced that day. I don't like taking morphine...but I am glad that it helped me both times I have taken it.
Maybe the pain I got had nothing to do with the LP? Just coincidence?
Opinions please?
Thanks,
Addi
Addi,
The whole ordeal sounds awful. I particularly do not like your nurse. It is so helpful when we at least have a supportive medical person in the room, who feels like a friend not a foe.
I am glad it is over, and glad you are feeling better. Hopefully that is the end of the LP's for you. I never had one, and don't think I am missing anything there?!
(((Hugs))),
Michelle
The whole ordeal sounds awful. I particularly do not like your nurse. It is so helpful when we at least have a supportive medical person in the room, who feels like a friend not a foe.
I am glad it is over, and glad you are feeling better. Hopefully that is the end of the LP's for you. I never had one, and don't think I am missing anything there?!
(((Hugs))),
Michelle
Addi, please no need at all to be embarrassed.
:-) laughing here. I get called sir in person and it's not a problem. It made me smile and feel tough. guess you'd have to know more about me to know to there is no reason to be even a tad embarrassed. typos happen and my name doesn't help you a bit either huh.
hope you are still resting and taking care of you.
Raz
:-) laughing here. I get called sir in person and it's not a problem. It made me smile and feel tough. guess you'd have to know more about me to know to there is no reason to be even a tad embarrassed. typos happen and my name doesn't help you a bit either huh.
hope you are still resting and taking care of you.
Raz
Shoot shoot shoot! Raz, two weeny little letters seem to have disappeared in my response to you. They are a w and an o. Get it?
It truly was a slip. Please forgive me....
Highly embarrassed,
Addi
It truly was a slip. Please forgive me....
Highly embarrassed,
Addi
Thank you all very much. Your replies have made me feel better already. :)
Kat-sounds like you had the same issues as I did, as far as having to tell them about the blood work and some kind of drug given beforehand. Pretty sad, huh? I am sorry you got the headache and blood patch. I did talk to the doc about the headache and blood patch before he did the LP. It was at that time that I decided if I got the headache, I would just suffer through it...no blood patch. So I am glad I haven't gotten it.
Red-see? I knew I could have gotten something beforehand. I am glad it worked out for you. But, just sayin, this was my very last LP. I will not agree to another one. I am done with that!
Raz-you know, I was thinking over the last couple of days...nothin else to do strapped to my bed. Lol. But, I already had back and neck spasms. They have gotten worse over the last month or two. I do wonder if the LP triggered my already spastic back. Makes sense to me, too. So, make sure you do discuss this with your doc if an LP is in order for you. And I would make sure you get drugs first. *whispers*. I won't tell anyone you are being chicken...your secret is safe with me. ;). You big strong man, you!!
JJ-you gave me quite a visual of your LP experience! Thank you for the much needed chuckle!
Kathy-I never did see the face of the wonderful EMT. :/ I wish I would have. Sounds like you had a pretty horrid experience, too. I do have to wonder if we had the same nurse!
Guitar-your experience with the blood patch was ridiculous! Sorry for that. But at least you got your answers. That kinda makes up for the blood patch a little. Nah, it probably doesn't. Lol. But I am glad you got your answers. :)
Ren-seems that the blood patch is needed quite a bit. :( I thought it was a rare thing. Bright side and needles don't mesh in my mind. Lol but I do have to agree, I was begging for needles in the ambulance so I could get the morphine. Usually when someone blows a vein on me, I don't give them a second chance. I know, I am terrible! But he felt so bad, I could tell and I was in so much pain.
Sarah-what is a canula? I am still resting. I stay in bed except to use the potty. I am definitely glad it is over and happy that you did not have to have an LP. :)
Debs-what is a plonker? Lol. I love new terms from other countries. Like cigarettes are called fags in England. Hehe. I am so sorry you had a nightmarish c-section.
Daisy-gosh, your experience was not so great yourself! I don't understand why some medical personnel can be so heartless and cold. It angers me. And I keep hearing how you guys getting stuck more than one time for the actual LP itself! That, to my way of thinking anyways, is NOT something that should take a hit and miss approach. Too close to the spine, you know??
Shell-yeah, definitely strange experience. I did look at the vials when he was done. There were four vials. It looked like water in them. Yeah, 5 minutes. And I did think I was out of the woods for the headache! I have still been resting. But sitting up a little. I have a hospital bed so I am at a maybe 25% angle at my head and my bottom part of my bed is about the same, 25%. Think this is okay? I so don't want the headache!
Bridge-gosh! Your experience was absolutely horrifying!! It truly does make me angry how people are treated! Something has to give. It is ridiculous. :(
Thanks again, everyone. It was great to see all of your support with me and to hear your experiences, good and bad. Thank you thank you.
Addi
Kat-sounds like you had the same issues as I did, as far as having to tell them about the blood work and some kind of drug given beforehand. Pretty sad, huh? I am sorry you got the headache and blood patch. I did talk to the doc about the headache and blood patch before he did the LP. It was at that time that I decided if I got the headache, I would just suffer through it...no blood patch. So I am glad I haven't gotten it.
Red-see? I knew I could have gotten something beforehand. I am glad it worked out for you. But, just sayin, this was my very last LP. I will not agree to another one. I am done with that!
Raz-you know, I was thinking over the last couple of days...nothin else to do strapped to my bed. Lol. But, I already had back and neck spasms. They have gotten worse over the last month or two. I do wonder if the LP triggered my already spastic back. Makes sense to me, too. So, make sure you do discuss this with your doc if an LP is in order for you. And I would make sure you get drugs first. *whispers*. I won't tell anyone you are being chicken...your secret is safe with me. ;). You big strong man, you!!
JJ-you gave me quite a visual of your LP experience! Thank you for the much needed chuckle!
Kathy-I never did see the face of the wonderful EMT. :/ I wish I would have. Sounds like you had a pretty horrid experience, too. I do have to wonder if we had the same nurse!
Guitar-your experience with the blood patch was ridiculous! Sorry for that. But at least you got your answers. That kinda makes up for the blood patch a little. Nah, it probably doesn't. Lol. But I am glad you got your answers. :)
Ren-seems that the blood patch is needed quite a bit. :( I thought it was a rare thing. Bright side and needles don't mesh in my mind. Lol but I do have to agree, I was begging for needles in the ambulance so I could get the morphine. Usually when someone blows a vein on me, I don't give them a second chance. I know, I am terrible! But he felt so bad, I could tell and I was in so much pain.
Sarah-what is a canula? I am still resting. I stay in bed except to use the potty. I am definitely glad it is over and happy that you did not have to have an LP. :)
Debs-what is a plonker? Lol. I love new terms from other countries. Like cigarettes are called fags in England. Hehe. I am so sorry you had a nightmarish c-section.
Daisy-gosh, your experience was not so great yourself! I don't understand why some medical personnel can be so heartless and cold. It angers me. And I keep hearing how you guys getting stuck more than one time for the actual LP itself! That, to my way of thinking anyways, is NOT something that should take a hit and miss approach. Too close to the spine, you know??
Shell-yeah, definitely strange experience. I did look at the vials when he was done. There were four vials. It looked like water in them. Yeah, 5 minutes. And I did think I was out of the woods for the headache! I have still been resting. But sitting up a little. I have a hospital bed so I am at a maybe 25% angle at my head and my bottom part of my bed is about the same, 25%. Think this is okay? I so don't want the headache!
Bridge-gosh! Your experience was absolutely horrifying!! It truly does make me angry how people are treated! Something has to give. It is ridiculous. :(
Thanks again, everyone. It was great to see all of your support with me and to hear your experiences, good and bad. Thank you thank you.
Addi
Hi addi,
I am as of yet undiagnosed. I did have a LP experience though. I was an inpatient when the Lp was done. The doctor gave me one shot to numb then without waiting for it to work did the puncture. It hurt like crazy. Halfway through my headache started. As soon as she was finished I mentioned my headache. Was told "I'll get you tylenol for that""...I waited twenty minutes headache now unbearable....Nurse came in "Oh,you have a headache no order was put in for anything".....Another twenty minutes later finally some tylenol which did nothing.....finally after over an hour some oxycotin...It helped. The next day I was sent downstairs for an eye test. I waited for over an hour to be seen while sitting up in a wheelchair (I have spasms in my back which are especially bad when I am in pain...I must have looked a sight !) A patients wife noticed I looked bad. I was spasming and in such incredible pain..like I have never felt before. She called a doctor and they were about to call a code on me (They thought I was having seizures) I mumbled out ..I had a spinal yesterday..I am in pain (BP was 150\105 up from at that time about 85\54) I was sent upstairs...Neuro came in while I was recovering angry and lecturing me about how I needed to give consent so they could intubate me if a code was called on me. Does he think I would want any of this to happen?? Headache and neck pain lasted four days.
I am as of yet undiagnosed. I did have a LP experience though. I was an inpatient when the Lp was done. The doctor gave me one shot to numb then without waiting for it to work did the puncture. It hurt like crazy. Halfway through my headache started. As soon as she was finished I mentioned my headache. Was told "I'll get you tylenol for that""...I waited twenty minutes headache now unbearable....Nurse came in "Oh,you have a headache no order was put in for anything".....Another twenty minutes later finally some tylenol which did nothing.....finally after over an hour some oxycotin...It helped. The next day I was sent downstairs for an eye test. I waited for over an hour to be seen while sitting up in a wheelchair (I have spasms in my back which are especially bad when I am in pain...I must have looked a sight !) A patients wife noticed I looked bad. I was spasming and in such incredible pain..like I have never felt before. She called a doctor and they were about to call a code on me (They thought I was having seizures) I mumbled out ..I had a spinal yesterday..I am in pain (BP was 150\105 up from at that time about 85\54) I was sent upstairs...Neuro came in while I was recovering angry and lecturing me about how I needed to give consent so they could intubate me if a code was called on me. Does he think I would want any of this to happen?? Headache and neck pain lasted four days.
Addi girl -
Strange experience - especially the staring bit, lol And, 5 minutes for a tap couldn't be more wrong huh? I wish it only took 5 minutes to get the csf out they need for multiple testing on it.
Anywho - looks like your outta that neck of the woods for the cause of pain in your back, but the chance of a leak and headache that comes with it is not off the table. Not saying this to scare you - just saying it because I highly recommend you still laying around - I recommend it to everyone because the leak can come days later. It's fixable, like mentioned, but please know it can and does happen all the time!
Rest, rest, rest :) and when your done w/that for a few days - rest some more, lol
(((hugs)))
shell
Strange experience - especially the staring bit, lol And, 5 minutes for a tap couldn't be more wrong huh? I wish it only took 5 minutes to get the csf out they need for multiple testing on it.
Anywho - looks like your outta that neck of the woods for the cause of pain in your back, but the chance of a leak and headache that comes with it is not off the table. Not saying this to scare you - just saying it because I highly recommend you still laying around - I recommend it to everyone because the leak can come days later. It's fixable, like mentioned, but please know it can and does happen all the time!
Rest, rest, rest :) and when your done w/that for a few days - rest some more, lol
(((hugs)))
shell
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Multiple Sclerosis Community
Top Neurology Answerers
Australia
ON
Queensland, Australia
Queen Creek, AZ
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease
