Anyone have the most painful week of their life after a spinal tap?
Question posted by sara12345 on 15 Dec 2012
Last updated on 28 February 2018
Could the doctor doing the procedure have done something wrong? The doctor told me it was a more invasive procedure because they were checking the pressure. Within 15 minutes after putting my head up after lying down for hours, I had the worst pain EVER. It was worse than my severe migraines which send me to the hospital vomiting on the way. It was worse than my first week after having a major stroke. The severe pain kept me lying down on the bed 24/7 except for going to pee in a bucket in the bedroom. As long I was laid out flat, I only suffered from my usual severe migraines. But to raise up--the pain was intolerable.
Finally towards the end of the 5th day since the spinal tap, my head pain got better or I was going to the ER to get the blood patch put on. But I really didn't want to spend the 6 hours or more in the ER which is way too cold for me since my stroke.
Does anyone think that the doctor doing the procedure may have screwed up? Another doctor that I spoke to by phone, said that it was very unusual to have the intense pain so soon afterwards. Thanks to anyone who responds.
Question is Closed
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17 Answers
KA
Kaytina
1 March 2018
So useful to hear all these experiences although very sorry for everyone with such awful pain. I was rushed to hospital at the weekend with a suspected brain bleed, had CT scan which showed it wasn’t that and a very rude and abrupt dr told me in broken English I would be having a lumbar puncture the next day. I asked why and he said to check for infection or meningitis. I knew there was absolutely no need for it I didn’t have even one tiny symptom of a bleed or infection and luckily by the next day the new dr on duty agreed with me. I had made up my mind not to have it done and now I’m so glad I didn’t. It sounds horrific. And I will be more informed if ever I’m in that situation again. Thank you everyone and I hope you’re all pain free again now.
Votes: +0
SA
sara12345
1 March 2018
Thank you for your input on this subject. You are more knowledgeable than most to know that you probably didn't need the lumbar puncture. I certainly wouldn't have known. But it is good that you said no and got a better opinion the next day. I'm going to close this question since it is so old. But if you want to "talk" with me more, just friend me. Best to you.
SA
Sarah416
5 May 2017
Hello, I had a spinal tap done on a Tuesday. They used the xray to guide and they had to tip the table to get more fluid. When I was finished I had to per so when I got back to my room I got up with help of 2 workers and I had the worst pain ever! Then went pee and got in bed and laid flat. Then my head hurt when I was sitting mainly. I went home that day and laid down most of the time. I tried to go to work 2 days later I couldn't. Now I'm on the 3rd day and I have really bad pain from my neck going down my spine. The doctor said it could be pulled muscle but it doesn't feel like that. I haven't seen anyone have this happen to them. So if anyone has please let me know or let me know if you think ice or heat would be best. I am leaving for Florida in a week.
Votes: +0
EK
Ekemp
1 April 2017
A couple years ago I had a spinal tap done. For two weeks was unable to sit up could only lay down had severe head back and leg pain. Suffered for two weeks until the doctor finally gave me an IV of caffeine. Still don't understand why that happened. I even had to lay down in the car on the way to my doctor's appointment because I was unable to sit. And to this day I still have no answers why that happen.
Votes: +0
LA
Laurarich
9 March 2017
Hi sara yes I did I recently had a spinal tap done and a blood patch but I didn't get the headache till the day after I had it done ok a wendsday got the sever headache Thursday I went back to er sunday and by that time I was throwing up and couldn't control my bowels and all they did was give me an iv with Naseua medicine and sent me home with naseua medicine so Monday I get ahold of my doctor who sends me to a neurologist who sends me to a pain management doctor who I finally get the blood patch from a week later and yes that pain was unbareable I couldn't even move in my bed without throwing up I feel your pain of what you had to go thru and it's sad that some doctors will just leave you in agony no matter how you look cause I must of looked pretty bad when I finally went back and still got sent home in the same state I was taken in...
Votes: +0
SJ
sjcorp
23 Oct 2016
I had my first and hopefully last spinal tap Thursday. Today is Sunday, and I am still spending most of the day in bed. I do not have the raging headache that others have had. My complaint is that Friday, I could not sit without pain in my back. Sitting and standing also caused stuffiness in my ears and nausea. I spent Saturday morning vomiting. During this time, I did have headaches, but not severe. Once I lay down, the headaches and other issues usially fade within 30 monutes to an hour. I just don't know if a patch would help, and if it is anything like a spinal, I don't think I would want the patch. And yes, getting it was painful. Oh, they couldn't replenesh me with IV fluids because the IV wouldn't flow. They told me to go drink a lot of fluids.
Votes: +0
DA
DancnDar
4 May 2016
My oldest son went through 2 spinal taps while he was a teenager. After a spinal tap you can suffer with bad headaches. If it's that bad than you need to call the doctor! You should lie straight for a few days after. If the headaches don't go away is possible that it didn't heal properly and they have to fix it.
Votes: +0
CW
cwlkr313
4 May 2016
Can the epidural cause long term affects of migraines? Like i said it's been almost 13 yrs and I have them jus as bad as the first one. I jus don't understand
CW
cwlkr313
4 May 2016
I had my son almost 3 months early. Scheduled c-section he stopped growing. So while I was in OR getting my epidural the anesthesiologist was a student I didn't know this at the time. Well he was doing my epidural and missed the 1st time, then tried again missed the 2nd time and tried again and missed the 3ed time, then I guess the resident took over and did the 4th it was right. Well it was 3to late for me. They no longer got Ethan out and sat him on my chest before taking him away amd I started feeling really wierd, then neauseaed, then my head felt like it was going to explode. So they took my lil guy and the NIC team worked on him while I had a team of 15 working on me. Once done and in recovery 4 hours later. Come to find out I was having spinal migraines. So I couldn't take care of my new baby at all or not even for the next 2 weeks. I ended up in ICU flat on my back drinking Dr. Pepper only and with an IV but would vomite every chance I had.
2 weeks later they came in to do the spinal patch. But I didn't only need 1 I needed 3 patches. Worst spinal ever reliving the first 3 mess ups and praying this would work. Another 8 days dark room quiet flat on back they finally eased. Still hurt but not as bad. And I finally got to see and hold my premie. Now almost 13 yrs later i still to this day suffer from spinal migraines it's like a backflash of that supposed blessed day that turned horribly wrong. I relive it almost every other day with these migraines. Doctor took me off all migraine meds because I was getting immune. So here I am Ethan will be 13 in October and I'm laying flat in bed dark room no noise. Cold wash rag over my eyes amd on my head in the most pain ever. Jus want them to go away
Votes: +0
SA
sara12345
5 May 2016
Have you seen at least 2 neurologists about your problem? And what do they say is the cause? I can't believe that you have only been given medication for your migraines. I experienced severe 24/7 migraines after my stroke. Nerve block, trigger point and Botox injections all helped. But now acupuncture helps me even more than the Botox. If you don't experience any relief after 3 to 4 sessions with the acupuncturist, try another acupuncturist. Make sure you get one who is licensed. Let me know.
VE
Verotweety
18 Jan 2018
Hello, I read your post, I’ve been sick with several things since my daughter was born on May 2015, I just had a blood patch last week but I still have some headaches... I’m really sad... it’s very hard to take care of kids and life in general being unhealthy... I also own a business and getting divorced so I have a lot on my plate. How are you these days? I feel bad for you, what a nightmare!
JE
Jennleeann1971
21 Oct 2015
I had a spinal tap they used a x-ray machine. So I had a needle in my back they would take a x-ray and put it further in. The pain was horrible. The pain that night after was horrible I wanted to die. I didn't want to go back to the hospital who just gave me the spinal tap so I called my doctor. I was unable to go see him for a week. He gave me some medication. I was in bed for a month I will never ever let any body touch my spine again. I would rather die. Some Doctors are not trained well enough in this procedure. Now every time it's cold out side my back hurts right in the spot the needle went in and all the way down my left leg. So I understand and feel all your pain. Good luck to you all.
Votes: +0
SA
sara12345
21 Oct 2015
So very sorry to hear about such terrible pain that you experienced which was far longer in duration than what my pain was. I would definitely have made a formal complaint to the hospital about it and maybe contacted an attorney. There doesn't seem to be any excuse for what you went through.
DA
Daniela09
4 Aug 2015
I just had a spinal tab done on Saturday, after the procedure I got home al felt good, the problem was the next day when my husband tried to make me eat. I experienced the worst pain ever! I've been suffering from migraines from quite a while but the pain that comes after a spinal tap is fatal. I wish my doctor would of told me about the pain... Today is Tuesday and I am so annoyed to be in bed I want to start enjoying my life again. Does anyone know what can help to make the headaches go away? I can't take ibuprofen because my stomach becomes upset and I get nauseous. I've been drinking lots of liquids including caffeine but the headache still there. Any suggestions?
Votes: +0
SA
sara12345
6 Aug 2015
You should call up your doctor about your pain. Perhaps you can get a prescription for something that will help. But remember that if you treat a migraine more than 3 days in a week, you can get far worse rebound migraines which can keep coming. You could go back to the hospital and get a blood patch to stop the pain. They made me wait days to get the remedy, but by then the pain was better. Be sure to call your doctor about the pain. The pain was absolutely terrible for me. Good luck.
TW
Twinmommy7815
4 Nov 2016
Please tell me that you healed from your LP and that your life is back to normal. I had one this past Sunday and I have been bed ridden and suffering since. I miss playing with my daughters and I feel helpless and hopeless.
CH
Christinedino10
29 May 2015
I had a unusal experience because I can't find any postings like mine. I had my spinal tap yesterday or should I say was suposed to. Went to hospital outpatient dept had blood work went in for spinal tap and they layer me flat on stomach.using the xray guidance they couldn't get any fluid out of me. They did 3 different areas 3 separate needles and nothing. Tilted table up,tryed rolling me on side... nothing. after a hour of this poking and proding I could feel him moving needles all around and he kept saying I'm hitting bone..and we are where we should be... I couldn't take anymore. Kept getting pain shocks down legs up back . To me just insane.I had no sedative and am pretty good at handling pain having 3 children all natural. And in last year 5 sets of cervical injections in neck and nerve burning. Have alot of major pain in my back today and last night. Can't bend. Anyone ever have this happen? Now I have to do it again
Votes: +0
SA
sara12345
29 May 2015
Sorry this happened to you. That does not sound right what happened to you. I think that you should consider having another doctor do your spinal tap. Also I would report the incident to the hospital.
CH
chelshem
22 June 2014
Yes. I had same experience immediately upon having my spinal tap. They kept me in hospital and next day gave me blood patch. It gave me immediate relief of symptoms. You should have gone back to the hospital.
Votes: +1
SA
sara12345
23 June 2014
Yes, you were right. But when I called they told me to wait a few more days. HA.
DZ
DzooBaby
17 Dec 2012
Poor girl! I feel for you. I have had spinal taps, spinal anesthesia (epidural) to have my babies, and also epidurals for back pain and only had problems with one. If the spinal fluid leaks after the procedure you will get a headache. This is where the "blood patch" comes in. They can draw blood and inject it into the space where they accessed the spinal fluid and the blood forms a clot or "blood patch" and this prevents any more spinal fluid from leaking out. It will gradually get better as the area heals and your spinal fluid pressure builds back up. It is a nasty headache! Some people are more sensitive to the changes in pressure than other people too. The CSF or cerebral spinal fluid is present in the spine but also bathes the area around your brain and changes to this pressure can make you very sick. You are likely just one of the more sensitive ones.
Votes: +0
SA
sara12345
17 Dec 2012
Thanks for your comment. I guess I must be THE most sensitve person to it alive. I was prepared for a bad headache, but not one that was FAR WORSE than the one I had with my major stroke. Yes, they told me I could get the blood patch if the pain didn't get better after 5 to 7 days. About day 5, it did get better and by day 7, I was very close to being okay. They did tell me that the pressure test that they did, made it worse than other spinal taps.
ME
meyati
17 Dec 2012
darling, my son is the most sensitive person in the world. When he was out for almost 2 weeks with his mylegram, he was a 24 yeat old active duty sailor-and he was out for 2 weeks, pain head aches, throwing up. One of the other men that got seriously ill was a paratrooper, another was a Marine. Do not feel ashamed, embarrassed. We love you and understand you. I don't think the spine is to be messed with. I'm glad that you're getting better--- Your stroke hasn't helped you at all with this. Some people just don't have any trouble-and I honestly don't think that I've met more than one or two people that haven't had trouble. We had an underground miner across the street that was in an accident. He had one spinal tap and no more.
Spinal headaches usually happen if you don't get enough liquids after the procedure.
Votes: +1
SA
sara12345
16 Dec 2012
Thanks for your comment. Oh I got a LOT of water afterwards for the past 6 days. That made it difficult to have to get up so often peeing in a bucket next to the bed. I drank some all night long too.
ME
meyati
17 Dec 2012
Feel for you with the bucket. You'll get better. Take care--- I just don't think that needles belong near spines. On some shows like House they do shots or spinal taps what ever and I just about throw up. I cover my eyes. I'd probably sit like that all night, my family tells me when it's over and I can open my eyes.
IN
Inactive
15 Dec 2012
Hi Sara, not having spinal tap, but instead a myleogram which is putting dye in the spine & taking pictures, the doctor always says not to raise your head for 24 hours as you will get a severe headaches. I would asume it's the same for a spinal tap. The last one I had, the doctor had me at 30 degrees, & I got a severe headache. When I asked to be put flat the nurse woldn't do it because the doctor ordered 30 degrees. I think if flat it would have gone away... Mary
Votes: +1
ME
meyati
15 Dec 2012
That's the one where my hooked his feet and legs in the bed rail and slept with his head on the floor at the Army hospital. I just didn't know how to spell it.
SA
sara12345
16 Dec 2012
I was only made to lie down for 2 hours after the spinal tap. There was no dye put in the spine. And the doctor I talked to on the phone several days later said it was highly unusual to get the pain so soon afterwards. Believe me, once we got home, I could not get off the bed, except to pee for the next 5 days. Thanks for your comment.
ME
meyati
17 Dec 2012
You know saddle blocks, where they insert junk into your spine so you can deliver a baby pain free? I had one with my second kid. All of you will hate me. They inserted the needle and kept saying any second now, just another second. I was too nervous, having labor pains, and I jumped with the needle in my spine. How the doctors handled that I don't know. I should have been paralyzed from the waist down. They kept pinching and poking me to see if it was working-it didn't. They gave me a mild anesthesia, so they could play poker with a sterile deck of cards. I could see their cards and was loopy enough where I said things like, "Wow, you got a wild card!" You got 2 pair-
So they sat and stared at me moaning and groaning. I must say, the saddle block kicked in in time for a painless elimination of the placenta. Okay I was told not to move my head for 12 hours or I'd have a head ache for ever. I was told not to move, turn or wiggle for 24 hours or I'd be paralyzed. They took me to my room, dumped me in bed and told me not to move until they told me that I could. They left saying that I should sleep to next day's lunch. well in about 2 hours I was so uncomfortable, that I turned my self over. Then I had to pee really bad. So, I rang the bell. The nurses came in and I told them I needed to pee and eat. A nurse came in and saw me turned over- wide awake and wanting a bed pan-she began screaming and more nurses came in. Why did you turn her over- I'm saying that I gotta pee. They told that I couldn't-nobody peed 4 hours after a block-nobody was hungry. So I peed all over the bed and asked them what they thought about that. They called the doctor on duty, and called my doctor. All the duty doctor could think of was to ask me how I felt. I said , "Dirty and hungry." They changed the sheets. I had my soon about 6:30, by 11:30 I was sitting up eating spare ribs and all the trimmings, with almost every nurse in the hospital coming in and looking, clerks, and janitors too. I used the bed pan and went to sleep after much turning to get comfortable and more pillows. I know that I didn't imagine this, because my OB and the anesthetist each wrote up a letter with there letter heads, and got them notarized-that said Do not touch my spine. i jump. i have odd reactions, saddle blocks don't work, etc. They gave them to me. Anytime I went into a new doctor, I carried them in with me, until they fell apart.
Some doctors looked at the letters and had me touch my toes, do back bends, jog in place, etc. I do not have head aches. So, seeing friends have head aches for about 6 months after birthing, the agony of my son at the Army hospital. I do not recommend that any needle go near any spine. None is going near me again-I don't like peeing in my bed.
Hi Sara, Everytime I have had the spinal tap I have had the headache. where I couldn't raise my head up of the pillow without being in a lot of pain ,and when I would put my head back down the headache would go. So each day my head would be raised until towards the end of the week when the headache would be better. I think I told you this before, It didn't happen because I moved whilst I had the spinal tap It didn't matter because it has happened each time I have had one. The last one they tried to do the patch. So I feel for you, take care Liz.
Votes: +1
SA
sara12345
16 Dec 2012
Thanks so much Liz. I didn't move or hurt at all during the spinal tap. They kept me lying down for 2 hours afterwards. Then the pain started within 15 minutes. I remember you talking about the blood patch? How soon after your spinal tap did they do it? Did you have pain immediately afterwards? Now I'm day 6 and it's gotten better, but am having difficulty with my usual severe migraine.
MA
Martavious25
22 Jan 2017
I had a spinal tap done Wednesday the procedure was no pain but I laid there for two hours and afterwards when I got up the headache immediately started and the pain is so intense omg I have been in the bed for 3 days already what should I do
