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Anyone have first-hand knowledge of the pain of a spinal tap?
Posted by: Dennis S
Date: May 06, 2018 05:29PM
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Re: Anyone have first-hand knowledge of the pain of a spinal tap?
Posted by: CW2V
Date: May 06, 2018 05:57PM
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Re: Anyone have first-hand knowledge of the pain of a spinal tap?
Posted by: Dennis S
Date: May 06, 2018 06:00PM
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Re: Anyone have first-hand knowledge of the pain of a spinal tap?
Posted by: Buzz
Date: May 06, 2018 06:02PM
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Re: Anyone have first-hand knowledge of the pain of a spinal tap?
Posted by: billb
Date: May 06, 2018 06:09PM
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Re: Anyone have first-hand knowledge of the pain of a spinal tap?
Posted by: pdq
Date: May 06, 2018 06:26PM
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Re: Anyone have first-hand knowledge of the pain of a spinal tap?
Posted by: dad@home
Date: May 06, 2018 06:45PM
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Quote
pdq
Naw. Really no sweat. The numbing of the overlying skin can sting a tiny bit, as it can for an instant when the needle first enters the space containing the spinal fluid. They actually do the tap at a level of the spine below where there is actual spinal cord (at that level, it's divided into a bunch of separate nerves, which they wouldn't hit with their needle).
Wife had one, doesn't remember much about it. I had spinal anesthesia (which involves a spinal tap). They'd given me some Versed first (a short-acting "tranquilizer", often used in minor surgical procedures). I remember a teeeny little mosquito bite, and nothing else. (But I was buzzed from the Versed)
There is a risk of a "spinal headache" afterward (in about ~5% of patients, IIRC, after spinal anesthesia, less often after simple spinal tap) which can be a bad headache. But that's well after the procedure. The wife says the idea is much worse than the reality. I would certainly have spinal anesthesia again over general anesthesia.
Re: Anyone have first-hand knowledge of the pain of a spinal tap?
Posted by: wave rider
Date: May 06, 2018 07:11PM
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Re: Anyone have first-hand knowledge of the pain of a spinal tap?
Posted by: samintx
Date: May 06, 2018 07:56PM
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Re: Anyone have first-hand knowledge of the pain of a spinal tap?
Posted by: Yoyodyne ArtWorks
Date: May 06, 2018 09:02PM
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Quote
dad@home
Quote
pdq
Naw. Really no sweat. The numbing of the overlying skin can sting a tiny bit, as it can for an instant when the needle first enters the space containing the spinal fluid. They actually do the tap at a level of the spine below where there is actual spinal cord (at that level, it's divided into a bunch of separate nerves, which they wouldn't hit with their needle).
Wife had one, doesn't remember much about it. I had spinal anesthesia (which involves a spinal tap). They'd given me some Versed first (a short-acting "tranquilizer", often used in minor surgical procedures). I remember a teeeny little mosquito bite, and nothing else. (But I was buzzed from the Versed)
There is a risk of a "spinal headache" afterward (in about ~5% of patients, IIRC, after spinal anesthesia, less often after simple spinal tap) which can be a bad headache. But that's well after the procedure. The wife says the idea is much worse than the reality. I would certainly have spinal anesthesia again over general anesthesia.
Good advice pdq. My perspective is a little different since being an anesthesiologist/pain specialist nearing retirement I'v performed about 15 thousand "spinal taps" and epidurals (closely related).
The best advice I can add is
1) ask for the most experienced hands (anesthesiologist or senior radiologist). Sorry medical students.
2) ask them to use the smallest possible needle they can and one that has a "pencil tip". These will take the incidence of spinal headache almost to zero
3) if they offer sedation with versed take it. Relaxing the spine muscles will help get the needle to the right place on the first try.
Good luck.
John
Re: Anyone have first-hand knowledge of the pain of a spinal tap?
Posted by: Rolando
Date: May 06, 2018 10:39PM
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Dennis S
I'll get this out if the way: Does the pain scale go to 11?
Re: Anyone have first-hand knowledge of the pain of a spinal tap?
Posted by: cbelt3
Date: May 07, 2018 09:53AM
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Re: Anyone have first-hand knowledge of the pain of a spinal tap?
Posted by: Kraniac
Date: May 07, 2018 07:37PM
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