Lumbar puncture

[Jocelyn]

I know there are some posts about Lumbar pucture, but my doctor said he is looking for any inflammation.  Exactly what does that mean?  Is that all they are looking for or can they determine anything else from that?
Also, my blood work has always showed SSA positive and SSB, in the 500's, this week Dr. Birnbaum does the blood work and neither are present.  Does it move around like this?
jOCELYN

Sorry forgot to also ask who usually performs the LP, my neuro is ordering it.  Is there anything to be aware of before or during this?

[southerngirl]

Hi Jocelyn,
I have been reading your posts and I know you are really struggling. I feel bad for you. I just went thru all that you are dealing with a little over a year ago.
I went to the hospital to have the LP done. Mine was done under fluroscopy and it did not hurt. I was sick for a few days afterward. Your neuro is looking for obands and other markers of MS and other diseases like viral infection. What is weird about the LP is in regards to MS, it's not a final determination if you have it or not. I had inflammation and obands(alot of them) and 2 neuro's said no ms. However, I do have SJS.
please hang in there, it sounds like you are getting excellent medical care.

Do the neuro tell you if your MRI showed MS lesions?

[Jules48cats]

Hi Jocelyn

I had my Lumbar Puncture done in 2006.  I had a MRI that showed lessions on my brain and the doctor thought I had MS.  I was really sick at the time.  I had it done at a hospital and it did not take that long.. A neurologist did the puncture and it did not hurt.  But I could feel some pressure while he was doing it.  That was when I was diagnosed with Sjogrens. 
The most important thing is that you lay down afterward and try not to move around much.  Some people get really bad headaches and or Nausea.   I didn't have any problems with that. 
Hope all goes well and you get some good news..
Jules

[Scottietottie]

Hi Jocelyn 

I had a lumbar puncture done sometime in the 1990s. It was  slightly uncomfortable but nothing more. I was tested for MS and it was negative. I lay flat for a couple of hours and then got up, lied that I was being collected, and got the bus home. No ill effects.

Take care - Scottie 

[anita]

Wow, so many of you had such good experiences.  Wish I could say the same.  I've had 7 LP's over the last 15 years, and every one of them leaked spinal fluid causing the massive headache.  I literally could not get up or even sit up.  All 7 required blood patches.  Doctors always want you to lay flat for a while an I did....for days.  One I had menengitis and was in the hospital so laid flat for 5 days in hopes I would not have a problem...no luck.  I have waited up to 12 days (flat) waiting for the hole to close up on it's own and avoid the patch.  Each time when they re-accessed the spinal area to perform the blood patch, they could even see the spinal fluid leaking out.    I don't know what is the problem with me and LP's, but never again.

If it's any consolation, the procedure itself really doesn't hurt...just a little pressure.  Numbing the area is probably the worst, and that's not bad either.

Dr. Birnbaum ordered my last (even he agrees it will never be done again) one last year.  For me, he was looking for any inflammation that can appear from the brain and/or spinal cord.  If you have neuro symptoms, it can (but doesn't always) show up as inflammation in the CSF.  He usually orders an MRI to look for the inflammation before doing the LP.  I have a pacemaker so he couldn't do the MRI.  Has he done an MRI for you yet?

Just because I had a bad experience(s), doesn't mean you will.  I am a little surprised that no one has posted any problems.  Just follow their directions and you should be fine.

Anita

[inga]

My last LP was done on a tilt table and they filled two tubes without any suction....it was allowed to drip out.  I was on an angle, head up.  I had absolutely NO problems with it.  The neuro stated if fluid is allowed to drip out, with no suction on a syringe that there are far less issues.  It takes a long time tho.

Hope all goes well for you.

[anita]

None of the 7 I had used any means of suction.   They all were collected as it dripped out, either on a tilt table or while sitting up (but bending forward).  My body just doesn't like to comply...lol 

Jocelyn will do fine.

[navydad]

I;ve had so many its a wonder I have any left,, the worst one was when I had menigitis,, it came out bloody and yellow,,, it was touch and go for a few days,, this was after I had that Chiari surgery,, something I look back on now as something I should have never had done,, it didnt relieve any symptoms,, and all the surgeons said,, well we tried,,