I had a lumbar puncture done last night at the ER to rule out Meningitis. The ER Doc tried 2x and couldn't get it. Then they called for Anesth to come and do it he had to do it 2x and FINALLY got the sample. BUT, the back pain I am having today is UNRELENTING!!! I cannot sit or stand without excruciating pain and pressure, it feels like something is pushing out my back!! I don't know what I should do. Is this normal? Has ANYONE ever had this happen to them??
Hey, I am sorry to hear this has happen to you, I am not a Dr or any type of medic, forgive me for a little about experience as I don't want to alarm you further but will tell you my story. about 10yrs ago I was suffering with severe headaches for a few days, I went to see my G.P and explained that I had them for 2 days and thought I should get checked out, upon examination when I said to the G.P it was like I had been hit in the head with a sledge hammer and I was sensitive to the light, he immidiatly called for an ambulance
and was rushed to hospital for a lumbar puncture and other tests,after a C.T scan I then had to go for a lumber puntcture, i was seen by a junior DR and she asked if I was happy for her to carry out this procedure and said she had done lots in her training but still needed to do further ones to be signed off, sadly she missed me on 3 goes but while she was doing it I was crying with pain, and said that I kept getting electrical shocks type pain but in my ( male parts ), on the 3rd go while she was in she was rotating the needle to which I found out was a massive error on her part, like you an anest how got it first time, I complained to him and said I now had bad back pain, they agreed to keep me in overnight while they waiting on results, this is the worst part now and don't wish to scare you, my back pain got a lot worse overnight and I was complaining of numbness in my legs, I was seen and had a full neuro test, I had severe weekness in my legs and was rushed to a major spinal centre, had a further scan and it showed massive swelling around the lumbar sites and it was compressing the spinal cord, I ended up in hospital for 15 days and had lost all feeling in my legs and couldn't walk, I also got an infection in the spinal cord, eventually I started feeing better and on day 15 was able to go home but was in a wheel chair for 3 months.
After your lumber puncture did they let you go straight home??
I would get yourself straight back to a medical centre, do not leave it anything to do with your spine is not worth risking. Keep us updated, I am sure you will be ok and hope you don't have big problems like me.
Regards
I had it done and they kept me for about 2 hours to wait for the results, after they came back ok they let me come home. While they did the punctures I did get the pain that I felt down my leg and literally screamed. Leaving the ER I has some soreness which I would only assume to be normal considering they stuck me 4x. But today the pain has been unrelenting and it just seems to be getting worse. I don't know what to do, I don't want to go back to the ER and they just say oh ya this is normal and basically just tell me to suck it up......ugh, this is SO FRUSTRATING!!! The scariest part is I did have a 2 level decompression with Laminectomy at L5 10 years ago, so I do have pain meds to help with that now and than, so I have been taking the max doses and I am STILL in this much pain!!!! I just don't know!!!
I am SORRY to hear of your experience!!!
So sorry! When did they do that! I had doctor take a sample of the bone in my spine once and that was very painful! It only hurt 2 or 3 days, but not as bad as what you are explaining. And I also had a spinal tap which I believe is what you had, but I had to go see a specialist who used fluoroscopy (x-ray) I looked up the possible risks and back pain is definitely a risk. Here's what it said: "Back discomfort or pain. You may feel pain or tenderness in your lower back after the procedure. The pain might radiate down the back of your legs." You sou d a little worse than that. You may have to go back to the hospital.
Good luck. I am so sorry you are going through this.
Cekticgyrl,
I mean you should just have discomfort, not that kind of pain, only thing I can think is because they did it so many times they bruised you good, keep an eye on it if it doesn't feel any better than go back to where you had it done. I hope this help, but you should just have some discomfort,
Good luck
Keep us updated!!
Feel better,
Cynthia ( cindy)
Hello, I had a double level spinal fusion and decompression coming up to 2 yrs ago on l5/s1 and L4. Sadly the fusion has failed and now have been told there is nothing further they can do other than pain medication for life, this is the good old NHS In UK.
I really wouldn't risk your pain, it could very well be that the lumbar puncture might have caused some swelling so you might have pain for few days, but it's worth getting checked out for price of mind.
Again I will keep fingers crossed for you that it's nothing major.
X 😀
I had it done about 24 hours ago. I wish there was a way to post pictures cuz the swelling I have is CRAZY!!! I just don't want to go to the ER if they are gonna shrug their shoulders and be like 'this is normal' then I feel like I am wasting people's time......SO FRUSTRATING!!
I think you should put ice on it for the swelling.
Please get yourself straight back in,you are so NOT wasting their time,I seriously think you may have dis cities which will need treating with intravenous antibiotics.
please keep in touch and keep us updatedx
You must have the needle sites looked at immediately. ANYTHING could be going on...inflammation, infection, anything. You shouldn't be having that level of pain. You've had back surgery...you know you don't fool around with anything spine-related. Go back to the ER now....do not wait...you need to have this documented and taken care of. Your pain level is way out of line. Pain tells us that something is wrong...please listen to it. And please let us know how it goes.
How are you doing today CelticGyrl? Did you go back to the ER?
WELL!!! That was DEF an experience I wish on NO ONE!!!
After going back to the ER, I was admitted and in there for 5 days. They started me on the antibiotics and then I got the WORST headache of my life, which they decided was from the LP which I was given a blood patch for, I will NEVER have one of those EVER AGAIN!!! When he was rooting around he obviously hit the nerve because I got the WORST shock of my life into my left groin/leg.
So, as I sit here today and still have the shocking pain in my left groin and pain in the back from the 50 different attempts they had to do to get the needle right, ok if you add the LP attempts it was a total of 9 holes in my back...LOL!! I am told that it is normal and 'not to worry' about it. I just don't even know what to do with myself anymore...
Anyways, I just wanted to send a message to say THANKS for all your replies and help, it really did push me to seek help.
Hope you are ALL doing well!!!
Cheers!!🍀CH
Hi, CelticGyrl! I'm glad you went back...too bad it caused you to be admitted, but it was necessary. But having to be stuck and rooted around on all those times is NOT normal for an LP. I think you were treated abominably and I pray you don't have permanent nerve damage. Something I would do before any more time passes is to get a copy of your medical records for all the treatment days for this problem...the ER visit and your 5 days in hospital...aIl the records, doctors' and nurses' notes, medications, EVERYTHING. Personally, I would be looking into legal counsel but that is your decision. I know you're probably just glad to be home and probably want to forget this entire nightmare. But it sounds like you still have a high pain level, which sounds like a bad outcome to me. Take good care, CelticGyrl...I wish you a complete recovery! Maybe you just need time to recover. But on the other hand it's always good to be armed with your records and documentation if it happens that you need them 
So sorry for your horrible experience! That's how my s ympathetic nerve block was like a month ago - he kept jabbing and jabbing and then the muscles spasmed in the middle of my back, and it still hurts! Unfortunately, I think there are more bad doctors than good. Out of all my specialists I've been to over the last 12 years, there is only ONE that I would recommend to others. Good luck, hope you are feeling better soon!
OK OK OK!!! I am here to bother you all with yet ANOTHER question that I have. I have something that started today and I'm not sure if it's 'normal' or not.
When I woke up this morning I thought it was just from stiffness from the whole ordeal, BUT it is still happening and driving me CRAZY!!! When I bend my neck down(as to look at the floor) I feel pain in my low back, it's a painful, pulling type feeling. Have NEVER had anything like this before in the past.
If I am becoming annoying with all the questions just tell me to stop, I am pretty much annoyed with the whole situation so I could understand that people who don't even know me might be tired of listening to me whine and complain!!
Hope you ALL have a wonderful day!!
CHEERS🍀CG
Cekticgyrl,
I'm sure it has to do with all that poking, the muscles and nerves are all aggravated, just keep an eye on it and hopefully it goes away. But anything with your back and neck keep an eye on it.
Take care
Cindy( Cynthia)
No one here will ever get annoyed with your questions and/or whining and/or complaining. That's what we're all here for! I have no idea why you are having pain in your low back from bending your neck, but you never know when someone else on these forums will have the exact same thing. I for one find great comfort in whining and complaing on this site to my new friends like you who understand what I'm going through. People do not understand our chronic pain because they have not been through it.
Take care!
Linda
WELL!! As I sit here at 5:20am and contemplate my next move I am beside myself full of frustration and anger.
As of Monday night my headache started progressively getting worse AGAIN, as of last night I started getting a fever that went up to 39.2.
I am losing the ability to look down without the pressure and pain in my low back(left side) increasing. I have noticed that since this increase in pressure in the low back, it has increased the stabbing/shooting/funny-bone type pain I have been feeling in my left groin since the blood patch.
OOPS, I didn't mean to hit send.......
I KNOW that I probably already should be heading to the ER, but I am instead going first thing in the morning to see my GP for him to give me some HONEST insight before he sends me to the ER. (Which I am pretty sure is inevitable yet again)
I guess I am just wishing to expel what is happening at this moment in my life and hoping for some prayers so that I can get over this ordeal because I am all done with feeling so crappy and cannot afford to be taking all this time off work when I have 4 kids and bills to take care of.
THANK YOU to you ALL for standing by my side and giving me AMAZING advice!!
Hope you ALL have an AMAZING FLAWLESS DAY!!!! CHEERS🍀CG
Hey, I am so sorry to here you are having so much trouble ( again ), I can't quiet remember what you had done at first, sorry I answer so many people on here.
Did you originally have a LP which went wrong??
George :-)