A Guide to Spinal Tap Side Effects
When you have a spinal tap, side effects can be dangerous. That’s why a spinal tap is only given in cases where you might have a very serious condition or disease. A spinal tap is also known as a lumbar puncture. It is most often used as a diagnostic test but can also be used in certain treatments to inject medication into the spine.
What is a spinal tap?
A spinal tap is a medical procedure which draws fluid from the spine. The needle enters the skin between vertebrae number three and four. Usually, you will be asked to lie down in the fetal position for the procedure but it can also be done if you are in a sitting position with your head bowed forward.
A spinal tap is most often performed to diagnose meningitis. It can also be used to diagnose other brain and spinal cord diseases, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, hydrocephalus, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and benign intracranial hypertension. Diagnosis is made based on the blood cells found in the spinal fluid.
Sometimes, a spinal tap is made so that drugs can be given through the spinal fluid. These include various antibiotics and cancer treatments. If you have a condition like hydrocephalus, the extra water in the spinal fluid causes pressure to build up on the spinal column. A large amount of fluid can be removed in a spinal tap so that this pressure is relieved.
After the spinal tap
Spinal tap side effects can be numerous. Even though the procedure is usually successful, it can be painful even when local anesthesia is given. The most common side effect is a headache, which can last for around forty-eight hours. It usually occurs near the forehead or at the base of the skull. If you were to have the headache for longer than a couple days, it could mean there is a much more serious problem.
Spinal tap side effects also include the possibility of a continuing leak of spinal fluids from the site of needle entry. If your headache gets worse when you are sitting up, this may be the problem. Bed rest is advised and sometimes a procedure called an epidural blood patch is done. In this case, the nurse would draw your own blood and it would be injected where the leak is occurring. When successful, a blood clot forms and stops the leak.
Headaches from lumbar punctures can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers. Your doctor might prescribe something stronger if you are having persistent heavy pain. Sometimes a nerve can be hit during the spinal tap and this also can cause pain or numbness. This happens in less than 1% of the procedures. You might have a backache from the site of the puncture.
Spinal tap risks
The most serious of the spinal tap side effects is when the needle puncture damages the spinal cord or nerves. You could have bleeding in the spinal cord, which could lead to brain damage or a loss of use of your legs. You might also experience other types of neuropathy, cysts, hematomas, or even seizures.
These are the reasons a spinal tap is performed when it is the only way to diagnose a condition or disease. If you are already having bleeding or spinal problems, a spinal tap would not be completed unless it is the last resort to save your life. A thorough examination would be done by your doctor, including imaging test, such as an MRI or CT.
Spinal tap side effects would preclude performing the test on anyone who is taking blood thinning medications.