Back Pain Forum - Damage Caused By Lumber Puncture?

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Q: Damage Caused By Lumber Puncture?

asked by: Trixi on April 20th, 2006

New User

Hello,
my husband has recently been diagnosed with relapse remitting ms. He was sent for a lumber puncture to confirm ms. Following the lumber puncture proceedure, he was very ill. His symptoms were as follows. The most worrying was extreme pain in his head which would subside if he lay flat. The pain continued at this level for two weeks, he couldnt do anything but lay flat. I telephoned the hospital and they said it was common for people to have head ache for a few days, but that he should drink extra fluids. He was already drinking 2ltr but forced himself to drink an extra 2ltrs. He was not passing urine properly...And still isnt. His head ache persists, and so does his inability to pass suficient urine, aand he is also very constipated. His ms symptoms appear to be worse then ever... Despite his improvement prior to the lumber puncture.

Does anyone know if he could have been damaged while having the procedure. He told me that he had to sign a consent form for the procedure as they were using a new technique. He was not warned about the effects of the procedure... Apart from you may have to rest for the remainder of the day..

Tricia

Replies(4)

Tamadrummer

replied on April 20th, 2006

Active User, very eHealthy

His symptoms are normal based on the fact that they did not do a follow up right after you called them and told them he was having terrible headaches.

They should have brought him back in as soon as you called and told him the symptoms. About the only fix for that problems is a blood patch to stop the leaking of csf. Surprisingly, it seems that the uk is a place that you do not want to have an lp done. There are many folks here that have had terrible experiences with the procedure over in europe and mostly in the uk.

I have had several lp/myleograms and have never exprienced any complications with leaking post procedure.

They were correct to tell him to drink lots of fluids and gatorade would probably have been the best to drink.

Hopefully he is doing better now and to my knowledge he shouldn't have any further complications as long as he did not pick up an infection at the hospital.

Good luck,
brian

Trixi

replied on April 21st, 2006

New User

Lumbar Puncture Damage?

Hi brian,

my husband is still having terrible headaches, and is so weak he is unable to get out of bed for longer than an hour at a time. He is still unable to pass water easily, or have his bowels open, this I think is making the problem worse. I did phone the hospital yesterday as I am very concerned about his condition. They said that he could have a leak, but that he should get better in another 3 weeks. He has been told to leave it for three weeks, and if he isnt better to call them back. I am disgusted by this advice, as they obviously dont know or believe the extent of the problems he is having, despite me outlining them rigorously. The other problem that they are aware of, is that he is living alone at the moment as we have separated. I dont know what to do, should I phone the hospital again and tell them that he cant cope. I feel that I might. His gp phoned him yesterday and was also unhappy with the advice given...She said she would phone them on monday... But it seems a long time to wait. I am very worried about him.

Tamadrummer

replied on April 21st, 2006

Active User, very eHealthy

If there is a different hospital, you need to get him to it as soon as possible! This is too long. Narcotic meds will make his head hurt worse. Tylenol and water/gatorade are the best for this and he needs a real doctor to look at him and you both need to hear from a real doctor that waiting 3 weeks in excrutiating pain is what you are supposed to do.

There is no sense to that and that nurse should be knocked in the nose for telling your husband to suffer like that.

ianandlynda

replied on April 19th, 2009

New User

lumber puncture

Hi

My daughter in Oz had a lumber puncture 2 days ago, she too suffered extreme headaches, phoned the doc and they took her back in to give her stronger painkillers and monitoring her. I am waiting for docs rounds to finish to find out what is happening next but they seem to think she may need a minor op to insert blood and close the gap from the LP which is leaking. My worry is that she is breastfeeding a 4 mth old and wonder if she should still be doing that.

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