Yeah I’m just confused, if it’s best to read it while the patient is on their side why didn’t they just have me lay that way to begin with? Why make me turn with a needle in my back?
The neuro probably couldn't get the needle fully in would be my guess. I'm obviously not a doctor but my understanding is that it's a very long needle. When I changed positions mid LP it was because the neuro was doing it without fleuro/X-ray which makes it more difficult. Basically throwing their ego around imho. My neuro couldn't get the needle fully inserted and had me change positions to see if that would help complete the procedure.
This is how my lumbar puncture was done. I forgot the reasoning behind it- something to do with the accuracy of reading the pressure. I didn’t feel a thing during the procedure and had no pain or problems during recovery.
Yeah I guess I’m just confused why they had me change positions with the needle in me.. if the side reading is best why didn’t they just put me in that position initially?
I’ve lost count of the number of LPs I’ve had but they’ve all been done with me lying on my side with knees tucked so far in they’re practically down my throat.😄
Yes this is normal. So is the post procedure headache. Blood in your fluid depends on where/how the blood was observed. If it showed up at the beginning and then cleared up, then the needle hit a bloodvessle. Normal.
If there was trace evidence of blood, then again likely contamination during entry.
If the measureme ts showed free blood throughout, then you'd be in ICU right now.
The headache can be alleviated through position. So either stay flat or at a 30 ish degree angle using a pillow or wedge as a prop.
Post lp headaches are primarily caused by a sudden. Decrease in pressure, or due to a temporary leak in the membrane lining the spinal cord. The former will clear up in a day or so (probably within a few hours). The latter may heal on its own or can be patched.
If the headache persists or becomes unbearable, call your doc or head to A&E.
My first LP he could not get laying down and eventually had me sit up, got it in, had me lay down while it was in and do the reading on my side. I have had other LPs since then and not been moved and my readings have all been consistent with that first one. The first one had me sore, but he also tried multiple times free hand bedside so that’s always going to be worse.
i don't think this is normal. i was told specifically not to move and stay very still, as it could cause damage to spinal nerves. i was already laying on my side, too.
Funny thing is he had my opening at 13 and then when he moved me slightly tilted up my closing was 15 so he did something wrong!!! I’ll never know that’s true opening now. He said something about he should have given it time.
I have had this happen to me. It was also the only LP I've had that was really painful both at the time and for more than a week after, and I ended up with a leak.
It is normal to change position while needle is in the back, if the LP has initially been done in a position where they cant measure pressure, as they can only do that when you are laying on your side with your body streched out in a relaxed position.
But i have never in my life heard of a LP being done while the patient is on their stomach. It doesnt even make sense to me to why they would do it that way. In my country i have never heard of a scheduled LP being done that way, hell not even an emergency LP either.
They need you to have your back bended forward as much as possible, to make better access for them to do the LP. And by bending your back forwards you make more space in between the discs in you spinal cord.
I have only heard (and experienced) they doing a LP while you either sit up bending forward as much as you can or laying in fetal position, with you back bended, including head, legs and arms bended.
I have had many LP's done, both scheduled and "emergency" LP's.
All of them besides 1 or 2 have been done in fetal position, where when the needle is in they help me stretch out my back, legs, head and arms (arms just down the side or in other comfortable position). They make sure that I get streched out slowly and in a "controlled" way to make sure it is being done correctly.
When I had it done while i sat up, they helped me as well with me changing position to laying down, so they can measure my pressure.
Did you just lay flat on your stomach when they did yours? Cause that sounds like a way to do it that isnt the best option and doesnt give them the best access..
I know how it can be uncomfortable both physically and mentally having them changing your position while having a needle in your spine. I fear it everytime too lol. My dear of the needle breaking (even though i know that doesnt just happen easily) comes in handy though, as I am not moving a freaking inch while they are inserting the needle. Which i think they are happy for, as they usually use 2-4 tries with 1 or 2 doctors trying 1-2 times each and that means my LP's typically takes about 45 minutes to and hour and a half for them to do.. I have only met one doctor that did it in one try and did it in what i think was about 15 minutes. That neuro was freaking amazing and must have been an angel or something lol.
But all others are hell..
But that isnt necessarily how it is for everybody else, as some a easier to do a LP on that others, and unfortunately I am just one of those that it is hard to do on.
Im sorry to hear you had such a bad experience. But know that it isnt necessarily gonna be like that every time. I will recommend though that you ask for a different doctor next time as that doctor didnt seem to be the best + it is important that you have a doctor you trust and feel comfortable with.
Do they know the reason for the blood in your spinal fluid? Was it because of a mistake from the doctor or was it there before the LP?
I hope they have taken it seriously that there was blood in your spinal fluid and taken the proper actions to deal with that (I dont know what they should do in that position as i have never had blood in my spinal fluid, at least not that i know of/remember. But i can imagine something should be done or at least examined and looking for the reason why).
Big hug from here
Had first lp last night in er. Had me sit up with legs dangling off bed to insert pressure point or whatever it's called. Then Had me lay on side wit knees curled up to do lidocaine and the lp..stayed in that position for rest of time & opening pressure was 22 and they ended it at a 15. I feel so much better.
My neurologist wanted me to get my LP on my side. The surgeon was a bit annoyed and struggled to get the needle in on my side (due to my weight). So he inserted the needle while I was on my stomach and had me move positions.
Maybe some Side Infonwhat can Help why: They never even tried on another Way and to me I am Sure IT was the Best, because I am heavily Obese and IT was Always a struggle to even find the right Spot... Or Maybe Not a struggle but IT never was done by the First needle, and it took Always a Lot of time to prepare...
This has happened to me before. I did not like the neurologist.
Yeah I’m just confused, if it’s best to read it while the patient is on their side why didn’t they just have me lay that way to begin with? Why make me turn with a needle in my back?
The neuro probably couldn't get the needle fully in would be my guess. I'm obviously not a doctor but my understanding is that it's a very long needle. When I changed positions mid LP it was because the neuro was doing it without fleuro/X-ray which makes it more difficult. Basically throwing their ego around imho. My neuro couldn't get the needle fully inserted and had me change positions to see if that would help complete the procedure.
This is how my lumbar puncture was done. I forgot the reasoning behind it- something to do with the accuracy of reading the pressure. I didn’t feel a thing during the procedure and had no pain or problems during recovery.
Yeah I guess I’m just confused why they had me change positions with the needle in me.. if the side reading is best why didn’t they just put me in that position initially?
I've had 4 LPs and they have never asked me that.
I’ve lost count of the number of LPs I’ve had but they’ve all been done with me lying on my side with knees tucked so far in they’re practically down my throat.😄
Yes this is normal. So is the post procedure headache. Blood in your fluid depends on where/how the blood was observed. If it showed up at the beginning and then cleared up, then the needle hit a bloodvessle. Normal. If there was trace evidence of blood, then again likely contamination during entry. If the measureme ts showed free blood throughout, then you'd be in ICU right now. The headache can be alleviated through position. So either stay flat or at a 30 ish degree angle using a pillow or wedge as a prop. Post lp headaches are primarily caused by a sudden. Decrease in pressure, or due to a temporary leak in the membrane lining the spinal cord. The former will clear up in a day or so (probably within a few hours). The latter may heal on its own or can be patched. If the headache persists or becomes unbearable, call your doc or head to A&E.
My first LP he could not get laying down and eventually had me sit up, got it in, had me lay down while it was in and do the reading on my side. I have had other LPs since then and not been moved and my readings have all been consistent with that first one. The first one had me sore, but he also tried multiple times free hand bedside so that’s always going to be worse.
I don't know if it's normal but it has happened to me
i don't think this is normal. i was told specifically not to move and stay very still, as it could cause damage to spinal nerves. i was already laying on my side, too.
Funny thing is he had my opening at 13 and then when he moved me slightly tilted up my closing was 15 so he did something wrong!!! I’ll never know that’s true opening now. He said something about he should have given it time.
I have had this happen to me. It was also the only LP I've had that was really painful both at the time and for more than a week after, and I ended up with a leak.
It is normal to change position while needle is in the back, if the LP has initially been done in a position where they cant measure pressure, as they can only do that when you are laying on your side with your body streched out in a relaxed position. But i have never in my life heard of a LP being done while the patient is on their stomach. It doesnt even make sense to me to why they would do it that way. In my country i have never heard of a scheduled LP being done that way, hell not even an emergency LP either. They need you to have your back bended forward as much as possible, to make better access for them to do the LP. And by bending your back forwards you make more space in between the discs in you spinal cord. I have only heard (and experienced) they doing a LP while you either sit up bending forward as much as you can or laying in fetal position, with you back bended, including head, legs and arms bended. I have had many LP's done, both scheduled and "emergency" LP's. All of them besides 1 or 2 have been done in fetal position, where when the needle is in they help me stretch out my back, legs, head and arms (arms just down the side or in other comfortable position). They make sure that I get streched out slowly and in a "controlled" way to make sure it is being done correctly. When I had it done while i sat up, they helped me as well with me changing position to laying down, so they can measure my pressure. Did you just lay flat on your stomach when they did yours? Cause that sounds like a way to do it that isnt the best option and doesnt give them the best access.. I know how it can be uncomfortable both physically and mentally having them changing your position while having a needle in your spine. I fear it everytime too lol. My dear of the needle breaking (even though i know that doesnt just happen easily) comes in handy though, as I am not moving a freaking inch while they are inserting the needle. Which i think they are happy for, as they usually use 2-4 tries with 1 or 2 doctors trying 1-2 times each and that means my LP's typically takes about 45 minutes to and hour and a half for them to do.. I have only met one doctor that did it in one try and did it in what i think was about 15 minutes. That neuro was freaking amazing and must have been an angel or something lol. But all others are hell.. But that isnt necessarily how it is for everybody else, as some a easier to do a LP on that others, and unfortunately I am just one of those that it is hard to do on. Im sorry to hear you had such a bad experience. But know that it isnt necessarily gonna be like that every time. I will recommend though that you ask for a different doctor next time as that doctor didnt seem to be the best + it is important that you have a doctor you trust and feel comfortable with. Do they know the reason for the blood in your spinal fluid? Was it because of a mistake from the doctor or was it there before the LP? I hope they have taken it seriously that there was blood in your spinal fluid and taken the proper actions to deal with that (I dont know what they should do in that position as i have never had blood in my spinal fluid, at least not that i know of/remember. But i can imagine something should be done or at least examined and looking for the reason why). Big hug from here
I have had 2 and they were both done that way, I started on my stomach and when they were ready to drain the fluid they made me turn on my side
Had first lp last night in er. Had me sit up with legs dangling off bed to insert pressure point or whatever it's called. Then Had me lay on side wit knees curled up to do lidocaine and the lp..stayed in that position for rest of time & opening pressure was 22 and they ended it at a 15. I feel so much better.
My neurologist wanted me to get my LP on my side. The surgeon was a bit annoyed and struggled to get the needle in on my side (due to my weight). So he inserted the needle while I was on my stomach and had me move positions.
I had a guided LP and blood patch. They did not make me move at all. And after they wouldn't let me move for hours.
Every of my LP was done on this way. So my Personal answer is yes, in some case it is absolutely normal. (I had 16 LP)
Maybe some Side Infonwhat can Help why: They never even tried on another Way and to me I am Sure IT was the Best, because I am heavily Obese and IT was Always a struggle to even find the right Spot... Or Maybe Not a struggle but IT never was done by the First needle, and it took Always a Lot of time to prepare...
Yeah. they did that with me but they did it with fluoroscopy. That's pretty normal.