After being warned that having a spinal tap could cause incredibly bad spinal headaches afterwards, Karl was keen to follow the advice to rest, lie down and take in lots of fluids. “After developing a high fever and rash, I needed the spinal tap to investigate whether I had bacterial meningitis, so this was a really worrying and stressful time. I was already feeling pretty rough, so I didn’t want to feel worse because of intense headaches,” he recalls.
Fortunately, the results of the spinal tap showed there was no meningitis and Karl’s fever subsided over the next couple of days. “I also never developed a spinal headache, so I was feeling a lot more positive and wasn’t really worried about my back and hips feeling painful. I had been through a lot and knew it would take a bit of time to recover and feel more like my old self,” he says.
What Does a Spinal Tap Involve?
A spinal tap is often also referred to as a lumbar puncture; it involves using a large needle to puncture the skin and protective membranes around the spine that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid so a little of that fluid can be drawn off to be analysed. Spinal taps are often done to investigate whether someone has an active infection in the brain and spinal fluid, or to introduce an anaesthetic. Epidural anaesthetics are often used in knee surgery, for example, as well as being offered as pain relief for women enduring long and intractable labours.
During the procedure you need to lie on your front – for about one and a half hours. After the fluid has been taken, you are then advised to lie still on your back for about 16 hours, while taking in plenty of water to remain fully hydrated.
Back Pain as a Side Effect of a Spinal Tap
The combination of immobility during the procedure and the effect of the spinal tap on some of the nerve leaving the spinal cord at the point where the needle is inserted can lead to inflammation, which causes lower back pain, hip pain and lower abdominal pain for days or even weeks afterwards.
After a few more days of resting at home, Karl’s back pain had not really subsided. “I was getting up and about and being more mobile but even though I am only 35, I was hobbling round likely someone about 40 years older. I was starting to feel better but I had quite intense pain in my lower back that would move into my right hip and then round to the front of my lower abdomen during the day. Nothing seemed to help – whether I stayed resting, or tried to do some exercises and keep moving, the pain was still bad,” he explains.
Concerned that something had gone wrong in the spinal tap procedure, Karl went back to his GP. “She explained to me that, after spinal headaches, getting lower back pain after a spinal tap was the second most likely after-effect. I was relieved that this was fairly normal and reassured when she said that the pain would ease – but it could take several weeks.”
Steps to Recovery
Used to being active, Karl researched the problem of back pain after spinal tap on the internet and found forums full of people who had experienced the same thing. “It was worrying that quite young people reported being reduced to walking with a stick and to suffering really bad effects on their normal life. I have always been active and hate being ill so I decided to tackle the problem head on – there was no way I was going to hobble around using a walking stick!” stresses Karl.
Over the next few weeks, Karl took the advice of his doctor and used ibuprofen in combination with paracetamol to keep the pain to a manageable level and embarked on his own rehabilitation programme of daily swimming, walking and booked himself in at the local health club for a weekly back massage. “The exercise really made me feel better generally and 2 months later, my back was really feeling as it used to; for anyone in the same position I would recommend doing the same. Things like this have to be beaten, before they beat you!” he says.
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When I was 14 I was sent to the emergency room with an illness the doctors couldn't identify. Extremely high fever and high white blood cell count. Like through the roof high. They decided a lumbar puncture was the first course of action after soooo much blood work. I woke up after they were done groggy from the drug they gave me and was told I might experience a headache and some soreness in my lower back. They said to take ibuprofen and sleep. Okay fair enough. Around 1am I woke up and the drug they had given me prior had finally worn off and I was hurting. I woke my mom and she gave me the 800 mg they gave me on my way out. I laid on the couch for 3 hours crying because I hurt so bad. I thought I was being a baby so I didn't wake my mom again. The next morning I was still crying and nothing I did eased the pain. Nothing. She took me back to the ER and they said soreness is normal but if was hurting bad enough then they would give me something stronger. Out the door with loratab i went. It didnt touch the pain I was in. Didnt even ease it. So the next day I was back in. They gave me something different and a shot of morphine. That stuff made me sick and still wasnt touching my pain. Then I went back to the ER. They said you have to give it time. Another shot of morphine and I was sent home. After the nurse burned my vein with the morphine. By the next night I practically crawled to the car to go back to the ER. I got there and I could hardly move or breathe I was in that much pain. They had to go get someone to get a wheelchair and lift me out of the car. Finally they admitted me and put me on a morphine drip for 3 days. They then began to take me off and when we asked what had happened for what seemed like the 100th time they said they didn't know. They had never seen anything like it. They had no explanation. I was given a different pain medication and was told I couldn't return to school until I was off of it. Which was another week and a half. Needless to say it's the worst pain I've ever experienced and they never found out why I was sick. Because I was back in there the next week with the same symptoms as before. Bone scans and antibiotics later and they still didn't know. I was an otherwise healthy 14 year old. They thought they gave me an infection and wanted to perform another spinal tap and I refused. I said you're not sticking another needle in my back until you have run every test known to man kind before. I said I would never go through that again without absolutely needing it.
Cscs88 - 25-Mar-20 @ 6:38 AM
I've had spinal meningitis 7 times now. So much scar tissue they have to do x ray with the lumbar puncture. I am having a lot of back pain this time an still having headaches. I am a walking miracle. God has truly blessed me.I'm sure with my faith God will take care of me.this time too. This is very painful an scary. How long can the pain go on,, days,,, weeks? Any insight will help. Thank you so much.
Bill - 17-Feb-20 @ 7:17 AM
Hello I had spinal tap done bout 8 month ago due to a brain aneurysm. I tell you someday they way my back is make me not wanna move. This being said by somebody who is 24 years old.
Someday the pain is worse then other. Like today my back is on a 10 right now. Most day I break down and ask my wife mom for some perc 10.s bc the pain is so bad. Whatever the doc did to me I swear I'd love to punch on em I'm 24 and feel like I'm 80 when the pain is super bad I'm hunched over and cant stand up str8 I build fences for a living so imagine doing that with the pain
Mike - 3-Feb-20 @ 10:15 PM
So about 7 or 8 months ago I got a spiral tap preformed due to have being diagnosed with Idiopathic intracranial hypertension, Also known as pseudotumor. It asks like a fake Tumor , and caused fluid and pressureto build up in my head and effecting my left eye blinding me 80% of the day. So my doctor advised me to get aspinal tab to reduce the fluid surrounding my brain. When I went to have it performed the lady wasent able to find where was spine exactly was and was moving the needle all around my back “blindly “ she tried again but I started to have pain in my lower hip so I made her stop after about 15 mins of doing the same thing with no results. I was so upset about it because this was the last option they can do before forcing me to have brain surgery to help save my eye from completely going blind and to reduce the fluid and pressure I had surrounded my brain. I am writing this because after i had my spinal tap I was okay leaving to go home no serious side effect besides I had a headache. Almost 6 months later I started experience really bad back pain and only got worse over time . It feels like someone’s digging a knife in my back and when I'm onlymoving around doing chores it’s like super sharp and pinching feeling that i litterally have to stop everything I’m doing and bend over or sit down or I litterally feel like crying my eyes out! It definitely effects my everyday life and at times it’s somewhat manageable but there are days that the pain is so bad I can’t do anything that involves me moving around. So lately I have been trying to figure out why this is happening and herd someone say that
After they had a spinal tap months later the same thing happen to them . So I need help with knowing if this is accually true ! If anyone can comment on this or lmk if they are in the same sisuation for they know of it being true that would be great !!!!
LaLA - 18-Jan-20 @ 2:16 AM
So about 7 or 8 months ago I got a spiral tap preformed due to have being diagnosed with Idiopathic intracranial hypertension, Also known as pseudotumor. It asks like a fake Tumor , and caused fluid and pressureto build up in my head and effecting my left eye blinding me 80% of the day. So my doctor advised me to get aspinal tab to reduce the fluid surrounding my brain. When I went to have it performed the lady wasent able to find where was spine exactly was and was moving the needle all around my back “blindly “ she tried again but I started to have pain in my lower hip so I made her stop after about 15 mins of doing the same thing with no results. I was so upset about it because this was the last option they can do before forcing me to have brain surgery to help save my eye from completely going blind and to reduce the fluid and pressure I had surrounded my brain. I am writing this because after i had my spinal tap I was okay leaving to go home no serious side effect besides I had a headache. Almost 6 months later I started experience really bad back pain and only got worse over time . It feels like someone’s digging a knife in my back and when I'm onlymoving around doing chores it’s like super sharp and pinching feeling that i litterally have to stop everything I’m doing and bend over or sit down or I litterally feel like crying my eyes out! It definitely effects my everyday life and at times it’s somewhat manageable but there are days that the pain is so bad I can’t do anything that involves me moving around. So lately I have been trying to figure out why this is happening and herd someone say that
After they had a spinal tap months later the same thing happen to them . So I need help with knowing if this is accually true ! If anyone can comment on this or lmk if they are in the same sisuation for they know of it being true that would be great !!!!
LaLA - 18-Jan-20 @ 2:15 AM
Hi . I also had a spinal Tap to check the stages of a bleeiding in my brain. This has caused me serious back pain almost feels like my spine has given in and the pain in awful I live every day waking up in the morning with pain when I lay flat I can't sleep because of it , The procedure was at 3am in the morning at the royal London hospital , its been years now after and I'm in so much pain I feel like the hospital having done this to me , Walking is horrible and laying flat in bed is the same I would advise anyone to not have a lumbar puncture unless necessary , it ruined my life I complain all the time and it annoys my partner although the pain is genuine .
UKez - 3-Jul-18 @ 9:44 AM
I had a spinal tap 3 years ago and still suffering from back, hip and left leg pain along with occasional weakness. Nothing helps. I can't even stand more than 10 minutes! I need help!
Agsmith78 - 5-Apr-18 @ 5:51 PM
I had suicidal back pain and leg pain for 7-8 months after a spinal tap until the pain slowly subsided. Today 1 year later, i am 80-90 % Better! Noone will ever touch my spine again!!! Anything done near the dural-sac can cause an incurable disease called arachnoiditis.
