If you are currently on antibiotics or blood thinners, a lumbar puncture may not be an option. “A headache after is still possible, but avoidable, if you stay prone the rest of the day,” they wrote. Another member reported how the procedure felt to them: “Just pressure and a slight pinch.” A third member recommended resting after the procedure. “It was not pleasant, but not as bad as I thought it would be,” one member said when another member prepped for the test. Several MyMSTeam members have shared their experiences to help others mentally prepare for the procedure. Some people may worry that a lumbar puncture will be very painful. “It took me a couple of days afterward to feel back to normal,” a MyMSTeam member reported. In the meantime, staying hydrated, resting, and taking pain relievers (if recommended), can help with headache symptoms. The lost fluid will replace itself in around two days. Headaches are a common side effect of lumbar punctures due to the decreased pressure around the brain that results from removing some CSF. Although you can typically go home two hours after the procedure is over, you may be advised to have someone drive you home and avoid intense, tiring activity.

A spinal headache is a severe headache that can arise from the decreased pressure in your head that draining CSF causes. If the needle touches a nerve in your spinal column, you may feel some sharp pain in your leg.Īfter the lumbar puncture is over, you will be asked to lie flat for an hour or more to minimize the chance of a so-called spinal headache. There may be pressure as the spinal needle is inserted. For most people, this is the most painful part of the procedure.Īfter the area is fully numbed, a long, thin, hollow needle will be inserted into the back and the spinal cavity. (Less frequently, you might be seated in an upright position and asked to bend forward.) A local anesthetic will be injected into the spinal cord area. This position exposes the lower spine and separates the spinal bones to make inserting a needle easier. You will be asked to put on a hospital gown and lie down on your side with your legs pulled up to your chest. What To Expect During a Lumbar PunctureĪ lumbar puncture usually takes about 45 minutes to complete. Neurologists are also likely to perform physical and neurological exams, blood tests, and MRI tests to rule out other conditions and arrive at a definitive MS diagnosis. But the MRI showed way too many lesions.”Ī lumbar puncture is just one of the diagnostic tools that your health care team may use to evaluate whether you might have MS. Another weighed in, adding, “My spinal tap was negative. Just because your LP is negative does not mean you do not have MS,” one wrote. “I also had a spinal tap with a negative result, but an MRI that was positive. I do have severe symptoms.” Other members described similar experiences. “I had a lumbar puncture that was negative,” they posted. For many of them, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was required to visualize MS lesions on parts of their respective central nervous systems.Īs one member wrote, they were diagnosed with MS after an MRI that was positive. Several MyMSTeam members have described being diagnosed with MS despite first receiving negative spinal tap results. What Does It Mean if My Spinal Tap Results Are Negative? In fact, 5 percent to 10 percent of those with a confirmed diagnosis of MS do not show any abnormalities in their lumbar punctures. And the immune response that produces proteins in CSF can be caused by a variety of other conditions, including lupus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or even a stroke. It is important to note that a lumbar puncture alone cannot diagnose MS, as the spinal fluid of someone with the disease may not always be abnormal. High protein levels indicate immune system dysfunction, and the presence of a group of proteins called oligoclonal bands indicates MS. The myelin damage responsible for MS symptoms causes certain proteins to be released into the CSF. This is due to demyelination, or damage to the protective coating (myelin sheath) surrounding nerves in the brain and spinal cord.

In individuals with MS, the CSF obtained from a spinal tap likely contains higher-than-normal levels of proteins. CSF also removes waste products from the brain and helps circulate chemicals and nutrients from the blood. It serves as a cushion to the brain and a shock absorber to the central nervous system (CNS). How Can a Lumbar Puncture Help Diagnose MS?Ĭerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a colorless fluid that surrounds the brain and spine.

Side effects after lumbar puncture