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Post Lumbar Puncture

Autoimmune Diseases | Last Active: Dec 14, 2023 | Replies (10)

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@loribmt

Hi @lmcano989 It’s not unusual to have a headache following a lumbar puncture. Some patients can also experience a stiff neck and upper back pain which should disappear over a few days.
It’s caused when a small amount of the spinal fluid leaks from the area where the sample was taken. That decreases the pressure exerted by the spinal fluid on the brain and spinal cord which can lead to a headache.

Make sure you drink plenty of water. Sometimes consuming caffeine can be really helpful. I’ve had several lumbar punctures and drinking a caffeinated soda really made a difference for me. Also lying flat can help mitigate the discomfort.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spinal-headaches/symptoms-causes/syc-20377913
If this hasn’t eased up by tomorrow, you can certainly call your doctor’s office to double check. Usually when you have a procedure done, you’re given a phone number to call if there are any questions or concerns. It will give you peace of mind to get their opinion. ☺️

If you don’t mind sharing, what lead you to needing a lumbar puncture?

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Replies to "Hi @lmcano989 It’s not unusual to have a headache following a lumbar puncture. Some patients can..."

Thank you so much for your response. It was very helpful.

I had bad eye pressure which lead to loss of eye sight in my right eye. We learned that it was optic neuritis which created the suspicion of MS. An MRI showed lesions on my cervical spine but none on my brain so a LP was ordered for a final diagnosis of MS.