How bad does a spinal tap hurt? and what does it feel like?
Question:
How long does it take to do it?
What exactly happens during the test?
thanks so much!
Answers:
It depends on the individual person. Spinal taps are uncomfortable for just about everybody, but the degree of pain varies.
They usually don't take too long, just long enough for the doctor to collect a small amount of spinal fluid for testing.
What happens:
1.) The doctor will ask that you lie on your side in the fetal position.
2.) Then they prep the area with alcohol swabs or some type of disinfectant, and may place a drape over your back
3.) They'll warn you that you'll feel some discomfort and usually advice you to squeeze somebody's hand, or concentrate on something else.
4.) They'll insert the needle into your back between your vertebrate and let a little bit of fluid drip out into a tube
5.) After they've collected a little bit of fluid they'll cap it, send it to the lab, remove the needle, place a bandage if necessary, and let you roll back over.
Just stay calm and relaxed during the procedure and you'll do just fine. Good Luck. :-)
the worst part of the test is the actual numbing of the area. after that minimal pain. what happens? the dr sticks a big needle ito your subdural space and drains some of the fluid out for testing.
words of wisdom. if you dont really need one, dont do it.
A lot of it depends on your pain tolerance and who is doing it.
It can take as little as a few minutes up to 30 minutes according to what they are looking for and what tests need to be performed. Normally they withdraw some of the fluid for testing, but not knowing why you are having it limits the answers.
Spinal taps hurt, but more than that they feel really creepy. If you are healthy, then the tap doens't take long (a few long minutes and done). If you are getting tapped for something like menengitis and actually have it, then the spinal fluid becomes thick and the process will take much longer (half hour plus). The actual process isn't that bad beyond the creepy factor of having a huge needle in your spine and sitting hunched over until it's done. The only thing to worry about is the often the taps don't seal properly afterwards and the fluid leaks out causing all your vertabrae to sit on your nerves. This is excruciating, so really take it easy for a day or two afterwords. Since you didn't say why you would be tested, I couldn't tell you what happens during the test, but if your worry stems from some drug you tried when you were younger, that doesn't reside in your spinal fluid and they don't test for that sort of thing like so many urban legend reciters would have you believe.
More Questions & Answers...