my doc sent me to a m.s specialist i seen him about three weeks ago, he did lots of tests and my balance is so severe he told me to stop as i was falling over, j have a mri head scan before i seen the specialist arranged by my doctor and this came back neg, but the m.s specialist has still insisted i go in for a l.p which i had a phone call to go this thurs i am very anxious abot haveing it done, my hubby asked if it was neccessary he replied yes.
he has also arranged other test spine mri scan and visual response test.
i also am to attens physio.
he has started me on baclofen which i am grateful as they have helped a lot i am also on gabapentin.
i have been diagnosed with all sorts fibromyalgia/me, and at present on immune suppressants as my wbc is elevated, i am also in stage 3 kidney disease, but i am now thinking this might be what is causeing all the probs if they are all put together, i have been ill for 25 yrs, i had an attack about 3 months ago which has led me to a m.s specialist.
i have looked around the forum and you all seem a lovely bunch so i thought i would introduce myself.
Hi Joanne and welcome to the site Try not to worry about the lumbar puncture - the vast majority of people have no problems at all with it. The most common side effect is a headache afterwards. This can be severe in a small % of people, but staying lying down and drinking lots of things with caffeine in them (eg coke) can help some people (unless you suffer from migraine and caffeine triggers them!). Hopefully it will be fine though and you’ll join the group who wonder what all the fuss is about Strictly speaking LPs aren’t necessary to diagnose MS, but they can certainly make it easier and quicker, especially when the brain scan has been clear. It sounds like your neuro is being very thorough and supportive - a neuro to hang on to! Physio can work really well for balance (and other things) so do stick with the exercises - they don’t work overnight, but they do work. I vaguely remember reading that kidney disease can cause MS-like symptoms sometimes, but don’t know anything more than that. Whatever the cause of yours, I hope you get some answers soon. Karen x
I had a lumbar puncture 2 months ago and it was quite straightforward and painless…I think the worst part for me was having my back cleaned with the iodine, as it was freezing cold and it really took my breath away!
I had to sit on the edge of the bed and bend forwards, but I think I would have been better lying down, as I felt faint when the needle was removed and had to quickly lie down. I think that’s just me though, as I have a tendency to faint these days! The procedure didn’t take long at all, sure it wasn’t any longer than 5 or 6 minutes, certainly wasn’t half an hour like I had read.
Afterwards, I had to lie flat for 2 hours and I kept sipping water…I didn’t have anything with caffeine in, as I suffer from migraines. I didn’t have any problems afterwards - my back felt a little sore, but it wasn’t painful. I was surprised that they didn’t put a plaster on it afterwards to prevent infection though.
My results came back to my GP and took 4 weeks.
Try not to worry about it and make sure you go to the loo before you have it done
Hello Joanne, I too am a newbie! I had my lumber puncture done last December, it was relatively straight forward, I needed extra pain relief as I could still feel it when it went in but after I had extra pain relief it was fine, didn’t last long at all, maybe 10 mins max!!! I lay down for about an hour in the hospital after then went home and stayed in bed the rest of the day, I was at work the next day with no problems!! Hope you get on ok! Take care
Try not to worry about the lumbar puncture - the vast majority of people have no problems at all with it. The most common side effect is a headache afterwards. This can be severe in a small % of people, but staying lying down and drinking lots of things with caffeine in them (eg coke) can help some people (unless you suffer from migraine and caffeine triggers them!). Hopefully it will be fine though and you’ll join the group who wonder what all the fuss is about 