How long flat after lumbar puncture

Bleeding in the area between the brain and the tissues that cover it subarachnoid space. Reye syndrome. A sometimes fatal disease that causes severe problems with the brain and other organs. Although the exact cause of the disease is not known, it has been linked to giving aspirin to children. It is now advised not to give aspirin to children during illnesses, unless prescribed by your child's healthcare provider.

A stage of syphilis during which the bacteria invades the central nervous system. A disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the nervous system. Demyelinating diseases. Diseases that attack the protective coating that surrounds certain nerve fibers - for example, multiple sclerosis or acute demyelination polyneuropathy. Headaches of unknown cause.

After evaluation and head imaging if necessary, a lumbar puncture may be done to diagnose certain inflammatory conditions that can result in a headache. Pseudotumor cerebri also called idiopathic intracranial hypertension, or IIH. In this condition,pressure within the subarachnoid space is elevated for reasons that are not clear. A lumbar puncture is only done in this condition after evaluation and head imaging.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus. A rare condition affecting mainly older people in which there is a triad of loss of urinary control, memory problems, and an unsteady gait.

A lumbar puncture is done to see if the pressure of the CSF is elevated or not. In addition, a lumbar puncture may be used to measure the pressure of the CSF.

The healthcare provider uses a special tube called a manometer to measure s the pressure during a lumbar puncture. Finally, a lumbar puncture may be done to inject medicine directly into the spinal cord. These include:. Your healthcare provider may have other reasons to recommend a lumbar puncture. Because this procedure involves the spinal cord and brain, the following complications may occur:. There may be other risks depending on your specific medical condition. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider before the procedure.

I f you are having a lumbar puncture at Johns Hopkins Hospital or Bayview Medical Center, a neuroradiologist or radiology nurse will contact you by phone two or three days prior to your lumbar puncture to discuss the procedure and answer any questions you may have. Please inform the neuroradiology physician if:. When a lumbar puncture may be needed A lumbar puncture may be used to: take a sample of fluid from your spinal cord cerebrospinal fluid or measure the fluid's pressure — to help diagnose a condition inject medicine — such as painkillers, antibiotics or chemotherapy inject a spinal anaesthetic epidural — to numb the lower part of your body before an operation remove some fluid to reduce pressure in the skull or spine Before having a lumbar puncture Your doctor or nurse should explain what's going to happen and why you need a lumbar puncture.

A few days or weeks before the test: you may have a CT scan or MRI scan — to make sure you need the lumbar puncture and it's safe to have one let the hospital know if you're taking blood-thinning medicine anticoagulants — such as warfarin On the day: you can eat, drink and take medicine as normal you'll be asked to sign a consent form you'll usually need to undress and change into a hospital gown before the procedure — you might also want to use the toilet What happens during a lumbar puncture You normally lie on your side, with your legs pulled up and your chin tucked in Credit:.

Do drink plenty of fluids take painkillers, such as paracetamol lie down instead of sitting upright try drinks containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea or cola — some people find this helps to relieve the headaches remove the dressing or plaster yourself the next day. Non-urgent advice: Contact the hospital team or a GP if:.

The fluid is tested for red and white blood cells, protein, and glucose sugar. The clarity and color of the fluid are also checked. It's tested to see whether bacteria, viruses, or abnormal cells are present.

Excess CSF may also be removed in people who have an overproduction or decreased absorption of the fluid. A lumbar puncture procedure may be helpful in diagnosing many diseases and disorders, including:. An inflammation of the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord. The inflammation is usually the result of a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. An inflammation of the brain that is usually caused by a virus.

Bleeding in the area between the brain and the tissues that cover it subarachnoid space. Reye syndrome. A sometimes fatal disease that causes severe problems with the brain and other organs. The exact cause of the disease is not known. But it has been linked to giving aspirin to children. It is now advised not to give aspirin to children during illnesses, unless prescribed by your child's healthcare provider.

A stage of syphilis during which the bacteria invades the central nervous system. A disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the nervous system. Demyelinating diseases.

Diseases that attack the protective coating that surrounds certain nerve fibers, such as multiple sclerosis or acute demyelination polyneuropathy. Headaches of unknown cause. After evaluation and head imaging if needed, a lumbar puncture may be done to diagnose certain inflammatory conditions that can result in a headache. Pseudotumor cerebri also called idiopathic intracranial hypertension, or IIH. In this condition, pressure within the subarachnoid space is elevated for reasons that are not clear.

A lumbar puncture is only done in this condition after evaluation and head imaging. Normal pressure hydrocephalus. A rare condition affecting mainly older people in which there is a triad of loss of urinary control, memory problems, and an unsteady gait. A lumbar puncture is done to see if the pressure of the CSF is elevated or not.

This can happen when some of the spinal fluid is removed. You may be told to drink extra fluids after the procedure to help prevent a headache or make it less severe. Some people also have trouble sleeping for a day or two. The fluid taken during a spinal tap is often sent to a lab for tests.

Your doctor or nurse will call you with the test results. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

Call anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if:.