I'm sorry that you had such a painful lumbar puncture Nippers2, but as others have posted ..... it is not be a painful procedure.

For you to have had such a terrible time, I have to assume that either your medical officer was not experienced in the technique, or else there was a physical barrier in your spine making it difficult for him to insert the needle.

I hope that you never have to go through another in the same circumstances.

I wish I had the same experience. Fortunately, the pains and weird feelings have all gone away for me at this point in time.

I would like to know more about how magnesium relieved your spasms.

Does it need to be a prescription form of magnesium, or could I simply buy it as a vitamin at the grocery store?

I wonder if it would help with Trigeminal Neuralgia, which like a spasm on the face?

I buy mine from the Health store so I assume your grocery store would have suitable brands but when first suggesting I buy some for my own cramps/spasms, my doctor told me to buy plain Magnesium and not a brand that's mixed with anything else like Calcium, etc. You also have to be careful not to get the type that is used as a laxative, but the right one is very effective. So far they have worked and they also work for my husband, who does not have MS.

You could try the search function at the top of the page for more information, and if you posted on our Vitamins Forum, I'm sure that mrsD, our resident pharmacy expert, can tell you how it works and advise you on safe doses and suitable brands for the condition. Here's the link : http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum49.html

Also, a few years back some of us MSers did a trial on the effects of pure soap on night cramps, where a group of us put a bar of pure soap in the bottom of the bed and then measured the results. Do any of you remember this?

I remember that, Koala, but it had to be Ivory, I think. I never tried it, but lots said it worked.

It was Ivory soap. It was for Restless Leg Syndrome.

Sorry to bump this thread everyone, but when I just had my spinal tap I felt obligated to explain my situation since reading all these reviews really relaxed my mind and gave me a whole lot of knowledge and put me at ease.

I just had a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) and just want to corraborate what everyone else here said. The process took about 15 minutes (5 for cleaning my back and sterilization, 7 for the spinal fluid to collect and 3 for the local anesthetic/insertion of needle). Its scary to think of a long needle penetrating your body, but the process was relatively painless, (double the pain for a tetanus shot) so not bad at all. The local anesthetic hurt the most, the initial prick and then the release of the anesthetic. For a guy scared of needles and very pain sensitive it is more than manageable. Just a simple wince and deep breath and it was over. Then after waiting, the doctor inserted the needle, it felt like he was just pushing my back. We waited for the CSF to collect then he immediately pulled it out painlessly. The doc and nurse joked about who hurt me most (taking blood or the spinal tap) so that should give you a relative idea of the pain level.

At the end of the day, it was nowwhere near as scary I as thought (granted I'm 5'10, 150lbs). If you are reading this and can feel your spine when you bend your back in the fetal position, you will be fine!! Even if you cant you still should be, but I have no experience on being heavy. Good luck to whoever reads this!

edit: Its been almost 24 hours and no headache. Just a little discomfort at the area and light dizziness if I get up too quickly.

it is important to hydrate well before the test so that hopefully there's good fluid which is easily extracted.

when i had mine the dr moved the needle to get more fluid which caused pressure on the nerve and a lot of pain. he backed off and stopped the test so in the end it wasn't bad.

i would urge anyone having a bad experience (which isn't easy when you're face down on the table) to tell the dr to STOP. it doesn't sound like this dr was experienced enuf. or, maybe they weren't doing it under floroscopy to see where the needle was. that dr should have stopped and ended the test.

always keep in mind that you are your own best advocate when anything is done to you.

It wasn't bad at all. Thinking about it sucked the most, but the actual thing is not real bad.
Sort of like people getting all scared going to the Dentist then seeing that it wasn't bad at all....You'll do fine.

I have a high tolerance fo rpain thoguh hahah J/K....well.....

I had one done in '11. The doctor numbed the area first. I recall it felt weird, feeling him drain the fluid that they tested for lesions with. And after, once home, I took a long nap. Felt a little nauseous.
After realizing this doctor was the same doctor who administered the epidural for my first born and spinal for my third born,(care of his remembering my tattoo ), I felt comfortable and confident that he knew what he was doing sticking a needle in my back. Trusting the doctor, helps.

Good Luck, hope it's not too bad for you.

My one and only lumbar puncture was pure torture. The guy kept hitting nerves causing shooting pain in my legs. I will never consent to another