Spinal Tap - Waxahachie,TX

My son had one as a teen (checking for meningitis). Think they numbed it - he's not sure, but I know they will not allow anyone else in the room at all!

They will not let anyone else in the room, but I was able to stay with my husband shortly after it was over. He had to lie completely still for 24 hours and had a really bad headache afterward.

My daughter has had several. Just like an epidural, they put in the numbing stuff first with a small needle. He has to lie very still. If he is at all nervous, or if he is a baby about pain, have him ask for the max amount of whatever pain reliever or relaxer that he can get before hand. I think my daughter got Ativan. Biggest warning is that the fluid imbalance can cause a horrible headache. And I mean worst headache of your life headache. They did not allow me to be in the room (Daughter was 21 at the time) so I doubt they will let you be there. She never complained of pain afterward other than the headache. If he will load up on fluids ahead of time it might help stave off that headache.

Have you had an epidural? It's similar to that, and the recovery is the same, minus the pains of having given birth ;) Not too bad, really! I hope everything checks out okay :)

My sister has and my oldest nephew had one after birth. My sister said hers was painful, but I think it may depend on who is doing it. I had an epidural for an emergency c-section and didn't feel a thing. I had no other drugs. I don't think the numb the area, just clean it with alcohol.

I had one when I was in the ER. They thought I had Spinal Meningitis. They told me once they finished, they would be able to give me the proper medicine for the pain.

My husband says they numbed me first.. Then had me curl up tight knees as close to my chest.

I was in such pain that I told my husband, "if they do not hurry and do the spinal tap, I want you to go ahead and smother me with this pillow.". He began to weep and said, "L. they did the spinal tap 10 minutes ago."
I did not even feel it. My husband was allowed to be by my side the whole time. I do not know if it was because I was in the ER and in so much pain.

My husband said it looked just like an epidural.

I have had many as have my kids....they do a 'deadening shot' which feels like a bee sting. They will have him curl up so his spine is curved and it opens up the vertebra - then they insert the needle - should be no pain at this point but possibly some pressure...as I said I have had many and only had a problem with one and I should have known better as he had me arch my back not curl and I ended up with a spinal headache......my kids, now 18 and 19, have also had several and never had a problem......and I was with them...but have no needle phobia....good luck!

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I had a spinal tap a week to the day from when I had my youngest. It was a lot like an epidural...they just take spinal fluid from your spine rather then injecting medicine. I don't remember it hurting but I also had a terrible headache and nothing could hurt worse than that at the time (turns out I had meningitis). No one was allowed in the room when they did it. I was sore for weeks after in the spot but I think mine was because I had an epidural and spinal tap in one week. It's definitely not a fun thing to have done, but he will be ok :)

Hi, my husband had one once. The needle is quite big, but I think if e doesn't see the needle, he will just feel an uncomfortable pressure. The main thing is to keep him reclined for the next 24 hours like you said so he doesn't get a horrible headache - I think this will be the hardest part.

I had one done. No one is allowed to stay in the room while the procedure was been conducted, but the mandatory recovery time of 2hrs or so my husband stayed with me.

As for the procedure itself, the neuro or whoever is doing the spinal will 'attempt' to numb the area prior to sticking the needle in. I say attempt because either my Dr. didn't wait long enough of, or the numbing effect didn't work. It was the worst pain I've ever felt (even worse than my two epidurals) and I got light headed and almost vomited on the poor nurses lap. I also was sitting up not laying down so maybe there's a difference in how it feels that way too.

Afterwards I had a slight headache, my back hurt more than anything, and I had more problems with the codeine they ordered for pain meds more than anything.

I hope your hubby has a better experience than I did. I was petrified to have my first epidural after that experience, but found it totally different and less painful, but that's just me! I've also always said if my kids have to have I will only allow it IF its absolutely necessary, I couldn't fathom them feeling what I did......

I had one and I had meningitis. They numbed it so it was like getting an epidural, which I had had before too. The problem I ended up having, and wish I had known ahead that it was a possibility, was that the tap did not heal over and I had a spinal leak. I started to heal from the meningitis and had a horrible headache. They had to do a blood patch (take blood from your arm and put it in your spine to make it congeal to make a patch over the hole). That took several more days to recover from while the spinal fluid refilled itself. Not trying to scare but no one told me that could be a side affect and I wish I had known. But spinal tap itself was no big deal, just a little soreness that healed quickly.

Like Laurie A., I had a spinal tap done in the ER because I was extremely ill and they thought I had meningitis. I knew I was sick, but dang...it scared me. But, it didn't really hurt. Maybe just in comparison to everything else going on, I don't know.
I had no trouble laying around and resting to recover, that's for sure. I was definitely a little sore at the puncture site, but not to the extent of needing pain medication or anything for it.
The doctor that did it was pretty smoothe about it, he was really kind and gentle.
It wasn't a bad experience for me. I've definitely been through worse,
and thankfully, I didn't have meningitis.

I hope all goes well.

Best wishes.

I was advised to keep my head lower than my body after the spinal tap(s) or a bad headache would occur, then the staff took away the pillow. They were right, just once I raised my head after to look around and very quickly developed an intense headache. That's what I remember from decades ago, guess it hasn't changed.