

Some laboratory test results are available within a couple of hours in an emergency.
#Lumbar puncture side effects headache full
You may need to wait for at least 48 hours for the full results.

The doctor or nurse who performs the lumbar puncture can often tell you some of the results straight away and explain what they mean. You'll be able to go home the same day if you feel well enough, but you would not be able to drive yourself home. Remove the needle once the procedure is finished and apply a small plaster or dressing.Ī lumbar puncture takes around 30 to 45 minutes, but you'll need to stay lying down at the hospital for at least another hour while the nurses monitor you.This should not be painful, but you may feel some pressure. Insert a thin needle through the skin, between 2 bones in the lower part of your spine.Children may also be given medicine to help them relax and keep still.
#Lumbar puncture side effects headache skin

Your doctor or nurse should explain what's going to happen and why you need a lumbar puncture. remove some fluid to reduce pressure in the skull or spine.inject a spinal anaesthetic – to numb the lower part of your body before an operation.inject medicine – such as painkillers, antibiotics or chemotherapy.take a sample of fluid from your spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid) or measure the fluid's pressure – to help diagnose a condition.It's carried out in hospital by a doctor or specialist nurse. It should not be painful, but you may have a headache and some back pain for a few days. A lumbar puncture is where a thin needle is inserted between the bones in your lower spine.
