What will lumbar puncture show

A 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. 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. 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 may need to wait for at least 48 hours for the full results.

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Find out more What is it like to have a lumbar puncture? What happens after diagnosis? Oligoclonal bands in multiple sclerosis cerebrospinal fluid: an update on methodology and clinical usefulness. Thorough analysis by a laboratory will detect substances such as antibodies, blood, sugar, bacteria, cancer cells, and excess protein or white blood cells.

The laboratory test results can take longer and will be discussed with you when completed. If you have further questions about this diagnostic test, contact the doctor that ordered the test. Hemorrhage is stopped by blood clotting. Increased intracranial pressure can compress and damage brain tissue. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information.

This information is not intended to replace the medical advice of your health care provider. At Mayfield, we work with diagnostic testing providers in the Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky region to obtain neurological tests and interpret them with expertise and care.

Patients and referring physicians can rest assured that we will lay the groundwork for a diagnosis of utmost accuracy. To make an appointment call Make an Appointment. Many Mayfield spine patients have the option of same-day, outpatient spine surgery at our spine surgery center.

Lumbar puncture spinal tap Overview A lumbar puncture LP , also called a spinal tap, is an invasive outpatient procedure used to remove a sample of cerebrospinal fluid CSF from the subarachnoid space in the spine.

How does a lumbar puncture work? Some people experience a headache between 24 and 48 hours after the procedure. People have described the pain as a dull or throbbing pain at the front of the head, sometimes spreading to the neck and shoulders.

Over-the-counter medications can help alleviate soreness, but if the pain is severe or is accompanied by sickness and vomiting, it is important to seek medical attention. To reduce the risk of developing a post-lumbar puncture headache, a person will be asked to lie on their back quietly and not lift their head for 1 to 2 hours afterward the procedure.

The lumbar puncture is performed below the end of the spinal cord where there are small strands of nerves. Sometimes, the needle can make contact with a small vein, causing a traumatic tap. If this happens, a small amount of blood may leak into one or more of the samples, which may impact the results.

Some people experience lower back pain in the area where the procedure took place, while others may also feel pain in the back of their legs.

Doctors usually recommend over-the-counter pain relievers, and the pain usually subsides in a few days. A person may also experience some bruising and swelling related to a small amount of leaking fluid collecting under the skin.

This tends to go away without treatment. The CSF that is collected during a lumbar puncture will contain protein and glucose and may also contain white blood cells. It will be examined to detect any disruption to the normal flow of CSF or damage to the blood-brain barrier. Depending on the results of the test and the signs and symptoms the individual experienced, a doctor may perform further tests. If analysis of the CSF identifies any irregularities, a doctor will recommend further tests to help make a diagnosis.