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What Causes Pain At The Back Of Head After Spinal Tap Procedure?
My grandmother just had a spinal tap done and thursday last week. She is now complaining of pain in the back of her head, nausea, and her hand is shaking very bad. She is 88 yrs old with newly diagnoised osteopenia and osteoarthritis. She has just started taking hydrocortisone and hydrocodone. Is this normal reaction to the spinal tap or medication?
Wed, 18 Feb 2015
Hello!
I understand your concern.
In my opinion this is normal after a lumbar puncture. It is called spinal headache, starting up to five days after spinal puncture. It may be also severe. It is caused by change of pressure in the spinal fluid. The shaking hands may be from the pain. Does she have fever? A routine blood test should be done to rule out infection.
I would recommend indomethacine suppository twice daily for the pain.
Hope to have been helpful.
Thank you for using HCM!
Best regards Dr Abaz Quka
I understand your concern.
In my opinion this is normal after a lumbar puncture. It is called spinal headache, starting up to five days after spinal puncture. It may be also severe. It is caused by change of pressure in the spinal fluid. The shaking hands may be from the pain. Does she have fever? A routine blood test should be done to rule out infection.
I would recommend indomethacine suppository twice daily for the pain.
Hope to have been helpful.
Thank you for using HCM!
Best regards Dr Abaz Quka
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