lumbar punture

[gerald147]

hi, all i spoke to my neurolgist and he has offered me a lumbar puncture which i have accepted.i asked him where all my leisions were and he said they were all at brain level but i got the impression he was trying to get away from the question.he also said that these leisions i have werent totally of ms hence the lumbar puncture,i would be grateful for all input

thanks all
gerald

[kwarendorf]

I was not aware of the precautions prior to and just after my LP. Taking that into account, I had no problems at all. I had the LP at 5:00 PM and was back at work the next morning.

As Lisa mentioned once you have lesions on your MRI, regardless of their location, the presence of o-bands in your spinal fluid but not in a blood sample taken at the same time will serve to confirm MS.

Keep us posted on your journey.

Kyle

[PastorDan]

I suppose I should add that mine showed nothing abnormal whatsoever.

[SarahL2491]

PastorDan is right, I did overlook giving you basic advice if you are going thru with it.

I leaned heavy on caffeine and only a very mild glimmer of a headache which I immediately treated with 2 Aleve and MORE caffeine, which was no hardship as I am a caffeine junky anyway.

Keep us posted!

[PastorDan]

My only advice regarding the LP is that you drink lots of liquid before you go.  After that, drink more liquid, and when you get there, drink more.  When it's over, drink more liquid.  I'm told that drinks with caffeine can be helpful afterward.  I had cappuccino going in, but stuck to water after, IIRC.

I had no headache from the procedure whatsoever, and I've attributed that to the large volumes of liquids consumed before and after.  Others might chime in, but that was my approach based on the info I'd read -- in this forum, mostly -- beforehand.

[SarahL2491]

the only thing your LP will show you is a confirmation of "bands".  It won't show you lesions in spine, that requires a separate MRI and spinal lesions are hard to see because of many reasons.

Also bear in mind that 10% of MS patients show no indication in an LP puncture.

If you want it, go ahead, but its no longer the "gold standard" for determining MS.