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What Causes Pain In Tailbone After Lumbar Puncture?
Question: Im having a strange paing and feeling in tailbone after a lumbar puncture then blood patch I had done 10 days ago. It feels like something is fallin and pushing downward....not sure if its normal or a nerve (they did hit a nerve or what. Wondering if this will go away soon..
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Judging from the description of your pain it doesn't seem likely to be due to a pinched nerve. That would cause pain and sensation changes in a radicular pattern, meaning along the area supplied by the nerve from the back to the lower limb on one side.
What is most probable is that the pain is due to the trauma to the soft tissue from the needle insertion. It is a common complication which usually subsides gradually over the course of a few weeks, rarely longer than that. It usually is at the puncture site not typically in the tailbone as you say , but it is known to radiate at times.
In terms of management the Tylenol you have been using is fine, Ibuprofen may be used as well if Tylenol is not effective. As I said it should diminish gradually but in case it goes increasing or there are new symptoms such as fever, numbness or tingling in the legs, bladder control issues, swelling or bruising you should contact your doctor to check it.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Judging from the description of your pain it doesn't seem likely to be due to a pinched nerve. That would cause pain and sensation changes in a radicular pattern, meaning along the area supplied by the nerve from the back to the lower limb on one side.
What is most probable is that the pain is due to the trauma to the soft tissue from the needle insertion. It is a common complication which usually subsides gradually over the course of a few weeks, rarely longer than that. It usually is at the puncture site not typically in the tailbone as you say , but it is known to radiate at times.
In terms of management the Tylenol you have been using is fine, Ibuprofen may be used as well if Tylenol is not effective. As I said it should diminish gradually but in case it goes increasing or there are new symptoms such as fever, numbness or tingling in the legs, bladder control issues, swelling or bruising you should contact your doctor to check it.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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