

When Are Spinal Taps Performed?Ī Spinal Tap or Lumbar Puncture is performed to rule out the risk of any infections or other disorders related to the spinal cord or brain. When a small blood vessel is ruptured during this procedure, it may cause minimal bleeding.

A Spinal Tap is done at about 5 inches below the spot where the spinal cord ends, hence reducing the chances of any nerve damage. Myth: Spinal Tap can leave a person paralyzed.The procedure sometimes does sting a little, but it is bearable. However, the reality is that this procedure involves the administration of local anesthesia, which numbs the lower back. Since the procedure of Spinal Tap includes a needle insertion in the lower back, people almost generally associate it with pain. Myths and misconceptions about the spinal tap stem from fear and unawareness. What Are the Myths Associated with Spinal Tap? The spinal cord ends at the lumbar spine, and its remaining nerve endings branch out towards the end of the spinal canal. The lumbar region refers to the lower back area, which consists of vertebral bones, intervertebral discs, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels, and muscles. It can also be administered to provide anesthetic medications or chemotherapy drugs into the cerebrospinal fluid. The Spinal Tap is done to diagnose infections or neurological disorders like Meningitis, Epilepsy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and Multiple Sclerosis.

Spinal tap, or most commonly known as Lumbar Puncture, is a medical procedure that is performed on the lumbar region of the spine.
