> I am terrified to get a spinal tap,
> but I understand it is one of the tests to diagnose MS. Aren't they really
> painful?
>
> Nancy, back from my Christmas holiday trip to DC
>
Welcome back! :-)
For me the spinal tap wasn't very painful at all. I think they put something
on the skin at the injection site to numb it a little. I was told it wouldn't
numb it all the way down from my skin to the spine, and I did feel it and it
was uncomfortable, but not too bad. I understand sometimes people can get a
whopper of a headache afterward, though.
The most disturbing part was either just before they put the needle in or just
after, I can't remember, when the technician said, "Well, I think that's the
right place." I would've expected her to know!!!!!
Barbara H.