Re: Spinal Tap / Slow drip fluid

[Guest guest]

Susie, from what I read in my search to find your answer, it seems that normal

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has a consistency and an

appearance similar to water and increased viscosity is often due to larger than

normal amounts of protein present (although not the

only reason).

About the CSF test:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003369.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003628.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000777.htm

http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic557.htm

http://www.wramc.amedd.army.mil/departments/pathology/resident/Csf/frame.htm

I'm not sure why the fluid was hard to collect, but it could be a combination of

the increased viscosity and, possibly, that your

CSF pressure is low. There can be many reasons for low CSF pressure, including

tonsillar impaction or a CSF leak somewhere. This is

definitely something to ask your doctors about because your symptoms sound

serious and I am really just guessing here!

CSF leaks:

http://www.tchain.com/otoneurology/disorders/central/csf-leak.html

If your current doctors are still scratching their heads after your

results come back, please seek out professionals with more knowledge and

experience. If it is a neurological disorder, and it probably is given

the symptoms you describe such as your " spells " and lack of sensitivity

to pain, I don't see any advantage in waiting longer to get the correct

diagnosis and treatment. You don't want to suffer any permanent damage

if you can possibly avoid it.

[ ] Spinal Tap / Slow drip fluid

> Hey, I meant to ask this before. (I can't remember if I told you or

> asked you ...sorry!)

> WHAT CAUSES SPINAL TAP FLUID TO NOT COME OUT GOOD> SLOW DRIP>VERY LONG

> TIME to get samples because of no force of flow?

> My husband brought me to ER that day, because this " spell " that I get

> every few months of lack of muscle control and walking & weakness

> effected my LEFT leg and arm this time. It scared us. As, this was my

> " good side " . Ha! These " spells " take weeks to a couple of months to

> recover from, and then before I know it, happens again. It is really

> getting more frequent and often.

> But my husband did not tell me until later this week, that the Dr. in

> the ER who did the Spinal Tap told him that he was very shocked that,

> " she seemed to have little to no sensation. Was very insensitive to

> pain. " and also that " her spinal fluid came only in drips, taking much

> longer than any patient he had performed spinal tap on. "

> He told my husband that was highly unusual and that he did NOTE it in

> the Spinal Tap sample notes he sent off. He was specialist in doing

> this, and could not remember a slower time/drip than mine. He has done

> this for years they said.

> Well, I do remember them brining in other doctors in the ER room I was

> in, when he was doing the Spinal Tap and having them " observe " this.

> They were all talking about it. (And probably scratching their heads!)

> Even some extra nurses came in to see. They were saying, " Well, that

is

> just a drip every now and then! " or things like this.

> He also said that the amount of the pre numbing shot he gave me was

when

> he first noticed it. Because I did not even " feel " when he did this.

So

> he said (to my husband) that he normally gives MORE of the numbing

shot,

> but decided not with me since I showed no feeling. Well, he said that

he

> knew if it was painful to me that he would have known when he started

to

> put in the Spinal Tap. He said that I did not even flinch or make any

> move and did not even " know " when he did this. He told that

this

> did " worry him " . And that when you do the Spinal Tap that it does

" tend "

> to have an initial spurt of some sorts. But mine never did. And when

it

> did start, only a drip...then another. That is why it took so long to

> get even close to the amount of fluid he needed, he said.

> So...does anyone know what could cause this?

> The funny thing is, the BAD Dr. for RA I use to go to... he was always

> telling me that my lower back pain and numb legs, and lack of cold/hot

> sensation was in my head. This Dr. even sent me to a Neuro Friend of

his

> (who did NO exam), and then told me that my additional " LOSS OF SMELL

> AND TASTE " , was the results of what he considered to be " PTSS " (Post

> tramatic stress syndrome)... and would not even call for the MRI I had

> done to review it! I was irate that day, to say the least! And that

> was why he told me I needed the Antidepressants, and would NOT give me

a

> " real " pain med. for what I CALLED " the excruciating pain " .

> I remember once, when I went to my RA dr. I showed him my face with

> injury. He just said, " Hummm... " and dismissed it! I told him that I

> did " wood work/carving " of canes, etc. and was making a cane from a

huge

> piece of Cedar, and that it was about 10 ft. long and I had to put in

> piece by piece into my band saw to reduce the length. When I did this,

> the wood " flipped back " on me and smacked me full force in the face

> under my nose knocking me down. I felt " no pain " so got up and

finished.

> (this was 2 years ago). Well, awhile later, (I kept " sweating " and

> wiping my face on the shoulder of my shirt)...well, my husband came

> home. He went out to see what I was doing and had a horrified look on

> his face, " My God! What did you do to your face! You are bleeding! " I

> said, " WHAT???! " He took me in house, I had blood all over my face

> (which I THOUGHT was sweat!) and a huge gaping gash across between my

> nose and upper lip, and below my chin. We washed it. It looked

terrible.

> It NEVER hurt! I never even " felt " anything but the way the wood

knocked

> me down! It did " ache " somewhat, later that evening!

> Now, ya'll, don't get me wrong... I have TERRIBLE joint pain from the

> arthritis. And my lower back is in such bad shape now, I can hardly

> stand for more than 5 mins. at a time. But anything else " painful "

that

> is introduced to me does not hurt. That goes for burns and cuts also.

> If I hit and Cut my leg? I never know it until later when I see the

> bruise and blood.

> Same in cooking. If I " forget " and pick up the huge old iron skillet I

> am frying in, it does NOT hurts!... When I hear the sizzle of the burn

> it is making on my hand/skin, I then realize it is burned. is

> amazed at this. And so am I.

> I have never told another doctor about this since the Horrible RA Dr.

I

> use to go to, for fear they would also say I was crazy!

> Yesterday when they did the EMG the Neuro Dr. kept saying, " You mean

you

> don't FEEL me putting these in? " He even remarked how I never flinched

> or seemed to " know " when he did this. (until the shocks were made.)

> So now, all this lately, with the spinal tap and now this...has me

> wondering!

> And here it is the weekend... and NO TESTS are ready yet! And the

Neuro

> I had in the Savannah Hosp. is not " getting back to me " until

" sometime

> next week.! "

> So back to my question: The ER doctor who did the Spinal at another

> Hosp, & had me sent to Savannah Hospital for admit that day. He said,

> that " has a significant disease or illness going on, I don't

know

> for sure but there is some sort of neurologica/muscular degeneration

> going on. " And that was why he sent me to a facility that could

better

> handle it. (Hey, by the way, the Hosp. I went to was the one in the

> Movie/book, " Garden of Good & Evil " .)

> So, does anyone know why my SPINAL TAP went the way it did, and I do

NOT

> " feel pain " or have little to no sensation to pain? What does this

mean

> when the SPINAL FLUID TAP just comes in a few drips at a time & takes

so

> long? What causes this? And could this be WHY I have so much low back

> pain, and no sensation to other parts of my body?

> Whew! LONG one I know! Hope I didn't put you all to sleep!

> Susie