Our spine and central nervous system hold the answers to many different medical questions. Procedures and tests are done in this area very regularly to help manage a disorder or pain and to diagnoses serious illnesses. Spinal taps and epidurals are among the two most common practiced. Each are done for very unique reasons, even though they may done in a very similar way.
Spinal Tap Overview
1. What It Is
A spinal tap, also known as a lumbar puncture, is a medical test that is used to get a sample of cerebrospinal fluid from the spinal cord. This test helps to diagnose a plethora of problems.
2. How It’s Done
A spinal tap can be very scary if you do not know what to expect. Spinal taps are an outpatient procedure that are done in a hospital. You will be asked to change into a hospital gown for the test to be performed. Your back will be thoroughly washed and disinfected before the procedure begins. You will lay on your side with your knees to your chest to widen the spaces between the vertebrae in your spine. A local anesthetic is injected into the back to numb the area before the spinal tap is done. The doctor will then insert a hollow needle into the two lower vertebrae, and into the spinal canal. The most common feeling during this procedure is pressure in the back. Once the needle is successfully inserted then fluid pressure is measured and a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid is taken. The needle is then removed and the injection side is bandaged.
3. Why It’s Done
Lumbar punctures, or spinal taps, are done for many different reasons. The fluid is often sent for a laboratory analysis to help with diagnosing. Spinal taps can help to diagnose bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, subarachnoid hemorrhages, brain and spinal cord cancers, and inflammatory problems of the nervous system.
4. Dangers
As with most invasive tests, some side effects and risks are present. Continued pain in your back, bleeding from the puncture site, and post lumbar puncture headaches are all common with spinal taps. You doctor will most likely have you stay for an hour or so after the procedure is finished to monitor for any of these problems.
Epidural Facts
1. Basics
An epidural is a steroid injected that is used to treat severe back pain. It is most commonly used in women in labor who are about to give birth or shortly before a C section is to be performed.
2. How It’s Done
An epidural is given with by a hollow needle injected into the spinal cord. You will be asked to either lay on your side or sit up and lean forward, this gives the best access to the area ( epidural space) for the injection. The medication is then injected into the small space just near the spinal cord. A test dose is normally given to see how your body reacts, and then a full dose is followed. This medication takes around 15 minutes to take effect. The person can typically not walk for some time after an epidural is given due to the numbing of the lower body.
3. Why Its Given
Child birth is the most common reason that an epidural injection is administered. Some other reasons a doctor may decide to use an epidural is post surgery to help with associated pains. It has also bee used in people with very severe lower back pains, such as with arthritis, in order to help manage pain.
4. Risks
There are some pretty big risks when it comes to getting an epidural. An increased need for a cesarean section may be needed due to fetal distress, delivery can also be prolonged through the use of an epidural. Muscular weakness, low blood pressure, fluid retention and fever are also risks with an epidural injection.
Difference Between Spinal Tap and Epidural
1. Where
One large difference between a spinal tap and an epidural is the area that the needle is inserted. With an epidural the needle does not go into the spinal cord, but the epidural space just around the spinal cord. Spinal taps however, require the needle to be inserted all the way into and through your spinal cord.
2. Why
The reasoning that each of these procedures are performed are also very different. A spinal tap is done to help with diagnosing many severe medical conditions. This is done by collected a sample of fluid from the spinal cord. An epidural is done to help control pain in the lower back by injected a steroid medication in the area.
3. Procedure
The presence of medication is possibly the biggest difference between these two medical procedures. Epidurals are given in order to inject steroids into the lower back. Spinal taps, on the other hand, are given in order to take a sample of cerebrospinal fluid for testing.