Second Worst
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 9:14AM Last August I had the worst procedure I have ever had done.
A spinal tap.
From what I understand a spinal tap is normally not that bad. I guess I was just one of the lucky ones, or unlucky is what I should say.
I was having weird dizzy spells (that I am still having by the way) and I was worried (which I still am) that something was wrong. I went into the ER one day and after a CAT scan and a bunch of other tests, the doc on duty suggested a spinal tap just to be sure. To a fault I trust all my doctors and never question anything. As far as procedures and tests go, I am all for whatever they have to do to figure stuff out. I don’t really care just fix it. That is my attitude.
Anyhow, the doctor could not get the right spot on my spine and ended up inserting that giant needle in my back 6 times. He was hitting nerves and I would get these horribly sharp pains in my right leg, then my left. It was awful and by the end I was tearing up like crazy. It hurt bad.
That whole week I could not sit in a chair so I vlogged standing up. I couldn't even put on my socks!
That was the worst.
Before that the worst thing I had ever had done was a nerve conduction study. For those of you who have had this done I am sure you know what I mean. To check for nerve damage in my arms they jab these needles (like the kind you would hand sew leather with) into your arms at various locations and run electricity into your arm to contract all of your muscles. It is like your arm is possessed and you have zero control over it.
Again, I may have just been (un)lucky again but when I had this done, the doctor did not numb my arm or the insertion points at all. He just darted (yes darted) this thick needles (3 of them) first in my hand, then my fore arm, and then (the worst) the inside of my upper arm.
It. Was. Horrible.
And today I get to have that done again.
As you can tell I am not looking forward to it at all but once again, if it means they can fix my hands, the pain I have in them, and all the numbness then I say go ahead and do it.
Let’s hope it’s not as barbaric as last time.
Reader Comments (14)
Oh dear lord, G! I'm in pain just thinking about it!!! I certainly hope and pray that they find out whatever the heck this is going on with you. I hate to see (or, read about rather) you like this. (((((BIG HUGS)))) sent your way!!!
Sorry to hear that George, hope you get a better needle-man this time!
Ug. I hope it's as painless as possible. Good luck.
George, in the past 20 years, I've had 8 nerve conduction studies in my arms, hands, legs and feet. After a few, you kind of get used to them. I've had five hand surgeries and am very glad I did. They relieved much of the pain that was correctable, the carpel tunnel, and all of the triggering in various fingers. Luckily, so far a spinal tap has not been something that has come my way. Good luck and hope you can get your hands fixed to relieve the pain.
I will be thinking of you George and sending as much positive energy as I can. Hopefully it will bring you closer to finding out what is going on.
Stay positive.
I just realized I grimaced my way through this entire post. God, good luck to you.
George, I hope this crap doesn't make you scared of needles. I pray they get to the bottom of it and help get you some relief.
They tried to do what I like to call an "epidural light" on me when I shattered my ankle last summer and have to have surgery. After half an hour and repeatedly hitting the same nerve over and over (or at least that's what it felt like and one time causing my leg, the one with the none broken ankle thankfully, to go insane,) they give up and did it all the old fashioned way. For about a month after surgery I had painful pins and needles in it depending on how I lie, but now only if I lie flat on my back or certain ways on my left side does the outside of my left thigh go numb. So I feel your pain re: the spinal tap, though I think yours was probably more painful.
Well if you find out what's wrong with your hands please let me know as it sort of sounds like what is wrong with mine.
Cindibr
Hope you're done by now and all is good.
Yuck; that sounds like a spinal tap gone wrong, but let's hope it yields an answer for your hands and the strange pain you've been going through.
awwww man...sending positive vibes your way!
Oh George, I'm so sorry. I've been poked and prodded a but lately too and it just sucks. I'm so sorry you are gong through this.
I know what you mean, on both ... I had a spinal yrs ago and the same thing happened , they could not hit the right area and kept moving the needle around oh it was awful afterwards I had problems with my back where I could not stand up or sit down , well thank God it did pass and I have since had another one done and it was not that bad ( as the first one) and I did not experience any problems as the first one . about two yrs ago i had the nerve conduction test, it didn't seem to really bother me to much at the time but, I now suffer with symptoms such as feelings of pin pricks, or like being pinched at various times (some days I don't even have them) but, I tend to believe that it could have brought on something such as fibromyalgia : (