10 Side Effects of Spinal Taps
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
Side Effect #8: Back Pain or Discomfort
Back pain can be divided into lower back pain, middle back pain, cervical pain (neck), and coccydynia (tailbone pain). The lumbar area is the most common area affected by pain. Pain can be acute, subacute, or chronic. The character of the pain can be piercing, shooting, or dull. The pain can also radiate into the legs or feet. Other associated symptoms include weakness and paresthesia.
Most back pain occurs due to trauma or degenerative changes to the facet joints or intervertebral discs. Other causes are damaged nerves, muscles, tumors of the vertebra, diseases of the gallbladder, kidneys, aorta, or pancreas. After a spinal tap, there can be back pain in the lower back and legs.
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