A Lumbar Puncture, also known as a “spinal tap”, is performed to help in the diagnosis of a number of neurologic disorders, including some associated with Sjögren’s disease.
During the test, a small sample of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is collected, which is the fluid that bathes your brain and spinal cord. The test involves placing a thin needle in your lower back, which is first numbed with an anesthetic, while you are lying on your side. The needle is inserted in between the bony building blocks (vertebrae) of the spine into the spinal canal.
Potential risks of the lumbar puncture include residual soreness of the back at the site of the procedure (this can last several days), shooting pain down the legs at the time of the procedure (this resolves when the needle is removed) and occasionally a severe headache that can last several days and require additional treatment.
