Is a lumbar puncture invasive

Answer 1

usually not that painfull but as always in pain, it depends a bit on the patients pain perception (women feel less pain to give an example, but we all have different levels of pain "awareness") and it also depends on the experience of the doctor performing the procedure.

Sometimes you can get a lidocaine (xilocaine) injection first on the site of the puncture, to anesthetize the area a little, though this is not "necessary".

I have had patients that feel amazed at the end of the procedure how easy it was on them, but some other have felt more pain than what I expected.

All in all, I wouldn't feel so frightened about a lumbar puncture since it is the same needle thick we used to draw out blood. It is the thickness of the needle that it is important, pain-wise, not the length of it. Of course the skin on the back is more sensitive than your arm's but still, I think its a nice remark.

Some patients may feel like a needle was inserted on their thighs when the puncture is being done, nothing too painful, just like a little sting on the leg.

Answer 2

Are you kidding? Of course it's invasive. It's a lumbar PUNCTURE.

Answer 3

Yes. It certainly does