Bathing
Your child may have a bath or shower 24 hours after the procedure.
Meals
If your child is feeling well enough after the
anaesthetic, they can return to eating what they normally eat. It is also important to encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids for 48 hours after the procedure. This will help to prevent headaches.
Pain relief
Your child may have some discomfort in their back immediately after the lumbar puncture. After the procedure, children sometimes also get a bad headache. This happens because the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can leak out of the hole where the spinal needle went in, which can cause headaches. In most cases, the hole closes on its own, and the headache goes away in few days. At home, you can give your child acetaminophen, if needed, or medications prescribed by their doctor. Do not give your child any medicines that thin the blood, such as
acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or
ibuprofen, or blood thinners. If you are unsure, or regularly using one of these medications, check with the nurse or your child’s health-care provider first.
Activity
Your child may cry more, be fussy or be very clingy and become difficult to comfort after surgery. Your child can be picked up, sit for safe feeding, or stand up for short periods of time. Your child should have minimal activities for the first two days after the procedure. Your child may return to regular activity after 48 hours.