Not trying to scare you but after my first grandmal they did a spinal tap to test for abnormalities and miningitis. They punctured a hole in my spinal chord- I experienced about a month of peircing death migraines. To stop the leakage from flowing out of the punchure, I had to get a blood patch. They took blood from my arm and Insereted it into the spot in the spinal chord where they punchered the hole. Worst experience I've ever had. But that's just me, your experience may be 100% different. Good luck! Not trying to scare you, just keep this in mind 💜💜💜

I am a firm believer that we must always be our own health advocate. Ask questions, ask questions, ask questions! Research as much as possible. If you have friends/family who are in the healthcare field, pick their brains. Talk to them about your symptoms. To then about the suggested procedure. If you have a local chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation near you, JOIN IT! There are so many resources available to you through them, many you may not even know are there! The local group here has support group meetings once a month & some months they have guest speakers with a wealth of knowledge. Most of all, never be afraid of a second opinion. Good luck to you dear.

I don't have MS, but, I do remember having a spinal tap as a teenager after suffering a seizure. I can't remember if I had already been diagnosed with epilepsy. They did the procedure to check for the cause of my seizure. This would have been in the late 60's early 70's. I didn't know anything about the procedure, and my parents didn't either. I don't think it hurt.
I don't blame you for being scared. As much as I've heard about the procedure, I would be hesitant to get it done too. I agree with both Chester & Thomas. You do need to trust your doctor and develop a rapport. At the same time, you need to be assertive, and ask questions.
Hope everything turns out okay.

Hi to me ask your doctor first put your foot down and tell him you are petrified to go ahead with this. If you don't talk weather you fuming inside you or not your mind is not going to rest.
Ask him for what reason must I go for these tests?
Stick to one doctor and tell him just remember that what you going through you have come to him and your life depends on him.
Try your best not to sign for anything due to this matter no matter what, just tell your doctor its up to him that will for sure make him realise what tension he has bought you under.
Remember to stand your grounds at all times.

@A MyEpilepsyTeam Member, your neurologist may be trying to answer what symptoms indicate. Medicine is not one of my fields of study. However, common MS indicators are, weakness, tingling, numbness, blurred vision, muscle stiffness, thinking problems, urinary problems, and coordination trouble, with possible double vision or blindness in one eye. Does having these mean you have MS? No. Does it mean a check on MS should take place? Is a good question for your neurologist. Although several of these exist in my body, other reasons also exist. Auto accidents have damaged it several ways, from left side(especially arm) to skull and brain damage.
The spinal tap is not complicated. I watched my deceased wife, Sandi, go through it. However, her problem was an AVM in the center of her brain. Blood released from it seeped down to her hips. She lived much longer than the physicians had predicted and had both our sons, 11 years between them.
May God be with you in deciding and going through this. 🙏

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