After the procedure is completed, the person is instructed to drink plenty of fluid. This will help the body replenish the cerebral spinal fluid which was removed for testing. Sometimes when a person is sent home following a spinal tap, he or she is required to lie flat for up to 12 hours. Increased fluids are still encouraged. A person is also instructed to report any numbness and tingling to the legs, bleeding or oozing from the puncture site, or headaches that fail to improve.
Normal activity can usually resume once a person has had enough rest.
Sometimes the area where the spinal needle was inserted remains sore for a day or two. No other special home care is required. The most common complication from a spinal tap is a post-procedure spinal headache . These headaches can usually be avoided if a person lies flat for several hours and drinks plenty of fluids. Spinal headaches occur due to a change in cerebral spinal fluid pressure as a result of removing a sample for testing.