Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) During a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) procedure, you typically lie on your side with your knees drawn up to your chest. Then a needle is inserted into your spinal canal — in your lower back — to collect cerebrospinal fluid for testing. After that you will be ready for your spinal tap. The thought of a spinal tap is frightening to most people, however it does not have to be, if you are mentally and physically prepared for it. Listed below are steps that you can take to prepare for your spinal tap. Doctors give trusted answers on uses, effects, side-effects, and cautions: Dr. Pothiawala on can you take ibuprofen after surgery: Usually physicians will hold these medications for about 5 days. This may be different for your surgeon and they type of surgery. I would give them a call. If your spinal headache lasts longer than 24 hours, you can take steps to address it at home, or visit the doctor to treat severe, chronic headache. Steps Method 1 During a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) procedure, you typically lie on your side with your knees drawn up to your chest. Then a needle is inserted into your spinal canal — in your lower back — to collect cerebrospinal fluid for testing. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing medication. It can be used to treat pain and inflammation associated with many conditions such as menstrual cramps, headaches, arthritis, muscle pain,and toothaches. Before you have a spinal tap, your doctor will order blood tests to check for any bleeding or clotting disorders. If you’re taking blood thinners or painkillers such as ibuprofen and aspirin. A lumbar puncture, sometimes referred to as a spinal tap, is a procedure in which a needle is used to take a small sample of cerebrospinal fluid. Patients are usually advised to lie down for at least a few hours after lumbar puncture procedures to prevent a severe headache. After a spinal tap you can suffer with bad headaches. If it's that bad than you need to call the doctor! You should lie straight for a few days after. If the headaches don't go away is possible that it didn't heal properly and they have to fix it. They thought maybe a spinal tap would correct the problem. They mentioned something about going into the wrong space when they started me with the epidural. Anyway I didn't get the They mentioned something about going into the wrong space when they started me with the epidural.