What Happens When You Get A Spinal Needle?

For a spinal tap:

The patient lies in a crouched position with the knees toward the chest

Sometimes doctors order a forward posture

The doctor used an anesthetic to numb the patient's back

While the patient remains in a lying position, the doctor inserts a thin, hollow needle between the spine in the patient's lower back

The needle goes into the area around the spinal cord and draws a small amount of spinal fluid

A spinal tap takes about 15 minutes. When this is done, the doctor may ask the patient to lie down and rest for a while.