Can a Lumbar Puncture Cause Tinnitus?

Hi Dr. Nagler, I wanted to explain my situation with you regarding my tinnitus. Back in January I had this headache that I had never experienced before. As a result, they did a lumbar puncture on me. They did not find anything wrong with me. A couple days later I developed tinnitus in my left ear. I heard something pop in my head and tinnitus started. I was really stressed out because I did develop spinal headaches after that. A couple of days later I did end up getting a blood patch which resolved my spinal headaches. I just don't know if my lumbar puncture caused my tinnitus. Do you think this might of caused it?

 

Hi @jraulc_11 -

If a lumbar puncture were going to cause tinnitus, the only mechanism I can think of would be if there were an inadvertent fairly rapid change in cerebrospinal fluid pressure, which does not happen in a properly performed diagnostic lumbar puncture. Moreover, if it did, the tinnitus would start immediately - not a couple of days later. So I do not think your tinnitus is due to anything involving your LP.

Thank you for your excellent question.

Dr. Stephen Nagler