It has been almost 2 years since my spinal tap and I am still suffering from it. When I got the tap done the first dr. Guessed where the needle should go then stuck it in and moved it around then pulled it out and said that the needle was too short and that I would have to go somewhere else to get it done. I had to wait for an hour as the nurse tried to get a big hospital to take me that day. We finally got to the other hospital and they said that they almost didn't take me because they were sick of fixing the first Drs screw ups. That evening I started having a lot of pain in my back and for 2 months after that I was pretty much stuck in bed due to unbearable pain in my back. Now ever since then I have horrible back spasms a few times a month and they make it impossible to do anything and it comes without warning. Does anyone know how I can get tested for nerve damage.? And if anyone is reading this who hasn't had a spinal tap yet my advice is to avoid it at all cost. There are other ways to help yourself than having to go through a tap but the Drs. Won't tell you what other options you have so look around yourself.