The 10 best ways to fight off dementia: From a glass of red to a twirl around the dance floor, scientists reveal how to cut the risk. 1  The simple everyday lifestyle changes can cut the risk of the disease by more than half, say Scottish scientists. 2  Drinking green tea and taking fish oils are among other recommendations.
#3. I had a spinal tap, done in an ER setting, and it went much better than I would have thought. There was no pain involved at all, just a funny bone sensation shooting down one leg into the feet, and it only lasts for a second, at the very end of the procedure.
A spinal tap checks the pressure and content of the fluid. Signals that there may be problems include: evidence of bleeding, an increase in white blood cells (infection fighting cells, dead cells are pus), an increase in protein level, or inflammation. This could mean infection, tumors, or a hemorrhage around the brain or spinal cord. To obtain the fluid sample, a needle will be inserted into the spinal canal in the lumbar region. Discogram. A discogram is an X-ray examination of the intervertebral discs. This test is used to determine which disc(s) are damaged and if surgery is necessary.